Match report please

[joeSoap]

Lads, can ye submit ye're glowing reports on last nights game as I was stuck in Drogheda of all places. What was the team, substitutions etc....the one time I miss a bloody game...maybe I should miss more!!!

[sadloserkid]

Healy (GK) - Dropped a lot of ball in the first half and looked horribly shaky. Redeemed himself somewhat with a brilliant full-length dive to turn a goalbound shot onto the bar and away late on.

O'Mahony (RB) - Solid and tenacious again and never gave up. Made some crucial tackles.

Molan (LB) - Much the same as O'Mahony on the opposite flank. Got forward a little more though.

Purcell (CB) - Class again. Dominated in the air and was always rock-solid on the ground.

Finucane (CB) - Had a fine game also. Never looked to be in any danger and was composed and confident throughout.

Heffernan (RM) - Had his best game in a while. Got involved well and went past a few players.

Cooney (LM) - Took his goal well and looked sharp and busy until he pulled up injured early in the second half.

Sweeney (CM) - Marshalled midfield well and fought for every ball. Got forward on occasion as well but was never guilty of pushing on too soon.

Keating (CM) - Had a good game also, getting stuck into everything and offering support to his team-mates. Moved out wide when Whyte replaced Cooney.

McCarthy (FW) - Ran his socks off again and smacked home his penalty with some composure.

Foley (FW) - Also sweated buckets for the cause. The handful of Kildare fans who went the journey raved about him afterwards.

Subs - Whyte for Cooney - Took the midfield by the scruff of the neck and played a big role in us holding out.

Browne for McCarthy - Came on for the last few minutes and made himself busy.

Derek Whyte was sent from the dug-out after the linesman called over the referee to tell tales basically... the ref had just made an awful call (not his first either!) and Derek passed comment to whoever was next to him...

And the penalty was a bit dubious, that's the second year running that Ciaran has won a penalty against Kildare...

[AZOffaly]

Hi lads, I'm new to this forum, just found out about it last night at the game, but I've been going to most of the home matches this season. Anyway forgive my hard neck, but my first post is going to be a match report.

To be honest, I thought the first half especially was the worst I have seen Limerick play this season. They obviously missed the suspended Stevo, and Kildare dominated most of the half. Kildare had several decent half chances in the opening minutes, but then after 9 minutes Limerick opened the scoring with a breakaway goal. A nice ball behind the full back from Ciaran Foley let Colm Heffernan fire a great waist high ball across the 6 yard box. Derek McCarthy challenged with the centre halves and the ball went through to an unmarked Gareth Cooney at the back stick who made no mistake with a first time shot.

Kildare lifted themselves again and went at Limerick, and to be fair this was the story for the rest of the first half. Not terribly inventive, or skillful, but a lot of pressure and high balls into the box from decent positions. Not too many punts forward.

County equalised after 16 minutes when a ball from the right was missed by the limerick defence and allowed to bounce about 8 yards out. Confusion reigned until Barry O'Connor stabbed at it and it seemed to take a deflection as it beat John Healy in the Limerick goal.

From there on it was panic stations as Healy found it almost impossible to deal with the balls being fired in at him. He flapped at and dropped numerous crosses, and but for some frantic last ditch defending we would have conceded again.

Amazingly, while all this pressure was being applied, Limerick almost snatched another breakaway goal, and it would have been a carbon copy of the first. Again, following nice build up play Gareth Cooney found himself in acres of space about 10 yards out with the right back AWOL again. Somehow he screwed his shot wide and the groans told the story.

Limerick made it to half time unscathed after that, and started the second period brightly. This was Limericks most controlled portion of the game, and for the first 25 minutes or so they dominated, with Ciaran Foley and Derek McCarthy linking up play with the midfielders nicely. John Whyte had replaced the injured Gareth Cooney at this stage, and he was helping to lay a foundation for this dominance in midfield alongside the hardworking Brendan Sweeney.

Limerick deserved a goal at this stage, but the manner of it was dubious to say the least. A long ball into the Kildare area caught the centre half Keely out of position. As he backtracked to get a header on the ball, he could only knock it sideways, where it cannoned off the full back, Brennan. Ciaran Foley was chasing up the play, and found the ball at his feet. Ciaran seemed to lose his balance, and fall over the ball, but amazingly the ref pointed to the spot. A hilarious decision, but we weren't going to complain.

Derek McCarthy showed great composure and hammered the ball to the Keeper's right, with the keeper gone flying the other way.

After this goal, Limerick seemed to take their foot off the pedal, and a siege was laid to the limerick goal, with only occasional breakouts lifting the pressure. At this stage the Limerick midfield and back four were sitting way too deep, inviting Kildare onto them, and when the ball went forward, McCarthy and Foley were too isolated to ensure a period of possession.

While the strategy of sitting back was highly debatable, (and not a managerial decision by the way, Mike was trying to get them to push out), the bravery of the defending was very good. Purcell, as usual, Finnucane, Molan, O'Mahoney and John Whyte were outstanding at this time, with headers and clearances at vital times. In fact despite their pressure, Kildare only managed one real chance, a piledriver from Ray Scully which was fantastically stopped at full stretch by John Healy, who made amends for his first half hesitations immediately. Also in fairness to John, he made a great relieving catch from a high ball late on which will have done his confidence a lot of good.

Frankie Browne came on in the dying minutes for a tiring Derek McCarthy, and Limerick held on for a vital win. Best for Limerick in my opinion were Purcell, Finnucane, Heffernan, Sweeney and Foley.

Team.
Healy,
O'Mahoney, Purcell, Finnucane, Molan
Heffernan, Keating, Sweeney, Cooney
Foley McCarthy

Subs John Whyte for Cooney(inj) early second half
Frank Browne for McCarthy (86?)

[sadloserkid]

Damn, that's one hell of a good report above! Applause for that man (who I met last night!)

[LFC in Exile]

Jayus, AZ that;s some post for your first one. Puts SLK's efforts to shame anyway

Welcome to the board. Although you've set yourself a tough standard to follow now.

We need new posters now - all of us are all gone too cranky....

[AZOffaly]

Cheers for that lads. First post on this board, but I've posted a lot on the GAA message boards. I'm a GAA man first and foremost, but I do love my 'soccer' as well. The summer soccer and Thursday evening kick offs really suit me from that point of view.

Also, I wouldn't be interested in watching if they were playing muck savage stuff, but the way Limerick play is fairly easy on the eye. At least they are trying to do the right things.

I'd say if we could get more lads out to see a game, I brought my brother and a friend of mine, and they are regular attendees now, we'd get a good few 'return' visitors.