Limerick FC under 19s draw with leaders Athlone

LIMERICK FC Under 19s earned a 3-3 draw away to league leaders Athlone Town in the Dr Tony O’Neill Under 19 Championship last Saturday.

Barry Sheedy, Anto O’Donnell and Val Feeney were on target for the Blues, while newly-installed Limerick FC manager Stuart Taylor was in attendance.

Limerick FC travelled to Athlone knowing they had not performed to their potential in the previous two fixtures against the same opposition and they needed to rectify that to entertain any hopes of making the title run-in a two horse race and keep their interests in the competition alive.

The opening 10 minutes saw both sides starting very well with Athlone moving the ball efficiently and probing for weaknesses in the Limerick FC defence which they were unable to find. It was the visitors who created the early chances and in the 11th minute Gavin Dillon’s but his snatched shot was well blocked by the Athlone defence.

Then as Limerick FC started to dominate they pressed the self-destruct button in the 19th minute. Shane Costello was unlucky to be caught in possession 30 yards from his own goal and a swift counter-attack saw Athlone Town open the scoring against the run of play. This set back did not deter the visitors from their game plan and had good half chances to equalise, only for a resilient Athlone Town defence to clear the danger.

The home side were awarded a free kick wide on the right and a cruel deflection eventually saw the ball squeeze through the crowded defensive line to double the lead on the 25th minute. While the home side were playing good football Limerick FC felt they had been sucker-punched.

Limerick’s revival started on 32 minutes when a cross from the left wing was not dealt with and Barry Sheedy pounced to score. This galvanised the resurgent visitors and they took the game to Athlone, who were finding time on the ball hard to come by. In the 36th minute a long range free kick was awarded to Limerick FC and full back Anto O’Donnell blasted his shot past the wall and stranded goalkeeper to ensure the teams went in at half-time on level terms.

Limerick FC came out after the half-time break playing their best football of the season, pressing Athlone Town every time they had any possession. On the hour mark when a quick throw in caught Athlone Town asleep and when the ball was pulled back from the goal line Val Feeney raced in to the penalty area to give Limerick a deserved lead.

The pattern of the match did not change as Limerick FC held the upper hand and while both sides could not force any worthwhile opportunities there was a twist in the tail as full time approached. Athlone Town found a new gear with only minutes left on the clock and forced some desperate last ditch tackles and a succession of corners.

However, Limerick FC seemed to be holding on until the first minute of added time when a corner was played in to the goal area and the Limerick FC defence had switched off to allow an uncontested header to be superbly dispatched to the net.Limerick FC scored in the fourth minute of injury time only for the referee to disallow the goal for offside, despite no flag from his linesman. Despite Limerick’s gallant efforts they knew the draw would allow Athlone Town to keep a firm grip on the destination of the league title.

Limerick FC Under 19 manager Declan Farmer said: “The players showed great passion and desire in their performance for Limerick Football Club tonight but a lack of concentration in the first minute of injury time to concede the equaliser is hard for any team to take. I am very proud of the players who all as a team showed great character to come back from 2-0 and take a 3-2 lead. As the development of the players comes first it is very clear too see the potential and scope we have at Limerick Football Club. As the club enters a new era it was great to see the interest that new First Team Manager Stuart Taylor had at Under 19 training on Friday night as well as at the match tonight. We will learn from this performance and move on to the next game against Galway United”

Limerick FC Under 19s face Galway United next Sunday at 2pm at Aisling Annacotty.

LIMERICK FC: Stephen Walsh, Shane Costello, Anthony O’Donnell, Gavin Whyte, Tino Nzvaura, Tony Whitehead, Ross Mann, Val Feeney, Barry Sheedy, Darragh Rainsford, Gavin Dillon.

Subs: Nathan Kelly, AJ O’Connor, Ronan Coughlan, Dean Coughlan, Nathan Murray, Kieran Hanlon, Reece Healy.