Brave Cockhill outmuscled by slick Limerick

SECOND-HALF goals by Killian Brouder and Barry Maguire fired Premier Division Limerick to an FAI Cup win at Ulster Senior League champions Cockhill Celtic.

Cockhill, who have captured their own league title in each of the last six seasons, asked questions of their vaunted opponents, but the Shannonsiders managed to have the edge.

Had Cockhill made more of a brilliant early chance, the tale of the tape might well have been different.

However, Gerard McLaughlin’s tame effort went wastefully wide of the target after Jimmy Bradley had cut a swathe right through the heart of the Limerick rearguard.

Cockhill have just resumed preseason training, but with ex-Finn Harps man Mark Moran and Brendan McLaughlin lively, Gavin Cullen’s team were well in the tie.

But Limerick carved out the opener within two minutes of the start of the second-half.

Brouder had time and space to have a go from 30 yards and his blistering strike flew past player-manager Cullen into the bottom corner.

Moran drew a fine stop from Jack Brady soon after, but Limerick smelled blood and began to go in search of a killer second as Cullen saved commendably from Shane Duggan when in a one-on-one and defender Peter Doherty got a block on Maguire’s shot.

After Cullen wonderfully denied Billy Dennehy, Limerick wrapped the win up 16 minutes from the end when Karl O’Sullivan did the heavy lifting and, after he had surged into the box, picked out Maguire to slot home.

COCKHILL – G Cullen; J Breslin, (D Doherty 78), L McColgan, P Doherty; M McDermott, D McLaughlin (DM Doherty 85), G Gill, J Bradley, B McLaughlin; G McLaughlin (B Wesolowski 75), M Moran.

LIMERICK– J Brady; S Kelly, S Duggan, D Morrissey, E Wearen; K Brouder, W Fitzgerald, C Walsh-O’Loghlen (C Coleman h-t), B Maguire (C Ellis 75); B Dennehy, D Murphy (K Sullivan, h-t). REF – M Connolly