- Stephen Walsh
- Sun, May 08 2016
Limerick won tonight’s Munster Derby, defeating Cobh Ramblers in St. Colman’s Park to extend their winning run to 10 games at the summit of the First Division.
A Shane Tracy penalty gave Limerick the lead at the break and two second-hallf goals from Lee-J Lynch and Sean Russell ensured Limerick left Cobh with all three points.
The clash, played in horrific weather conditions, was the sides' second meeting of the season in the league, with the visitors winning the first game 6-1 back in March.
Ramblers wore their third strip of black for the game owing to the passing of squad member Kyle McNamara’s father this week.
It was clear from the start that this game was going to be a lot tighter than previous encounters with Shane O’Connor heading narrowly over from an Eoin McGreevy corner.
The game then went from end to end with little to no goal action but Limerick was slightly shading the possession stakes and they would go ahead on 15 minutes.
Ross Mann saw his cross on 14 minutes handled by Chris McCarthy in the Cobh box leaving referee Kevin O’Regan no choice but to award the penalty. Up stepped Tracy and he fired it straight down the middle.
Limerick could have doubled the lead on 21 minutes when Sean Russell saw his low drive saved by Paul Hunt.
Cobh thought they had claimed an equaliser when O’Connor headed McGreevy’s corner goalwards but Hall managed to claw the ball clear despite the home side’s protests.
Hunt’s best save of the opening half emerged on 32 minutes when Lynch’s powerful drive from 25 yards was tipped around the post.
O’Connor headed wide for Cobh as the interval approached with Limerick leading by the slenderest of margins.
The second half was a more open affair with Limerick showing at times why they are so far ahead of the rest, yet credit to Cobh as they never stopped trying for the duration of this clash.
Paudie O’Connor had three headers go narrowly over or wide of the goal as Limerick hoped to extend their lead. Cobh had a Gustavsson shot saved for a corner.
But try as Cobh might they were never going to stop Limerick scoring again, with former Ram Stephen Kenny seeing his effort hit the crossbar but it was only delaying the inevitable.
The game's second goal arrived on 67 minutes when Lynch fired a low shot past Hunt from the edge of the box.
Ian Mylod had a shot go narrowly wide and Chris McCarthy skimmed the crossbar for Cobh but Limerick were firing more shots on goal and despite Hunt making a few super saves the third always looked likely.
It arrived on 91 minutes with Sean Russell sliding home a Mann cross to the joy of the travelling support.
Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt; Charlie Fleming, Cian Kingston, Chris McCarthy, Ian Mylod; Rob Lehane, Eoin McGreevy, Jason Abbott, Shane O’Connor, Steven Christopher (Cory Galvin 71); Marcus Gustavsson (Jonathan Creamer 64).
Subs not used: Ben O’Riordan, David Curran, Andy O’Connell, David Browne.
Booked: McCarthy 81
Limerick: Freddy Hall; Paul O’Connor, Paudie O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Shane Treacy; Stephen Kenny, Lee J Lynch, Shane Duggan (Colm Murphy 73), Ross Mann; Sean Russell; Chris Mulhall (Jordan Moore 89).
Subs not used: Tommy Holland, John O’Flynn, Tony Whitehead, Shane O’Costelloe, Colm Murphy.
Booked: None.
Referee: Kevin O’Regan.
Attendance: 337.
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Sean Russell (Limerick).
You can see Steve Alfred's pictures from the game by clicking here.
