LESS than halfway through the season, Limerick FC have reached the 50-goal mark in the First Division after Sunday’s rollercoaster 4-3 win away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park.
It took the in-form John O’Flynn just two minutes to open the scoring for Limerick, with Robert O’Reilly fortuitously equalising just after the half-hour to leave the sides level at half-time.
Within five minutes of the restart, the visitors surged into a 3-1 lead, Chris Mulhall putting them back in front shortly before O’Flynn got his second of the afternoon.
The match appeared to be petering out to a comfortable away win before a tumultuous final 10 minutes. Dylan Grimes pulled one back for Shelbourne, Lee-J Lynch soon restored the two-goal gap and Jamie Doyle scored the final goal of an explosive game, one which Limerick were grateful to win.
Martin Russell’s men now have a 14-point lead at the summit of the First Division and they host nearest challengers Drogheda United at the Markets Field on Saturday evening (kick-off 6:30pm).
A 13th consecutive league victory would, even at this stage, all but guarantee Limerick’s immediate return to the Premier Division but the recent history of this figure suggests that the leaders’ 100 per cent record could be set to expire.
Drogheda have won on each of their last four visits to Shannonside, including the Markets Field’s long-awaited reopening this time last year. However, this weekend they face a Limerick team that is mastering the art of the hard-fought victory after starting the season with a succession of comprehensive wins.
