Mervue United 1-1 Limerick FC

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Mar 06 2010


A controversial second half equaliser from Kevin Barrett gave the home team a share of the points as both sides had to be happy with a draw after Limerick had taken a first half lead through John Tierney.

The home team’s new manager Tom French started with a very young selection as only three players, captain Eric Browne, Damien O’Rourke and Gerry Burke, were over 20. They were without several of last season’s regulars with Nicky Curran and David O’Dowd suspended while David Goldbey, Mark Ludden and Mike Tierney were all missing. Limerick manager Pat Scully included new signings Sean Kelly, Peter White, Jeffrey Judge, Shane Clarke and Declan Cahill in his starting eleven.

The home team started brightly and Rory Gaffney had a dangerous cross into the Limerick goalmouth cleared for a corner which Limerick 'keeper, Dave Ryan, dropped before being cleared in the opening minute. Eric Browne’s excellent cross into the danger area on seven minutes also caused panic in the visitor’s backline, before eventually being cleared.

Mervue were then denied a penalty on 14 minutes when Rory Gaffney was taken down in the corner of the box, but the referee awarded a free-kick outside the box, which was blocked by the Limerick wall.

Some nice footwork and play by Pat Hoban in midfield set up Kevin Barrett after 21 minutes but his effort flew over the crossbar. After that Limerick finally came into the game when Jeffrey Judge turned and fired a shot from the edge of the box, which Irish under 19 international, Ger Hanley, did well to palm away for a corner. Hanley kept the game scoreless again after the resultant corner was cleared but Sean Kelly played the ball back into Daryl Kavanagh who saw his close range shot blocked by the home keeper on 24 minutes.

Limerick made the break through four minutes later when Shane Clarke hooked a ball over Damien O’Rourke and Mike Elwood for John Tierney to tuck the ball under the advancing Ger Hanley to give the visitors the lead.

Hanley was called into action again on 32 minutes as he was in the right place to save from Clarke who shot straight at him from the edge of the box. Five minutes later Tierney set up Judge on the edge of the area but he lifted his effort over the crossbar. Clarke broke into the box between Elwood and O’Rourke and curled his low effort around Hanley only to see it come back of the outside of the post as the visitors took only a single goal advantage at the half time break.

Limerick should have doubled their lead in the first minute of the second half as Tierney crossed for his strike partner, Clarke, who somehow shot over when well positioned in front of Hanley’s goalmouth. Rory Gaffney got himself into a very good position at the other end before shooting straight at Ryan as the home side started to look more dangerous again.

The home side got themselves level on 57 minutes after a controversial decision by the assistant referee, as he adjudged Barrett’s low effort from the left which crept under Ryan had crossed the line before it was cleared by a Limerick defender. Hanley made another good save after 73 minutes, as he palmed another Tierney effort away for a corner. Substitute Ollie Keogh then saw his curling free-kick tipped over the crossbar by Ryan after fellow sub, Enda Curran, had been fouled on the edge of the penalty box.

Clarke then fired another effort wide from a good cross by John Boyle after Mervue had failed to clear a Martin Deady free-kick on 81 minutes. At the other end a dangerous run into the box by Gaffney saw him beat Boyle but his close range shot was blocked by a covering Peter White at the expense of a corner. Hanley then saved at Limerick sub Robbie Kelleher’s feet as he chased a through ball from Kelly into the penalty box with two minutes remaining.

Despite some late pressure and a succession of corners by Limerick the home side defended well and held out as both sides registered their first point of the new 2010 season in a game watched by Irish senior squad player and Manchester City youngster, Greg Cunningham, whose twin brother, Dan, was making his first start for the home team at this level.

Mervue United: Ger Hanley; Eric Browne, Darren Young, Mike Elwood, Damien O’Rourke; Kevin Crehan, Kevin Barrett (Enda Curran 72), Pat Hoban (Ollie Keogh 55), Gerry Burke; Dan Cunningham, Rory Gaffney (Paul Scally 90).
Subs not used: Kenny Farrell, Padraig Lally.

Limerick FC: Dave Ryan; John Boyle, Martin Deady, Declan Cahill, Peter White; Jeffrey Judge, Shane Tracy (Thomas Lyons 72), Sean Kelly, Shane Clarke, John Tierney, Daryl Kavanagh (Robbie Kelleher 85).
Subs not used: Jason Hughes, Nigel Stanley, John McGuinness.

Referee – John McLoughlin (Athlone).

Booked – Damien O’Rourke (60 mins), Ollie Keogh (83 mins) (Mervue Utd)
Booked – Declan Cahill (85mins) (Limerick FC)

Attendance – 300 Approx

Extratime.ie Man of the Match – Ger Hanley (Mervue Utd).