Limerick FC 3-0 Athlone Town
LIMERICK MADE IT 11 wins from 11 in the SSE Airtricity League First Division with a convincing win over Athlone Town.
Alan Mathews’ men became the first side to keep Limerick scoreless in the first half of a league game this year – surpassing Cobh Ramblers’ record of 39 minutes.
Limerick averaged 4.3 goals per game coming into this tie but failed to create anything clear-cut in the opening 45. Paul O’Conor had the best opportunity just before the break but Ryan Coulter got down well to palm away his powerful drive.
O’Conor wasn’t to be denied a second time however. Ten minutes into the second half, the midfielder peeled off his marker and headed Stephen Kenny’s cross powerfully past Coulter from eight yards.
Ten minutes later, Limerick were out of sight. John O’Flynn got on the end of a 60-yard diagonal from Kenny. Coulter hesitated and O’Flynn rolled the ball into the far corner to notch his eighth league goal of the season.
Goal number nine followed in the 78th minute. Chris Mulhall’s nutmeg began a clever Limerick move – he squared to Shane Tracy who drilled the ball across the six-yard box for O’Flynn to flick home.
Limerick: Freddy Hall; Shaun Kelly, Paudie O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Shane Tracy; Paul O’Conor, Lee-J Lynch; Stephen Kenny, Sean Russell, Ross Mann (John O’Flynn, 58); Chris Mulhall (Sean McSweeney, 86).
Athlone: Ryan Coulter; Calvin Douglas (Emeka Onwubiko, 64), Kevin Farragher, Jack Tuite, Ian Fletcher; Marco Chindea, Simon Dixon, Adam Kelly, Daniel Purdy, Conor Barry (Ross Purdy, 89); Alan O’Sullivan.
Referee: Simon Rogers
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One of the greatest managers the game has ever seen.
@Aidan Farrell: The greatest team the game has ever seen…..Imo.
@Ray Ridge: it’s impossible to compare teams of different eras
@Aidan Farrell: it’s a stated fact that he does not know the names of half of the backroom team that’s employed by JP.
@Mikey Walsh: my goodness Mikey, give it a rest boi, how bitter are you about this, chirping away all day, chipping away, you must be sickened.
@Michael Kennedy: your raving BOY
53 backroom staff??ffs I bet pep doesn’t even have half of that with city.madness..limerick are great to watch a different animal and when they get to croke Park cannot see them been stopped..
@Paully kells: always enjoy your input Paul, why madness? Most of them are voluntary.
Paul Kinnerk is the brains
@liam hehir: ya but Paul Kinnerk has openly stated that he could not do the job that John Kiely does so it appears they are a formidable management team who compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses perfectly
Were Clare too conservative? It appeared that when they continuously drove the ball long that it was a 3 V 1 in the full forward line or a 4 v 2 always in Limericks favour. You have to carry the ball through the lines of that’s the case. Maybe Clare don’t have the pace to do that and if that’s the case I can see them struggling with a Cork or Kilkenny in future
@anthony davoren: definitely the difference today was Limerick nearly always chose the right pass or shot, where as Clare nearly always chose the wrong option..in fairness when Clare did choose the correct option they looked really good.. Limerick are the standard bearer’s.
@Matthew Delaney: well said..clare have theirselves to blame with a few clumsy mistakes they are a very good team no doubt but make them mistakes against a machine like limerick expect to be punished..very unlucky to hit the post near the end would been two points in it then and god knows then what could happening?the banner will be still there or there abouts..
@Paully kells: I’d also say that a factor today was the two goalkeepers..puck outs cost Clare, not all quilligans fault.
@Matthew Delaney: definitely Matthew…quaid nearly always finds he’s man..quilligans puck outs were very good unfortunately for the banner limerick were out in front to get get to frw them first..clare will be back lohan will have them fired up for the next day no doubt about it..