Limerick FC 5 - 0 Salthill Devon

Credit:

Salthill were put to the sword by a technically brilliant Limerick side, who can boast five different goalscorers on Shannonside tonight.

In what played out to be a very open game, Salthill really needed to strike early to put any fear into a Limerick side who appear to have a philosophy of playing football. Pass and move being the order of the day once again for Pat Scully’s men.

It took the home side a mere quarter of an hour to break the deadlock. Shane Tracey swept in a ball from the left flank, a flick from Shane Clarke was enough to find Timmy Kiely who made no mistake with a sublime finish into the bottom corner of the net. The floodgates had opened.

The remainder of the half was played out at a canter as Limerick kept possession and tried various manoeuvres to try and penetrate the back line of Devon’s defence. Alas, no breakthrough and Limerick only led by a single goal at half time.

It wasn’t long into the second half when Limerick had a penalty claim, Shane Clarke went down under a challenge from Geraghty, the referee waved away the protests.

With the refusal of the previous penalty perhaps playing on his mind, referee John Grimes awarded a spot kick to the home side after Stephen O’Flynn was adjudged to have been taken down unfairly. Shane Tracey slotted home the penalty to double Lims lead.

With man of the match Dave Rogers taking care of everything at the back, it was all out attack for the Blues as they committed more and more men up-field. When a cross came in from Shane Tracey, Stephen O’Flynn rose highest to blast the ball past Forde in the Devon goal.

The scoring wasn’t finished with yet however, a run from Sean Kelly was well picked out from Stephen O’Flynn, the full back slotted the ball home to make it four nil.

To round off the scoring, Jeffrey Judge placed an effort just inside the post, beating the outstretched goalkeeper. The midfielders goal rounded off what was a great performance from Limerick and an awful night for the visitors, who lie rock bottom of the Airtricity League First Division. Pat Scully’s side look in fantastic shape as they now move into second spot alongside Monaghan and Waterford.

Limerick FC: Ryan, Kelly, Purcell, Rogers, Deady, Kiely, Judge, White (Sullivan 60) , Tracey, Clarke (Kavanagh 64 ) , Tierney (O’Flynn 52).
Subs Not Used: McGuinness, Lyons.

Salthill Devon: Forde, Conlon, O’Leidhinn, Murphy, Geraghty, McConnell (Stenson 74) , Boyle (Burke 61) , Porter, Burke, Collins (Horgan 74) , D.Horgan.
Subs Not Used: Burke, Quirke.

Referee: John Grimes (Dublin).
Attendance: 380.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Dave Rogers.