League Report: Cabinteely 3 - 0 Limerick

Andrew Dempsey reports from Stradbrook

Cabinteely continued their push for the First Division Playoffs with a comfortable three-nil win over Limerick on Friday evening.

A brace from Rob Manley and a Keith Dalton strike before the hour mark saw Pat Devlin’s side go eleven points clear of their visitors at Stradbrook.

Having secured a pivotal point last time out at Drogheda, Cabo started strong and were unfortunate to not take the lead with the first attack of the game.

Paul Fox and Rob Manley combined as the in-form striker headed over the bar with the Blues appearing to be struggling early on.

Struggling they were and they were duly punished moments after as Manley nodded home to score his 15^th goal of the season from close-range.

The former UCD hitman headed home after some lovely work on the wing from Fox saw the hosts take an early lead through the imperious frontman.

With their tails up, the Green and Whites were unfortunate not to score a second minutes later, as Vilius Labutis saw his rasping drive tip off the bar as Limerick ‘keeper Jack Brady was left stranded.

Kevin Knight was the next to go close as he saw his free header saved by Brady from a Keith Dalton corner-kick.

Manley then saw an effort on goal skim the top of the bar in a carbon copy of Labutis’ effort before he saw a goal stroked off by referee Garvin Taggart who adjudged the forward to be offside on the half-hour mark.

However, Manley was not to be denied as he scored both his and Cabinteely’s second of the night when he headed home an expert delivery from the right via the curling boot of Daniel Blackbyrne.

Brady was left in no man’s land with the former Drogheda United forward heading home in front of an ecstatic home support.

The Green and Whites had chances to extend their lead before the break but the alert Brady, who was having much more to do than he had planned.  

He saved well twice from both Keith Dalton and Manley as Cabo looked in an ominous vein of form at the half-time whistle.

After a strong opening half show, Cabo continued on from where they started as they grabbed a third with just four minutes on the clock.

Dalton was the benefactor after some lovely play from Manley. He jinked his way past three defenders as the former Dundalk youngster scored his second of the season.

Bad turned to worse minutes later as Tomas O’Connor was dismissed with a straight red card after an altercation with a Cabinteely player.

Clyde O’Connell was then forced off with what appeared to be a bad injury and he was replaced by youngster Aaron Fitzgerald. 

The energetic Jack Watson was then unfortunately removed from the action with just under twenty to play as he went down rather innocuously as both sides went through the motions.

While the injuries sucked much of the life out of the game, Cabo continued their onslaught with Shane Barnes growing in influence as the game progressed – forcing saves from the busy Limerick shot-stopper.

Cabo continued their relentless press for a fourth – with sub Yuta Sasaki going close - but it wasn’t to be as they went to within seven points of league leaders Shelbourne with Brady keeping the score down with a fine display.

Cabinteely: Stephen McGuinness; Daniel Blackbyrne, Kevin Knight, Jack Tuite; Alex Aspil, Keith Dalton, Paul Fox (Karl Manahan, 77), Vilius Labutis, Jack Watson (Yuta Sasaki, 72); Shane Barnes (Luke Clucas, 84), Rob Manley. 

Subs not used: Jonny Carlin, Christian Lotefa, Zak O'Neill, Peter Quinlan. 

Booked: Yuta Sasaki (79).


Limerick: Jack Brady; Lee Devitt Molloy, Shaun Kelly, Tomas O'Connor, Shane Tracy, Robbie Williams; Jason Hughes, Darren Murphy, Clyde O'Connell (Aaron Fitzgerald, 62); Adam Foley (Ciaran O’Reilly, 55), Kieran Hanlon (Sean Madigan, 83). 

Subs not used: Sean Madigan, Andy Quaid, Callan Scully. 

Booked: Shaun Kelly (40), Tomas O’Connor (45).

Sent off: Tomas O’Connor (52).


Referee: Garvin Taggart.

Attendance: 300 (Estimate).

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Rob Manley (Cabinteely).