Sligo Rovers 2
Limerick FC 3
FREDDY HALL WAS the hero as Limerick secured their safety in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division for at least another week.
The Blues will face Finn Harps in the relegation/promotion play-off thanks to a superb win over Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds on the final night of the league.
Limerick knew that a win, and only a win would be enough for them to secure their place in the play-off, provided Drogheda United lost to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
And The Blues showed their intent from the off, going ahead after just five minutes thanks to a superb long range effort from Shane Duggan, although he was assisted by poor Sligo defending.
Hall was the early hero, as he stretched to save an abysmal penalty from Dinny Corcoran after 16 minutes.
The momentum was with Limerick, and just before the half-hour mark, former Sligo man Paul O’Conor made it 2-0 to the visitors as he pounced on a loose ball, and despite two saves from Brush, he eventually hit the ball into the back of the net.
With Drogheda drawing 1-1 at this stage, Limerick knew that they would be through to the relegation/promotion play-off. But, Drogheda made it 2-1 soon, and the the scoreline was mirrored at The Showgrounds on the stroke of half-time, as Estonian international Sander Puri netted with the last kick of the first-half.
The Bit o’Red looked to be settling into the game after the interval, but Martin Russell’s side were spurred on as they heard their own fans celebrating Shamrock Rovers’ equaliser.
And spurred on, they were, as they netted for the third time thanks to Vinny Faherty. A dreadful ball into the box from Sean Russell came back into Limerick’s possession, and Faherty headed past Brush to give the Blues a two goal cushion.
It seemed to be over, but Sligo Rovers made it a tense final few minutes for Limerick, as substitute Ruairi Keating beat Freddy Hall to make it 3-2.
Sligo: Richard Brush, Raffaele Cretaro, Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Danny Ledwith, Jennison Myrie-Williams, David Cawley, Keith Ward (Gary Armstrong, 68), Sander Puri, Morten Nielsen (Anthony Elding, 68), Dinny Corcoran (Ruairi Keating, 68).
Subs: Ryan Coulter, Jake Dykes, Ross Taheny.
Limerick: Freddy Hall, Shaun Kelly, Robbie Williams, Paul O’Conor, Ian Turner, Shane Duggan, Dean Clarke (Cyril Guedje, 89), Vinny Faherty (Ross Mann, 86), Shane Tracy, Sean Russell, Patrick Kanyuka.
Subs: Tommy Holland, Darragh Rainsford, Tony Whitehead, Prince Aygemang, Paudie O’Connor, .
Referee: Tomas Connolly