Limerick FC 2-2 Drogheda United
IN THEIR 13th league game, Limerick FC dropped their first points of the season on Saturday evening when Drogheda United earned a 2-2 draw at a sun-blessed Markets Field.
The Super Blues’ unbeaten record also looked set to end until late substitute Ross Mann found the net in stoppage time to rescue a point for Martin Russell’s men.
In front of a healthy attendance despite the evident attractions of Kilkee and various other seasides, the game began at a lively pace and Limerick goalkeeper Tommy Holland had to be on his game to make good stops to deny Mark Griffin, Aaron Ashe and Niall Cooney in the opening eight minutes. At the other end, Lee-J Lynch and Sean Russell went close inside the 10-minute mark.
After that frenetic opening, the match then entered a prolonged lull throughout the first half. Stephen Kenny had a sight of goal in the 18th minute, with Stephen McGuinness getting down to thwart the Limerick winger. Indeed, it was such a hot evening that, after half an hour, the players were allowed to take a brief cooling break and get some much-needed water on board.
There was a potentially hairy moment for the home side shortly before half-time when Derek Doyle outpaced Paudie O’Connor just outside the Limerick penalty area, but Robbie Williams was back to clear the danger. On the stroke of half-time, Kenny’s cross was dropped by McGuinness to Paul O’Conor, but the ex-Drogheda midfielder couldn’t get a clean contact on the ball.
Limerick made a purposeful start to the second half, with Kenny the instigator of most of their attacking moves. Chris Mulhall headed over from a cross and John O’Flynn was denied by McGuinness, both chances coming from Kenny crosses on the right.
The Super Blues took the lead just before the hour. After a neat one-two between Shaun Kelly and O’Flynn saw the right-back force a corner, the set piece was duly diverted to the net. It was unclear who got the final contact, with Williams and O’Connor both in the vicinity of the ball as it was turned home, although it may yet be credited as an own goal.
Drogheda weren’t flattened by the concession of the goal, though, and within minutes they served warning of their intent as Griffin surged forward a good 30 yards with the ball before playing a through pass to Ashe, who looped his effort over the bar when he ought to have at least got it on target.
In the 74th minute, Drogheda won a free on halfway and it was launched into the mixer, with Sam O’Connor getting his head on it. Holland seemed to have control of the ball, but instead he spilled it into his own net and, out of nowhere, the teams were level.
Mulhall had an immediate chance to restore Limerick’s lead, but couldn’t find the net with his header, and O’Flynn was again denied by McGuinness after Kenny reacted first to a quick Limerick throw-in.
The home side, though, were running on empty in the final minutes and it was Drogheda who looked the more likely to score next. They did just that in the 89th minute, when Ashe was picked out at the far post and he had time and space to drill the ball to the Limerick net in front of the jubilant visiting supporters.
At that point, it looked as if Pete Mahon’s team were about to collect a fifth consecutive win on Shannonside, and Martin Russell made his one and only substitution as the clock struck 90, withdrawing Kelly for Mann. What seemed a move of desperation quickly turned into a stroke of genius, as Mann flicked home Kenny’s diagonal cross to bring the teams level once more. Limerick even had time to hit the upright from a Shane Tracy corner with the last kick of the game. After a breathless finish, it was 2-2 and Drogheda were certainly good value for the point.
Limerick just about preserve their 14-point lead heading into the mid-season break and it comes as a good time for the league leaders, with Shane Duggan, Aaron Greene and Seamus Sharkey hopefully all fit to resume action when the Super Blues next take to the field away to Cabinteely in three weeks’ time.
Limerick FC: Holland; Kelly (Mann 90), O’Connor, Williams, Tracy; O’Conor, Lynch; Kenny, Mulhall, Russell; O’Flynn.
Drogheda United: McGuinness; Buckley, Gallagher, Cooney, Dunne; Ashe, Thornton, Brennan (Costello 62), Doyle; O’Connor (Donnelly 88), Griffin (Kirwan 79).
Referee: Adriano Reale
Attendance: 1,181
