Limerick

[ForzaForth]

Good effort from the Youths tonight but ultimately not enough goal threat to prevent Limerick taking the three points in an entertaining game in Ferrycarrig tonight. With Craig suspended,Youths started 4-5-1 with Graham, a back four of Scally, Jamie, CJ and Corkey, a midfield of Joey, Patsy, Eric, Shane and Deano and Tom up front. Limerick had a good chance in the first minute when McGrath hit over from ten out from a corner which Behan had dummied. However, Limerick generally looked sluggish in the first half but with the Youths unable to capitalise. Wexford followed the Limerick chance with a corner of their own but nothing came of it. After five, a flick-on by Behan was hit by Gaffney first-time but it wasn't truely volleyed and Graham had an easy enough saved. After twelve, another Limerick dead-ball lead to a Limerick header but Graham managed to touch it around the post. Wxford were finding it hard to deal with Gaffney's long throws mainly due to an absence of really attacking it, and midway through the half, it was met first-time by an attacker but slotted over from ten out. Just after the half-hour, Tom had a far-post header which went just over but Ryan probably had it covered. With seven to go, Sheahan hit a screamer with his right from 30 out but it went just over. The half ended with two chances called offside, Behan for Limerick and Joey for the Youths.

[ForzaForth]

Nil-nil at half-time and a reasonable enough reflection on the game if you excluded the danger from Limerick's deadball into the box. Limerick upped the tempo in the second-half and had a good spell for ten minutes. After five, a Behan knock-down was hit over the bar by Gaffney on the turn. With nine gone, Deano had an excellent effort from a free from thirty-five out which Ryan was happy to push away. This then fell to Joey whose low shot was deflected for a corner. From that corner, Patsy got a free-header from six out and he controlled it well to give Ryan no chance for 1-0 to the home side. Bradley then came on for McGrath for Limerick. However, Limerick then equalised almost immediately with a bad goal for the Youths when a low corner travelled, with a bounce, all the way to the far post where Gaffney had an easy job to steer it home. Not the first time that the Youths have given this type of goal away and symptomatic of the failure to really attack the ball as it comes head-height into the box. Derek O'Brien then came on wide left for Gary Sheahan. Limerick looked the better for their substitutions and, after twenty, Behan had a completely free header from twelve out but let it come up off his glance and it smacked against the crossbar and went away.

[ForzaForth]

After 22 minutes, Youths had a great chance when two neat passes put Joey clean through and coming in along the line of the right-hand post but he blasted it wide when more composure was needed to at least make Ryan have to work. Foley then came on for Behan and immediately, Limerick nicked a really excellent goal when Derek O'Brien cushioned a nice header into Judge's path whose first-time stretch lob gave Graham no chance for 2-1 to the away side. With fifteen to go, Foley was set up just outside the box but hit his shot wide. With thirteen to go, Shane made a triple substitution with Crokey, Glenn and Danny coming on and Eric, Shane and Deano going off. Wexford applied a bit of pressure towards the end but the best they could manage was a near-post header which Ryan had to stretch backwards to grab as it was going in. Then, right into injury-time, Gaffney was sent free down the right and his effort was parried by Graham but fell to Foley who had an easy task to slot home for 3-1 to Limerick. First yellow cards of the match were right on the blow to Joey and Gamble for a bout of handbags after Youths tried to take a free-kick quickly.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were Jamie and CJ at the back who gave little away from play but the Youth's defence looked vulnerable at the deadball. Patsy, as usual, gave 100% in midfield whilst Joey again looked the pick of the forwards. Best for Limerick were probably Gaffney and Purcell. 3-1 to Limerick at full-time with about 210 at it if you include the Youth's season-tickets.

[CraftyToePoke]

Nice report, thanks.

[cornflakes]

Thanks Forza, I've missed the last couple of home games and after next weeks derby I doubt I'll be able to attend anymore games this season:(...so I'll be relying on your reports!!