Wexford Youths 1 - 3 Limerick
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With Wexford’s game against Athlone having been postponed last week due to a waterlogged pitch there were no such fear in Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night as the sunny south east lived up to its name and Limerick continued to lead the way in the Airtricity League First Division with a 3-1 win – their 16th of the season.
They didn’t have it all their own way however, after falling behind near the hour mark to a Paul Malone goal but Rory Gaffney and Jeffrey Judge responded soon after while Dominic Foley added the insurance in injury time.
The Blues started well with Garry Sheahan winning a corner in the first minute which was blasted over by an unmarked James McGrath. Wexford, too, won a corner on their first attack but Limerick cleared with ease.
Although the visitors held the larger share of possession, neither side looked like they could create any clear cut chances in a poor first half.
Wexford made the breakthrough 12 minutes into the second period as Dean Broaders wiped in a cross which was headed home by Paul Malone to give the midtable outfit a deserved lead.
But it took Limerick just three minutes to equalise with the goal coming from Gaffney who was left unmarked at the back post to tap home.
It was all the Shannonsiders at that point and Behan hit the post from inside the six yard box when it looked easier to score. Foley soon replaced the Abbeyfeale man and it didn’t take long for them to go in front.
After a spell of pressure, the ball fell kindly to Judge who expertly lobbed Youths stopper Graham Doyle and although Limerick then had a goal disallowed for offside, they continued to push forward and became the dominant side.
Youths tried to push and create some chances with a Sean Corcoran shot getting a deflection and going wide for a corner. A neat one two on the left from Danny Furlong and Joe Mulcahy resulted in Mulcahy shooting over the bar but they were to be dealt another killer blow late on.
The final nail in the Youths coffin came in injury time when Gaffney was sent free down the right and his shot was saved by Doyle but the ball fell to Foley who tapped home.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Sean Corcoran, CJ Browne, James Scallon, Jamie Carr; Dean Broaders (Danny Furlong 78), Shane Nolan (Glen Hawe 78), Patsy Malone, Eric Molloy (Gary Delaney 78); Joe Mulcahy, Tom Elmes.
Subs not used: Mark Phelan, Gary Delaney, James Darmody, Shane Clarke.
Bookings: Elmes (79), Mulcahy (90+2).
Limerick FC: Barry Ryan; Shaun Kelly, Pat Purcell, Robert Kluciar, Shane Tracy; Garry Sheahan (Derek O'Brien 61), Jeffrey Judge, Joe Gamble, James McGrath (Stephen Bradley 58); Rory Gaffney, Denis Behan (Dominic Foley 65).
Subs not used: Shane Cusack, Shane Guthrie, Corie Tracey, Sean Brosnan.
Bookings: Gamble (90+2).
Referee: Adriano Reale.
Attendance: 239.
