Steve O’Flynn goal downs Dubs

Dublin City 0-1 Limerick FC

And the misery goes on for Dublin City. At this stage, with a goal from Limerick’s Stephen O’Flynn dispelling them to their third defeat in four league games at Tolka Park, they must be delighted to be moving to the newer surrounds of the Morton Stadium from next week.

John Toal’s side, tipped by many to gain promotion this season after going close last year, have now won just once in seven league games, and are quickly losing touch with their erstwhile promotion rivals: Finn Harps, Dundalk and Waterford United are seven, eight and nine points above them respectively, and in this constrained season of just 22 league games, City’s prospects of fighting it out for a place in the top flight are salvaged only by the new regulation which stipulates that fourth place will be enough to make the end-of-season play-offs.

Stephen O’Flynn, the former Cork City striker, grabbed his seventh goal of the season midway through the second half to give Limerick a third win in their last four matches, and sees them jump to fifth in the table, just three points behind leaders Waterford.

The only goal of the game owed a lot to the misfortune of Vikings keeper Brendan Kennedy, who allowed O’Flynn’s shot to slip through his hands and into the net.

Alan McNevin and Derek McGrath, the midfield pair who have been the chief scorers for Dublin of late, both went close on a couple of occasions in the first half, and the former even had the ball in the net after quarter of an hour only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

Dublin continued to dominate, but were unable to create clear-cut chances, and any opportunities that fell their way were spurned.

Limerick had chances of their own, with Kennedy foiling Anton Mannering and O’Flynn giving prior warning of his potency with a shot that was deflected narrowly wide. In the 66th minute, however, O’Flynn’s 30-yard drive evaded Kennedy’s grip and nestled in the net for the visitors’ winner.

Dublin City: Kennedy, Gifford, McGauley, Jackson, Clarke (O’Driscoll, 83), McNevin, McGrath (Crowley, 74), Sliney, O’Brien (Kelly, 74), Farrell, Markey.

Limerick FC: Fyfe, Poill, Finucane, Browne, Purcell, O’Donoghue, Whyte, Hughes, Weldrick (Donnellan, 85), Mannering (Foley, 75), O’Flynn.

Referee: D. Hanney (Dublin)

Dunno if I'd say that Dublin dominated. In the first half yeah but the second half was all Limerick to be fair.

why did city leave him go? can´t understand that. he looked well handy de few games he played for us.

I heard from a Cork City fan on a bus that he had a row with your manager. he sems happy enough with us and we've even made him our commercial representative or somethin like that... You guys hardly need him back anyway.

The story I heard at the time was that the full-time players were meant to be training the young lads on the FÁS(?) course city run, and O´Flynn refused to do it. He wanted to go to training, rather than be in charge of it.

could be true, my scource was quite vague about it all to be honest! ;) He's done well for us though. Now if only Derek McCarthy was fit again...