- Tom Clancy
- Sat, Apr 02 2016
Limerick made it five consecutive wins as they defeated Shelbourne at Markets Field on Saturday evening.
While most of the 1,300 in attendance will have headed home happy, Martin Russell’s side were made to sweat before eventually putting the game to bed in the closing stages. Limerick once again had five different goal scorers as Kevin Doherty’s side were unable to handle Martin Russell’s charges.
Limerick took the lead when former Athlone Town attacker Garbhan Coughlan found the net after 12 minutes. He raced onto a through ball from Paul O’Conor and calmly slotted the ball beyond Greg Murray with his right foot.
Limerick, for all their dominance struggled to find John O’Flynn in the opening half, with chances falling to Chris Mulhall, Stephen Kenny and Coughlan. Shelbourne lacked creativity in the opening period, with lone striker Sodiq Oguntola looking a frustrated figure.
The introduction of Cian Kavanagh helped spark the visitors into life. Limerick were served a warning when Lorcan Shannon found space, the winger was unable to beat the onrushing Hall.
The men in red capitalised on Limerick’s defensive arrogance as Gavin Boyne seized his opportunity to level the score firing past Freddy Hall after Robbie Williams lost the ball for the Blues. Hall will not be pleased with his attempt to save the effort.
But Williams was quick to make amends. The English centre-half heading home his fourth of the season soon after as Greg Murray was unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line. John O’Flynn then finished the game as he raced beyond Robert O’Reilly and slotted calmly into the net.
O’Flynn turned provider minutes later as he centred for his captain Shane Duggan to make it 4-1. Limerick’s pace on the counter-attack was continuously causing problems to the Shels defence as the visitors continued to tire.
Substitute Ross Mann won a penalty as the clock rolled into additional time, and Shane Tracy promptly sent Murray the wrong way to add further gloss to the score board.
Limerick: Freddy Hall; Paul O’Conor, Robbie Williams, Paudie O’Connor, Shane Tracy; Garbhan Coughlan (Aaron Greene HT), Lee-J Lynch, Shane Duggan; Chris Mulhall (Shaun Kelly 79), Stephen Kenny, John O’Flynn (Ross Mann 84).
Subs not used: Tommy Holland, Tony Whitehead, Seamus Sharkey, Jordan Moore.
Yellow Cards: None
Shelbourne: Greg Murray; Darragh Gannon, Adam O’Connor, Robert O’Reily, Dylan Kavanagh; Lorcan Shannon, Daire Doyle, Carl Walshe (Mark Sandford 84), Gavin Boyne, Jamie Doyle; Sodiq Oguntola (Cian Kavanagh 46).
Subs not used: Jack Brady, Robert Duggan, Alan Kehoe, Conor Keeley, Dylan Grimes.
Booked: Doyle (62), Gannon (63)
Referee: Simon Rogers
Attendance: 1,360.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: John O’Flynn (Limerick)
