Lack-lustre showing in Limerick
LIMERICK 2, WEXFORD F.C. 1: Wexford came undone against a Limerick side with just one win on the board in the SSE Airtricity League Under-17 Southern Elite Division in the University of Limerick on Sunday week.
Wexford were unbeaten coming into their fourth league game but they deserved exactly what they got as their lack-lustre performance was punished by the home side.
As you’d expect from a talented team, Wexford had spells where they were far better than their opponents. These spells generally came when Wexford had intensity in their pressure, but unfortunately these spells were fleeting as they seemed to lack the hunger they had shown in the opening three games.
Mark McInerney had the hosts ahead after just twelve minutes, racing on to Tony Mambouana’s through ball and calmly slotting past Seán Maher.
Wexford responded in fine fashion ten minutes later when Cillian McDonald’s pinpoint cross found Robert Bulmer whose header flew in off the crossbar and over the line, with James Dowling firing into the net to remove any doubt.
Wexford were at their best for the final 20 minutes of the half. Seán Smithers lobbed Michael Garrihy but saw his shot drift wide before Killian Griffin beat three in spectacular fashion and pulled a save from the Limerick shot-stopper.
After the re-start Wexford fell well below the levels expected of this side. Caellum Travers-Devlin did rattle the crossbar from a free-kick but Limerick were first to every ball.
This paid dividends in the 52nd minute when Jake Dillon turned in Ben Coleman’s cross, and Wexford never really recovered.
Brian Byrne did pull a smart save from Seán Hamm midway through the half, and Luke Greene volleyed wide as the game entered the closing minutes.
The hosts could have made it three in the last ten minutes, as Adam Fitzpatrick clipped the post as Wexford pushed three strikers up the pitch in a fruitless search for an equaliser.
For a squad which already seems plagued with injury concerns, the dangerous Smithers hobbled off in the second-half to add to their worries.
Wexford: Seán Maher; Killian Griffin, Kyle Scallan (capt.), Kevin Murphy, Cillian McDonald; Caellum Devlin-Travers, Graham O’Reilly, Ethan O’Neill, James Dowling, Robert Bulmer; Seán Smithers. Subs. - Brody Murphy for Smithers (51), Brian Byrne for Dowling (58), Luke Greene for O’Neill (76), Dylan Whelan for Griffin (81).
Limerick: Michael Garrihy; Jake Dillon, Cathal Downes (capt.), Scott Kirwan, Mikey Conlon; Tony Mambouana, Dylan Cody, Seán McGrath, Jamie Griffin, Ben Coleman; Mark McInerney. Subs. - Seán Hamm for Garrihy (46), Filip Mostowy for McGrath (58), Brian Ahearn for Griffin (58), Ronan Geary for Coleman (70), Adam Fitzpatrick for Dillon (76), also Jack Joyce, Dean McNamara.
Referee: Dylan Shannon (Limerick).