Jaded display from Mervue Utd allows Limerick climb to the top

Mervue United 0Limerick FC 3

Mervue United produced arguably their worst performance of the season in Fahy’s Field on Friday night as the visitors recorded a comfortable win that moved them to the top of the First Division table for the first time this season.

Former Mervue player Rory Gaffney showed the visitors’ intent just three minutes in as it took an excellent touch from young home keeper Conor Gleeson to divert his effort from 18 yards onto the post.

The visitors were doing all the pressing, and their pressure was rewarded midway through the half with Gaffney instrumental in the move. He tormented the home side down the right before sending a cross into the danger area where Sean Brosnan met it first-time to finish past Gleeson.

Mervue were still reeling from that blow when the visitors struck again just three minutes later from the penalty spot. Joe Gamble had worked his way into the box before his progress was unfairly checked by Mike Elwood, and Shane Tracy made no mistake from 12 yards to increase Limerick’s lead.

Stephen Walsh came close to halving the deficit eight minutes before the break after good work by Pat Hoban and Noel Varley, but while his shot beat Dave Ryan, it flew wide of the far post.

However Limerick came close themselves to adding to the scoreline, and again it was Gaffney who was central to the chance, shooting wide as Limerick finished the half on the attack.

They started the second half as they finished the first, in the ascendency, and Gleeson had to be sharp to deny Brosnan after he was played through by Jeffrey Judge on the hour mark.

However the goalkeeper was left helpless three minutes later when the visitors effectively wrapped up the tie. Tracy floated a free-kick into the box and Judge was on hand to head past Gleeson to put the game beyond the home side.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.