McEneff shoots down Limerick

DERRY CITY got back to winning ways as they saw off struggling Limerick in an entertaining game at Markets Field last night.

Few backed against the Candystripes winning this but Limerick gave a good account of themselves, only paying for their inability to put the ball in the net.

Limerick very nearly got off to the perfect start in the first minute when Karl O’Sullivan’s cross fell for Shane Duggan, but the captain could only side-foot his effort over the crossbar.

The breakthrough finally came just before the break and after a fantastic reverse pass from Rory Hale unlocked the hosts’ defence, finding Rory Patterson, who lashed the ball past Brendan Clarke for his fifth goal of the season.

Limerick should have equalised on 83 minutes when Shane Duggan’s header found Danny Morrissey who touched the ball into the path of O’Sullivan, who somehow skied the ball over the crossbar.

Derry put the game beyond Limerick within 60 seconds, breaking quickly forward with Aaron McEneff driving the ball brilliantly past Clarke.

In injury time Killian Brouder produced a clumsy challenge on McEneff, and the midfielder stepped up to score Derry’s third from the spot. LIMERICK – Clarke, Cantwell, Whitehead, Wearen (Maguire 81’), Duggan, Morrissey, Clifford, Brouder, Fitzgerald, Murphy (O’Sullivan 71’), O’Sullivan. DERRY CITY – Doherty, Cole (McDermott 63’), Toal, Peers, Doyle, Curtis (Ronan Hale 73’), McEneff, Low, Hale (Doherty 86’), McDonagh, Patterson.

REF – Graham Kelly.