- Tom Clancy
- Sat, Jun 25 2016
Limerick extended their advantage at the top of the SSE Airtricity League First Division with a facile 2-0 victory over struggling Cabinteely. The visitors had a goal in either half from Shane Tracy and Seán McSweeney to extend their unbeaten record to 14 league games.
Cabinteely opened the brighter but their clear-cut opportunity was spurned by Joe Doyle, who brought a fine save from Bermudian Freddy Hall. Limerick rarely got out of first gear and, despite missing a number of first-team regulars, struck the front in the 28th minute. Free-kick specialist Tracy sent a low free-kick beyond Michael Kelly. The goal marked a half-century for the former Galway United man in the League of Ireland.
The second-half saw a more subdued tempo than the tame opening 45 minutes and it was left to half-time substitute McSweeney to seal the points for the Blues. The teenager opened his senior League of Ireland account with a top quality lob from outside the area which Kelly was powerless to prevent.
Martin Russell held Aaron Greene and the prolific John O’Flynn in reserve, but it mattered little as the Dublin outfit struggled to feed the often tricky Ben Hanrahan throughout.
A hamstring problem curtailed Chris Mulhall's involvement midway through the second-half. It didn't affect top of the table Limerick who were able to reshuffle and see out the game in a comfortable manner. Cabinteely never looked like adding to their seven league goals.
UCD’s victory over Drogheda United means Limerick extended their advantage to 16 points over the chasing pack, with second place UCD the visitors to Market's Field next Saturday. Cabinteely, meanwhile, will look to raise themselves off the foot of the table with a victory over Athlone Town when the two meet at Stradbrook Road on July 1st.
Cabinteely: Michael Kelly; Adam Maher, Oscar Brennan, Shane Boyle (Christian Lotefa 82), Edward McDonagh; Jamie Broderick, Mark Slater (Paul Fox 63), Aaran Brilly; Oliver Hamzat, Joe Doyle (Gavin Howard 83), Ben Hanrahan.
Subs not Used: Cathal Gillen (gk), Shane Heffernan, Ryan Byrne, Andrew Wall, Shane Heffernan.
Booked: O Brennan (14).
Limerick: Freddy Hall; Tony Whitehead, Paudie O’Connor, Robbie Willimas ©, Shane Tracy (Sean McSweeney 46); Paul O’Conor, Seán Russell, Lee-J Lynch (Shaun Kelly 64); Ross Mann, Stephen Kenny, Chris Mulhall (Shane Costello 70).
Subs not used: Tommy Holland (gk), Colm Murphy, Aaron Greene, John O’Flynn.
Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Paul O’Conor (Limerick).
