Under-19 loss in Limerick
LIMERICK F.C. 3 WEXFORD F.C. 0
A LIMERICK side with their eyes firmly focused on a top four finish in the SSE Airtricity Under-19 Southern Elite League proved a little too strong for Wexford in Hogan Park, Rathbane, on Sunday.
James Quinn’s side made the long trek hoping to keep their run of respectable performances going and, while they were able to manage that, they weren’t able to take their chances when they came and eventually paid the price.
The name of the game for Wexford at this stage is to keep their level of consistency up, remain sharp and move into the shield competition at the start of October, where they can do a bit of damage, with some momentum.
They started this game like they meant business and bossed the opening 30 minutes. Limerick were pinned in their half for that spell as Wexford created half-chance after half-chance but, crucially, failed to take any of them.
Adham Masood, as is the norm, had his fair share of jinking runs and shots but couldn’t hit the target. Liam Berry and Shane Beary-Cahill were also a whisker away from converting excellent crosses into the box.
It was therefore a real kick in the teeth when Limerick broke down their left, got in one-on-one, and Lee Devitt opened the scoring against the run of play.
Even more painful was a second goal, this time from Colm Walsh-O’Loghlen with a header at the back post, five minutes later.
From absolutely nowhere, Limerick held a two-goal interval lead. Wexford fought hard in the second-half, didn’t drop their heads and went in search of a way back into the match. Yaw Aboagye and Masood both failed to convert half-chances.
Shane Beary-Cahill and substitute Liam Evans also had good opportunities to net but when they went abegging, Limerick broke upfield and put the game to bed with a third goal, this time from Cian Power.
Wexford now have a welcome week off from competition before returning to action on August 12 with a home tie against U.C.D. That game is the first of three in as many weekends, with a trip to Cork then followed by a Ferrycarrig Park tussle with rivals Waterford.
Wexford F.C.: Kelan Gaffney; Adam Feeney, Danny Bruce, Kevin Murphy, Ger Murray (capt.), Ciarán Paige, Craig O’Reilly, Adham Masood, Shane Beary-Cahill, Liam Berry, Yaw Aboagye. Subs. - Darragh Levingston, Dylan Wall, Liam Evans, also Colum Feeney.
Limerick: Kuba Beban; Sammy Ogundare, Seán Madigan, Tomás O’Connor, Jason Cross (capt.), Lee Devitt, Aaron Fitzpatrick, Colm Walsh-O’Loghlen, Adam Foley, Andy Quaid, Cian Power. Subs. - Edmond O’Dwyer, James Fitzgerald, Dylan Kelly-Higgins, Conor Coughlan, Ronan McGuire.
Referee: Dermot Broughton.