Monaghan United give Limerick FC the Blues

LIMERICK FC were unceremoniously dumped out of the EA Sports Cup at the quarter-final stage in Jackman Park on Tuesday night when they lost three-nil against an utterly dominant Monaghan Utd.


After a ponderous start to the game Monaghan created the first real goal-scoring opportunity in the 14th minute when Karl Bermingham created a shooting chance for Sean Brennan, but Limerick FC ‘keeper Dave Ryan made a stunning save.
Eight minutes later Aidan Collins flashed his shot over the Limerick bar and the Super Blues looked in real trouble. Limerick responded to the threat posed by the away side however. Pat Scully’s men soon gained a foothold in the game and in the 34th minute, following a brilliant move, Daryl Kavanagh looked to have played Stephen Hickey through on goal, but the Clare man was strangely flagged offside. Then, just as Limerick attempted to absorb that bizarre decision, Monaghan were presented with a 25-yard free kick following a foul on Cathal O’Connor which Philip Hughes curled home via Dave Ryan’s left-hand post.
Monaghan dominated after the break and scored a deserved, if controversial, goal in the 54th minute.
When Conor McMahon delivered a cross Sean Brennan looked completely, and utterly, offside, but the flag stayed down and a delighted Brennan stepped around Dave Ryan before rolling home Monaghan United’s second goal of the evening.
In the 64th minute Sean Brennan stung the hands of Dave Ryan with a snap shot and although Limerick FC manager Pat Scully introduced Robbie Kelleher, David McGrath and Peter Ballough to his side the Super Blues found themselves 3-0 down in the 73rd minute. This time a brilliant Monaghan counter-attack, led by Philip Hughes, culminated when Hughes sprayed the ball out to Sean Brennan on the left flank who expertly steered his shot wide of Dave Ryan and into the bottom right-hand corner of the Limerick goal.
Limerick FC will be back in cup action once more on Friday night when Tolka Rovers visit Jackman Park (7.45pm) in the third round of the FAI Ford Cup.
Although the Glasnevin-based Tolka Rovers are an amateur side and play in the Leinster Senior League they are expected to present Limerick FC with a stern test.
Before the mid-season break Limerick FC will be back in Airtricity League Division One action on Tuesday, June 8 when the Super Blues host Finn Harps at Jackman Park (kick-off 7.45pm) - after next Tuesday night’s encounter Limerick FC will not be back in competitive action until Friday, June 25 when they make the journey to Turner’s Cross to take on Cork City.
Limerick FC have already beaten Finn Harps this season. On Friday, March 26 the Super Blues traveled to Ballybofey in Donegal and won 3-0 thanks to goals from John Tierney, Stephen Hickey and Shane Tracy.
Limerick FC: Dave Ryan, Gavin Roche, Sean Kelly, Declan Cahill, Pat Purcell, Peter White, Daryl Kavanagh, Jeffrey Judge, Jason Hughes, Stephen Hickey, Thomas Lyons. Subs: Robbie Kelleher for Jason Hughes, David McGrath for Stephen Hickey, Peter Ballough for Thomas Lyons.
Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava, Conor McMahon, Anthony Costigan, Aidan Lynch, Brian Gartland, Dom Tierney, Cathal O’Connor, Aidan Collins, Karl Bermingham, Philip Hughes, Sean Brennan.
Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare).

BRIAN MCDONNELL