Blues held on big night

Limerick 0 Cork City 0

For the visitors, there was a measure of relief at leaving Shannonside with their own first point on the board, after this new look Limerick side had offered plenty of evidence that they should be worthy additions to the Premier Division as the long season ahead unfolds.

Afterwards, Blues boss Stuart Taylor said he was “absolutely delighted” with his team’s performance.

“The players had said that they wanted to make the supporters proud of them and they did just that,” he said. “Against a very good, very well-drilled Cork side, I can only be delighted with the clean sheet and the fact that we created some good attacking chances. And the goals will come too, I’ve no doubt about that. Because of the way the boys are going about their business, it can only get better for us.”

City boss Tommy Dunne was also accentuating the positives of a share of the spoils.

“We have to be pleased with a point away from home,” he said. “I thought it was a fair result overall in difficult conditions. If Daryl Horgan had scored [in a first-half one-on-one with the Limerick keeper], it would have changed the game. But late on in the match we withstood a lot of pressure. For the first game out, and away from home, I’m not too displeased.”

As is almost traditional for a ‘summer soccer’ opening day, the conditions at Thomond were bordering on the Arctic; a raw, blustery wind and leaden skies doing little to add the to the sense of occasion which a crowd of 3,578 did its best to create.

It was the home side who had the better of the first half, even if the more clear-cut goal chances probably fell to Cork. With ex-City man Joe Gamble anchoring the midfield and the talented Dave O’ Leary a significant creative presence just ahead of him, the Blues dominated the ball, new signings Patrick Nzuzi and especially Axel Bossekota getting forward at every opportunity, while Craig Curran excelled as the spearhead of the attack.

Still, for all their good football, Mark McNultyremained largely untroubled in the Cork goal, though, at one point, he was a relieved man when having advanced well outside his box towards the sideline, he was nutmegged by Danny Galbraith before managing to recover and clear the danger.

In the 25th minute, however, it was City who came closest to breaking the deadlock, Daryl Hogan profiting from some sloppy defending and drawing a good save from Barry Ryan.

A minute later, as the Limerick defence again struggled to clear their lines from an Ian Turner corner, Kevin Murray had a clear sight of goal but failed to get enough power into his shot.

For all Limerick’s impressive composure and neat passing, their first corner only arrived a minute before half time, Brian O’ Callaghan’s header missing the target after McNulty had failed to get to the ball.

Limerick upped the pressure, former Man United, Hearts and Hibs man Danny Galbraith an increasing threat on his left foot as he cut in from the right flank. It was from his perfect cross that Craig Curran headed just wide of the Cork post at the start of the second half and, again, in the 66th minute, Galbraith was the provider when, this time, it was the turn of O’ Leary — a Corkonian who can definitely be considered ‘one that got away’ by City — to head over.

By this stage, Tommy Dunne had replaced the isolated Daryl Kavanagh with Denis Behan and sent Danny Morrissey on for Ian Turner, as City went 4-4-2 in a bid to bring the game to their hosts.

It worked up to a point, with Shane Duggan and Daryl Horgan both testing Ryan but, no more than Limerick, Cork couldn’t convert their chances and, though the home side continued to press for the victory, the game ended scoreless.

LIMERICK: Limerick: Ryan; Nzuzi, O’Callaghan (Bradley 68), Folan, Williams; O’Leary, Gamble, Tracy; Galbraith (Rainsford 90), Curran, Bossekota.

CORK CITY: McNulty; N Horgan, K Murray, D Murray, Murphy; G Morrissey, Healy, Duggan; Turner (D Morrissey 63), Kavanagh (Behan 63), D Horgan (Rundle 89).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan).