MSC Report: Limerick FC 3 - 1 Leeds AFC
- Simon O'Gorman
- Sat, Jan 24 2015
Two goals from debutant Dean Clarke helped Limerick FC progress to the semi-finals of the Munster Senior Cup at the expense of Leeds AFC at Kilmallock on Saturday afternoon.
Limerick, in their first competitive outing of 2015, left it late before edging ahead of their Munster Senior League opponents but it was a deserved win on a heavy pitch that did little to encourage elegant football.
In fact it was the team from Ballyvolane that almost took the lead after just four minutes of play when former Cobh player, Jonathan Creamer, misdirected a header from six yards out. One minute later it was Limerick’s turn to spurn an opportunity when Darragh Rainsford’s header came down off the underside of the crossbar and Dean Clarke couldn’t finish off the rebound.
After an even opening ten minutes Limerick began to take control. Shane Duggan stood out as the busiest and most accomplished player on the field as Limerick seized the majority of possession along with the better of the chances.
New signing Sean Russell came close on 24 minutes with a decent effort from a well worked short corner, but Leeds replied when an excellent ball from Mark Murphy released Creamer and his low shot across goal crept past the outside of the post.
One minute later Clarke struck to give Martin Russell’s side the lead, firing home a dipping swerving shot that found the top tight corner of the Leeds net.
Limerick dominated the remainder of the half with Clarke skimming the bar, Paul O’Conor failing to connect with a Darragh Rainsford cross and Robbie Williams shooting inches over with a 35 yard piledriver. But three minutes before the break Leeds drew level.
The equaliser was created by the impressive Mark Murphy who delivered a cross from the left that was touched on by Kenny O’Leary for Creamer to finish at the far post.
As the second half progressed Limerick’s quality and superior core fitness began to tell. Ian Turner blasted over the bar from Duggan’s cut-back and Clarke missed a proverbial sitter having got on the end of a superb Turner cross.
Murphy did come close for Leeds with a cracking effort from distance but the pressure was building on his side’s defence and they finally succumbed on 75 minutes. Substitute Sean McSweeney picked Clarke out with a well delivered pass and the striker finished high to the net from point blank range to breach Leeds’ resistance.
Four minutes later the result was put beyond doubt when Sean Russell showed great composure to look up and pick his spot before cracking a low shot just inside the right hand post giving Hickey no chance in the visitor’s goal.
It was a valiant performance from a Leeds side who are mid table in the second tier of the Munster Senior League and Limerick will be happy to got a competitive win under their belts after just two weeks of pre-season training. Russell’s team now await the winners of Cork City and Cobh Wanderers to see who they will meet in the semi-finals.
Limerick FC: Conor O’Donnell; Tony Whitehead, Paudie O’Connor (87), Robbie Williams; Ian Turner, Sean Russell (Val Feeney 80), Paul O’Conor, Shane Duggan, Colm Murphy; Darragh Rainsford (Sean McSweeney 63), Dean Clarke.
Subs not used: Tommy Holland (gk), Shane Costelloe, Ross Mann, Clyde O’Connell.
Booked: None
Leeds AFC: Stephen Hickey; Cian Lougheed, Paul Fitzgerald, Liam O’Connor (Gareth O’Donovan 84), Ryan Meaney (Kyle McNamara 80); Cian Coleman, James Egan, Mark Murphy, Jonathan Creamer (Alan Minihane 72); Eoin Quirke, Kenny O’Leary.
Subs not used: Ryan McCarthy (gk), Eoghan O’Leary.
Booked: Egan (54).
Referee: Ralph Pieper.
Attendance: 150 (estimate)
Extratime Man of the Match: Shane Duggan (Limerick FC).
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and …
Subs
Subs
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peamount Utd | 20 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 52 |
2 | Shels FC | 20 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 46 |
3 | Shamrock Rvrs | 20 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 45 |
4 | Galway Women | 20 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 38 |
5 | Athlone | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 35 |
6 | Bohs | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 31 |
7 | Wexford W | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 28 |
8 | DLR Waves | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 13 |
9 | Sligo | 20 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 11 |
10 | Treaty Utd | 20 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 8 |
11 | Cork City W | 20 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 6 |
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Galway | 36 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 94 |
2 | Waterford | 36 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 69 |
3 | Cobh | 36 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 59 |
4 | Wexford | 36 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 53 |
5 | Athlone | 36 | 14 | 5 | 17 | 47 |
6 | Treaty United | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 44 |
7 | Bray | 36 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 44 |
8 | Longford | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 40 |
9 | Harps | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 37 |
10 | Kerry | 36 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 10 |
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shamrock R | 36 | 20 | 12 | 4 | 72 |
2 | Derry | 36 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 65 |
3 | St Patrick's Athl. | 36 | 19 | 5 | 12 | 62 |
4 | Shels | 36 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 60 |
5 | Dundalk | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 58 |
6 | Bohs | 36 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 58 |
7 | Drogheda | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 41 |
8 | Sligo | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 37 |
9 | Cork | 36 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 31 |
10 | UCD | 36 | 2 | 5 | 29 | 11 |
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