- Tom Clancy
- Fri, Mar 16 2018
Limerick upset the odds on Cheltenham week as they held champions Cork City to a deserved Munster-derby draw at Markets Field.
While the going was heavy on the pitch, it was the underdogs who led though Billy Dennehy before Kieran Sadlier levelled from the spot. The Cork onslaught in the second half didn’t materialise but the point was enough to keep John Caulfield’s side top-of the table.
The Leesiders arrived on Shannonside unchanged from their victory over Shamrock Rovers last Monday, while Limerick made two changes, with Killian Cantwell and Connor Ellis replacing Shane Tracy and the injured Eoin Wearen.
This meant that Billy Dennehy operated at left-back for the Blues, who were still hurting from their 5-0 reverse at the Brandywell on Monday evening.
Limerick started quite well but were unable to link play enough to worry Mark McNulty. That was until a moment of magic from Kerry native Billy Dennehy.
The former Cork Ciyt man latched onto the ball near half-way and ghosted through the midfield before drilling low beyond McNulty. A superb strike, but John Caulfield will question his midfield who afforded Dennehy too much space.
City reacted in typical fashion and were camped in the Limerick half for the remainder of the half. Brendan Clarke showed his worth to the Blues with a stunning save to deny a Gearóid Morrissey pile-driver – tipping over with a flying save.
A trio of wasted efforts from Sadlier were forgotten when City levelled from the spot. Darren Dennehy was adjudged to have felled Graham Cummins from a dangerous whipped corner.
Despite the Limerick protest, Sadlier made no mistake and levelled the game with his second spot kick scored in five days.
Sadlier and Barry McNamee wasted efforts before the break, as Limerick looked to play, unsuccessfully on the counter-attack.
The second-half wasn’t dominated by City, as Limerick played with more belief. Shaun Kelly had their best effort, as he forced a good save from McNulty. Kelly was impressive thoughtout, with Sadlier cutting a frustrated figure as he failed to find the net late on.
He was denied by a strong Clarke hand in stoppage time as Cork fashioned a rare second-half opening; His free-kick pushed clear from a crowded Limerick area.
In truth, City were unable to exceed the energy shown by the hosts, but never looked like losing in Limerick for the second game on the spin.
Limerick: Brendan Clarke; Shaun Kelly, Tony Whitehead, Darren Dennehy, Billy Dennehy; Kilian Cantwell; Cian Coleman, Shane Duggan ©, Daniel Kearns (Will Fitzgerald h/t), Danny Morrissey (Karl O’Sullivan 67), Connor Ellis.
Subs not used: Tommy Holland, Shane Tracy, Killian Brouder, Jeff McGowan.
Booked: Darren Dennehy (32), Shaun Kelly (61), Cian Coleman (71)
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Conor McCarthy, Aaron Barry, Sean McLoughlin, Shane Griffin; Conor McCormack © (Michael Howard 79), Gearóid Morrissey; Kieran Sadlier, Barry McNamee (Jimmy Keohane 70), Karl Sheppard; Graham Cummins.
Subs not used: Peter Cherrie, Danny Kane, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Colm Horgan, Alec Byrne
Booked: None
Referee: Neil Doyle
Attendance: 1,341 (official)
Extratime.ie Man of the match: Shaun Kelly (Limerick)
