Blues battle back to stun Limerick

A brilliant second half performance saw Waterford came from behind to stun Limerick at rain soaked RSC last night.

It was the Blues’ ninth win from ten league games and their third win over Limerick FC this season.

The game offered nothing for the opening 22 minutes as the monsoon-like conditions made life very difficult for both sides. However, that soon changed as the visitors went in front with the first meaningful attack of the contest.

When Shane Tracy eased past Paul Carey down the left, his cross for Rory Gaffney was cut out by defender Craig Burns, but the ball broke into the path of Denis Behan and the striker applied a lethal right-footed finish past keeper Packie Holden from the edge of the area.

Peter White went agonisingly close to levelling the tie less than two minutes later but the midfielder’s effort from 25 yards fly just wide.

Limerick midfielder Stephen Bradley denied the home side an equalising goal on 33 minutes. A superb through ball from Paul Phelan picked out the inrushing Peter White but, just as he was about to shoot to the net, Bradley got back with a last-ditch challenge.

White had another chance to level less than four minutes later. Peter Higgins did well down the right to skip past the challenge of Shane Tracy and after his cross found the Blues midfielder, he sidefooted over from inside the penalty area.

Packie Holden came to his side’s rescue with an excellent save in the final minute of the first half when Steven McGann saw his shot kept out by the legs of the Blues netminder.

Peter Keegan had the first chance of the second period on 49 minutes but his looping header went inches wide before Seanie Maguire nearly scored a cracking equalising goal two minutes later when he latched onto a Dylan Mernagh pass but the striker dragged a shot inches wide.

The home side continued to pepper the Limerick goal and goalkeeper Barry Ryan made a stunning save to tip a David Breen header over the bar on 54 minutes. However, there was nothing he or his team-mates could do to stop Waterford levelling from the resulting corner, as Paul Phelan’s fine delivery was magnificently headed home by Peter White.

Limerick were shellshocked on 65 minutes as Waterford went in front with another brilliant set-piece, as Gary Dempsey’s flag kick from the left to the back post was met by Dylan Mernagh, who powered a header to the net to send the home support wild.

WATERFORD UNITED: Holden, Carey, Breen, Burns, Mernagh; Higgins, Dempsey (Coad 90), White, Phelan (Doherty 60); Maguire, Keegan.

LIMERICK FC: B. Ryan; Kelly, Guthrie, Treacy, Tracy, McGann (Gamble 66), O’Leary, Bradley (Judge 77), Sheahan (Foley 72), Gaffney, Behan

Referee: Keith Callanan (Cork).