Limerick 3
Longford Town 3
DEFENSIVE EFFORTS CONTRIBUTED greatly to an entertaining clash on Shannonside as Limerick and Longford drew 3-3 at the Markets Field.
Limerick’s escape attempt has been littered with goals at both ends thus far, and that trend continued in the first half at the Markets Field.
The hosts took the lead after a quarter of an hour when Ian Turner twisted and turned before firing home with his weaker left foot — out of the reach of Town ‘keeper Paul Hunt.
Martin Russell’s men didn’t waste time in doubling their advantage. Shane Tracy was left in an acre of space on the edge of the box and he took advantage on 18 minutes. With the outside of his boot, the left-back smashed his effort into the roof of the net.
Limerick were too comfortable at this stage and Longford capitalised on the hosts’ poor marking from a corner on the half-hour mark. Ayman Ben Mohamed’s corner was right on target, as Rhys Gorman cushioned his header into the far corner.
The comeback was complete before the half ended, when Paudie O’Connor’s slip allowed Tony Cousins’ men to advance into the box, with Mark Salmon getting the final touch.
In the second half, Robbie Williams headed Limerick back in front, before Stephen Rice equalised with a header of his own.
LIMERICK: Freddy Hall; Paul O’Conor, Paudie O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Shane Tracy; Shane Duggan; Ian Turner, Sean Russell, Lee-J Lynch (Shaun Kelly, 59), Dean Clarke; Vinny Faherty.
LONGFORD: Paul Hunt; Jamie Mulhall, Rhys Gorman, Mark Rossiter, Conor Powell; Lorcan Shannon, Stephen Rice, Mark Salmon (Philip Gannon, 85), Kevin O’Connor, Ayman Ben Mohamed (Dean Kelly, 58); Gary Shaw.
Referee: Ben Connolly (Dublin)
