Limerick 5
Bray Wanderers 3
Andrew Cuneen reports from Markets Field
LATE, LATE DRAMA at the Markets Field saw Limerick run out winners in an eight goal thriller against Bray Wanderers.
Blues boss Neil McDonald is still getting the hang of his squad – opting for a switch to a back three on this occasion.
Robbie Williams and Tony Whitehead remained in the side, with Dave O’Connor replacing Chris Mulhall. Paul O’Conor also came into the side as Shane Duggan was injured in Ballybofey last weekend.
The Seagulls also made changes – replacing John Sullivan, Karl Moore and Derek Pender with Keith Buckley, Darragh Noone and Kevin Lynch.
Beginning at a frantic pace, the opening twenty minutes belonged to Chiedozie Ogbene. Deployed as a striker alongside talisman Rodrigo Tosi, Limerick’s plan was to get the ball to Ogbene.
Ironically, it was Bray gifting the speedster possession inside fifteen minutes that opened the scoring.
Ogbene skipped past a tackle in midfield before knocking the ball past Conor Kenna and firing sharply into the bottom corner to give Cherrie no chance.
Five minutes later, the former Cork City winger doubled his tally. Bastien Hery elegantly turned out of trouble in midfield before freeing Ogbene down the right with a brilliantly-weighted pass. Ogbene dropped his shoulder before cutting inside Kevin Lynch, taking a touch and smashing the ball past the Seagulls stopper.
But in their best impression of the national side’s performance in New Jersey, Limerick struggled with their back three. Their failure to clear the danger after a left-wing cross just sixty seconds later allowed Ryan Brennan time at the back post. He cleverly shifted possession onto his left foot before curling low into the bottom corner.
Five minutes later, the sides were level. Kevin Lynch’s corner again tested Limerick’s organisation and they failed miserably. Not clearing at the first attempt, Brennan clipped a cross from the right to the head of a completely unmarked Aaron Greene, just six yards out – he made no mistake.
Shaun Kelly was injured on the half hour mark, and made way for Dean Clarke. Within three minutes of entering play, Clarke teed up Rodrigo Tosi for his eighth goal of the season as his header was just out of the reach of Cherrie.
The second half was naturally a more timid affair.
The instrumental Ryan Brennan went down under a challenge in the area and referee Anthony Buttimer pointed to the spot. Gary McCabe sent Clarke the wrong way to level matters once again but five minutes from time – it all changed.
Bray failed to clear Limerick pressure, and Bastien Hery struck a thunderbolt from the edge of the area to send the 1,500 in attendance into raptures.
Dean Clarke then added a late insurance goal to make sure of the points.
Limerick: Freddy Hall (Brendan Clarke, 46); Shaun Kelly (Dean Clarke, 33), Tony Whitehead, Robbie Williams, David O’Connor, Tommy Robson (Shane Tracy, 50); Paul O’Conor, Bastien Hery, Lee-J Lynch; Chiedozie Ogbene, Rodrigo Tosi.
Bray: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Tim Clancy, Conor Kenna, Kevin Lynch (John Sullivan, 64); Mark Salmon (Karl Moore, 64), Darragh Noone; Ryan Brennan, Gary McCabe, Dylan Connolly; Aaron Greene.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)
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