League Report: Drogheda Utd 1 - 4 Limerick

Limerick made it back-to-back wins as they easily dismissed struggling Drogheda United 4-1 at United Park.

Danny Galbraith and Tam McManus gave Limerick a two-goal lead before Declan O’Brien pulled one back but a stunning strike seconds later from Shane Duggan and a goal direct from a corner by Shane Tracy sealed all three points.

Drogheda manager Robbie Horgan made four changes from the 2-0 defeat to Derry City as Gavin Brennan, Eric Foley, Cathal Brady and O’Brien all started. As for the Super Blues, McManus came in for Shaun Kelly in the only switch from the shock victory over St. Patrick’s Athletic.

The visitors took the lead on eight minutes as Patrick Nzuzi was allowed time and space to cross from the right and Galbraith swept the ball into the bottom corner of the net from 12-yards.

United came close to equalising soon after as Brennan evaded Nzuzi on the wing but his delivery was inches behind an unmarked Brady at the back-post.

Limerick capitalized on defensive errors in the Drogheda defense for their second goal on twenty-three minutes as McManus cut in from the right before firing the ball under Dave Ryan.

O’Brien came close to pulling a goal back for Drogheda on 28 minutes as he produced an overhead kick from Shane Grimes’ delivery but Barry Ryan was equal to the effort and pushed the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner, O’Brien headed the ball in at the near post and United were seemingly back in the game.

However, Limerick restored their two-goal advantage almost straight from the kick-off. The Super Blues captain Shane Duggan chipped the ball up in the air before dinking it over the head of Sean O’Connor and volleying into the corner of the net from 25-yards.

The Boynesiders pushed for a way back into the game but it was the visitors who extended their lead shortly after the interval. Shane Tracy’s in-swinging corner from the right went straight in, effectively ending the game as a contest.

Barry Ryan was eventually tested in the Limerick goal as he made two impressive saves to deny Brennan and Gary O’Neill in quick succession but the visitors missed chances of their own as they cut through the Drogheda defence at will.

Striker Rory Gaffney squandered a couple of opportunities when put through on goal while Dave Ryan tipped substitute Darragh Rainsford’s effort behind in virtually the final act of the game.

The result lifts Limerick up to sixth in the table while Drogheda have now suffered nine defeats in their last ten games with a trip to the champions St. Patrick’s Athletic on Monday.

Drogheda United: Dave Ryan; Gavan Holohan, Daire Doyle (Paul Andrews 46) Alan McNally, Shane Grimes; Cathal Brady (Carl Walshe 78), Eric Foley (Paul Crowley 52), Sean O’Connor, Gavin Brennan; Declan O’Brien, Gary O’Neill.
Subs not used: Roy Kierans, Philly Hughes, Dylan Connolly, Dominic Mahon.

Booked: Doyle (10), G Brennan (71).

Limerick: Barry Ryan; Patrick Nzuzi, Stephen Folan, Sam Oji, Shane Tracy (Tony Whitehead 80); Jason Hughes, Danny Galbraith (Darragh Rainsford 86), Shane Duggan, Prince Agyemang; Rory Gaffney, Tam McManus (Ross Mann 72).
Subs not used: James McGrath, Mick Leahy, Kieran Hanlon, Shane Cusack.

Booked: None.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 542

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Danny Galbraith (Limerick FC)