League Report: Limerick FC 2 - 2 Drogheda United

• Tom Clancy
• Sat, Jun 04 2016




Limerick dropped their first points of the season as the were held to a 2-2 draw by Drogheda United at Markets Field. A dramatic climax saw Pete Mahon’s troops let a lead slip, despite trailing midway through the second half.

The result means that Limerick maintain their 14 point advantage over their Louth counterparts, as the League heads for its mid-season break.

In what was an extremely dull opening half, the majority of the action was compacted into the opening stages. Mark Griffin carved out the opening chance when he forced Tommy Holland down to his left. The teenager was required to use his feet to stop Aaron Ashe from a tight angle from the rebound.

Moments later, Lee-J Lynch fired straight at United keeper Stephen McGuniess after excellent work from the industrious Mulhall.  Seán Russell fired over after he’d been found by Mulhall.

What followed began to make the majority of the 1,181 fans in attendance think that these players were already thinking of their mid-season break. The midfield combinations of Brennan and Thornton were cancelling out the Limerick pair of Lynch and O’Conor.

Pete Mahon hadn’t come to contain free-scoring Limerick, but his side were cautious in their approach. The forgettable first half saw the sides all square.

Stephen Kenny was at the heart of much of what Limerick did in the second half. He found O’Flynn, but a tame effort at McGuinness. Next he fed O’Conor who headed over.

Full back Shaun Kelly played a neat interchange with O’Flynn before it was pushed behind. The deadlock was broken from the corner as the ball scrambled over the line from Stephen Kenny’s corner. With Robbie Williams and Paudie O’Connor trying apply the finishing touch, it appeared to be actually come from a Drogheda defender.

Aaron Ashe was extremely wasteful minutes later as he skewed over when through on goal.

The lull in the game following the goal passed when United equalised. A curled free-kick was met by Sam O’Connor only for Holland to spill the effort into the net. A massive error from the ‘keeper, who’d performed admirably until this moment. This sparked Limerick into life in search of the lead once again. Kenny found O’Flynn who could only find the feet of McGuinness from close range.

Then, once again, a final ten minutes of drama. As Limerick appeared to be pushing for the winner, Drogheda took the advantage. A long free-kick was worked from left-to-right to find Ashe, who made no mistake to give the lead to the second placed team.

With the clock on 92 minutes, Ross Mann turned home a Kenny cross to the relief of the home support. Mann getting his first League of Ireland goal, in his third season with the first team.

Limerick: Tommy Holland; Shaun Kelly (Ross Mann 90), Paudie O’Connor, Robbie Williams ©, Shane Tracy; Lee- J Lynch, Paul O’Conor, Séan Russell; Stephen Kenny, Chris Mulhall, John O’Flynn.

Subs not Used: Freddy Hall (gk), Tony Whitehead, Shane Costelloe, Séan McSweeney, Clyde O’Connell, Killian Brouder.

Booked:  O’Connor (67), Lynch (75).

Drogheda United: Stephen McGuiness; Llyod Buckley, Luke Gallagher, Niall Cooney, Stephen Dunne;  Aaron Ashe, Seán Brennan  (Ken Costello 62), Seán Thornton ©, Mark Griffin (Eoin Kirwan 79)Derek Doyle; Sam O’Connor.
Subs not Used: Patrick Dunican (gk), Jamie McGlynn, Liam Donnelly, Joe Jackson.
Booked: Thornton (72)

Referee: Adriano Reale
Attendance: 1,181
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Stephen Kenny (Limerick)