Breen blows title race open

Limerick FC 0 Waterford United 1

United, who are lying in third spot, went into the Munster derby having already beaten Lims three times on the bounce in the league this term.

And the visitors, courtesy of Breen’s 89th-minute winner, made it four in-a-row against Pat Scully’s side, who finished with 10 men after Jeffrey Judge received a straight red card in the second half.

Former Irish international Dominic Foley saw his header from a Rory Gaffney long throw tipped onto the bar by United keeper Packie Holden at the expense of a corner in the 12th minute.

At the other end, Lims keeper Barry Ryan brilliantly kept out a rising Peter Keegan effort after the United striker latched onto a woeful back pass from Joe Gamble.

Holden denied Jeffrey Judge midway through the half, while the Lims defence, once again putting themselves under needless pressure, watched Sean McGuire blast into the side netting from 16 yards.

Gaffney and John Frost exchanged volleys in the closing minutes of the half, both efforts flying over the top of Holden’s and Ryan’s goals.

The visitors continued to apply pressure in the opening six minutes of the second period, Lims responding via a snap shot from Foley which drifted well wide.

Gaffney broke down the right on the hour, but his low cross — with Foley, Judge and Derek O’Brien lurking at the back post — was cut out by Dylan Mernagh.

Jack Doherty, who had a fine game throughout, was denied by a well-timed tackle from the hard-working Gamble, as the visitors continued to look the more likely to break the deadlock.

Limerick didn’t do themselves any favours when Judge received a straight red card for a lunge on Frost, under the nose of the ref, with 16 minutes remaining.

Limerick FC boss Pat Scully, despite being down to 10 men, signalled his intentions by sending on striker Denis Behan for Foley in the closing minutes.

But it was Breen that popped up late on to fire home from inside the six-yard box and help Waterford secure 12 points from 12 from the Shannonsiders this season.

However, despite the defeat, Limerick are still three points clear at the top.

LIMERICK FC: Ryan, Kelly, Purcell, Tracey, Kluciar (Bradley 43) Gamble, Gaffney, Judge, Tracy, Brosnan (O’Brien 57) Foley (Behan 88).

WATERFORD UTD: Holden, Mulcahy inj (Carey 14,) Mernagh, Frost inj (Cross 75) Breen, Doherty, Dempsey, Higgins (Cole 81) White, Keegan, McGuire.

Referee: J McKell (Tipperary).