LIMS DENIED BY DOHERTY FLEE LIONS FOR THE BEST
Sligo new boy eager to show what he can do after Millwall departure
2
LIMERICK faced a long journey home last night having been denied a share of the spoils at the death.
Barry Maguire was presented with a glorious chance to made amends for an earlier miss, but an alert Gerard Doherty played a captain’s role when superbly turning the effort around his post in the 90th minute.
Limerick striker
Connor Ellis almost scored before one minute had elapsed.
The striker broke on the left flank but having weaved his way into the danger area, his shot crashed off the upright.
Derry debutante Ben Fisk also went close in the sixth minute but Limerick keeper Tommy Holland did well to block the shot.
Fisk then set-up Aaron Mceneff whose shot was also blocked by the visiting keeper before Rory Hale diverted a
Derry City Limerick
1 cross from Jamie Mcdonagh over the bar.
Limerick broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion.
The ball was worked out to the unmarked Karl O’sullivan on the left and the winger’s run and superb cross found Ellis, who lashed the ball high into the net.
However, that lead lasted just two minutes.
Aaron Splaine was cleared to play before kick-off and when the Limerick defence failed to clear their lines, the midfielder controlled the ball before picking his spot from 20 yards.
Limerick were caught cold after the break when Mceneff raced down the left flank and his accurate centre was gleefully swept home by another Derry debutant, Ally Roy this time.
The visitors then battled bravely to rescue a point but couldn’t find a way past Doherty.
Bray Sligo Rovers Tomorrow, 4pm
v THIS isn’t the first time Kris Twardek might be wondering what he’s got himself into.
An hour after landing in Dublin on Wednesday to begin life as a Sligo Rovers player, the Canadian international drank in the atmosphere around the FAI Cup first round draw at Aviva Stadium.
But as the weekend approached, the winger was part of a Sligo squad wondering just what was going on with their next opponents, as the Bray Wanderers players had refused to train on Tuesday and Thursday due to unpaid wages.
The Wicklow club has agreed to let want-away players go on free transfers and three have so far availed of that offer – Aaron Greene, Ronan Coughlan and Cory Galvin – with more sure to follow.
So Twardek has immediately got a taste of the highs and the lows of Irish football.
But experiencing an interesting start to life at a new club is no novelty for the Toronto native.
He joined Millwall as a 16-year-old back in 2013 and was put in digs with one of the
London club’s fans.
“I moved in with a family when I first went there – and he was a Millwall hooligan back in the day,” grinned Twardek.
“The stories that he told me, you just wouldn’t believe them.”
Five years on, Twardek has left the Lions and moved to the Showgrounds, fresh from captaining the Canadian under-21s in the Toulon tournament.
“I would’ve liked to have played more ( for Millwall), it was basically a settled team of experienced pros trying to get the club to a level where it should be,” he explained.
“I managed to play some part but you have to prove yourself, which is why it’s a great opportunity here.”
Twardek actually played at under-17 to under-19 level with the Czech Republic – his father’s native land – before deciding to represent Canada. He made his senior international bow against El Salvador last autumn.
His Czech passport means that getting a European work permit was no issue. Long term, he wants to be in the Canada side that plays at a home World Cup in 2026.
“It was probably one of the best decisions that I ever made,” he said, reflecting on his switch to represent Canada.
“I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of success with the Canadian team.
“Toulon was a fantastic experience and we surprised a lot of teams there.
“If you put Canada in a group with Portugal, Turkey and Japan you would probably have thought that we’d come last.
“Up until the last ten minutes we were pushing to win the group, but finished second.”
Scouted by MSL club Toronto FC while in France, he instead chose to move to Sligo on an 18-month deal.
Millwall’s under-23 manager Kevin Nugent was instrumental in making the connection with the SSE Airtricity League club.
“It was all looking positive towards a deal (with Toronto) but then halfway through this Sligo deal was finalised so I preferred to come here,” he said.
“I like the manager (Ger Lyttle, inset), and liked the impression I got from the club.
“For any young player, you don’t want to come back too early. You want to prove yourself abroad and there’s no better way than to play a run of games.
“If you feel like you can do that here then you’d be a fool to throw away that offer.
“So here’s an opportunity to get a good run of games and basically do well for the club and for myself. That’s the best thing I can do right now.”