- Andrew Cunneen
- Tue, May 21 2013
It took a penalty shootout for Limerick to book their place in the next round of the EA Sports Cup after a last gasp Barry Sheedy equaliser sent the game to extra time after Vinny Sullivan put the visitors ahead.
Haunting Limerick so often in the past, Sullivan fashioned the first opportunity of the game as his low effort went just wide of Shane Cusack's left right hand post.
Limerick's first effort arrived just shy of twenty minutes when Danny Galbraith turned and shot outside the box after Axel Bossekota's lay-off. The shot was well wide, though.
The visiting Blues took the lead after half an hour when Vinny Sullivan glanced a fantastic header past Shane Cusack after a sublime cross from Aidan McGrath on the right.
The home side almost levelled on the hour when Stephen Folan was denied a goal of the season contender. His thirty-five yard smash bounced back off the face of the crossbar, much to the disappointment of footballing world.
Stuart Taylor's men really failed to create any clear cut goalscoring opportunities, despite dominating possession in the middle of the park. Patrick Nzuzi slotted into centre half and did a fantastic job bringing the ball out from the back four.
As the board went up displaying added time, in one last ditch effort, a Shane Costelloe cross into the box landed to the feet of Barry Sheedy and the young forward no mistake – sending the tie into extra time as his effort rolled past Sanders in the United goal.
The additional thirty minutes produced little in the way of opportunities for either side. The best chance of the lot fell to Axel Bossekota just outside the box but his effort was well held by Sanders in the United goal.
Stephen Bradley scored the winning penalty for the home side, as they won the shootout by four penalties to two.
Limerick: Shane Cusack; Shane Costelloe, Stephen Folan, Patrick Nzuzi, Shane Tracy; Steven McGann (Darragh Rainsford 72), Joe Gamble, Val Feeney (Stephen Bradley 62); Danny Galbraith, Rory Gaffney (Barry Sheedy 77), Axel Bossekota.
Subs not Used: Steve Walsh, Aaron Brown, Jeffrey Judge, James McGrath.
Waterford United: Charles Sanders; Peter White, Seamus Long, Gavin Kavanagh, John Frost (Dylan Mernagh 64); Aidan McGrath (Peter Higgins 80), Jack Doherty, Kevin O'Connor, Ben Ryan; Darragh Walshe (Paudie Quinn 46); Vinny Sullivan.
Subs not Used: Craig Hyland, Conor Coad, Jamie Cross, Francis Rockett.
Referee: Alan Kelly.
Attendance: 397
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Patrick Nzuzi (Limerick FC).
