Losing Markets Field return for Limerick FC

President Michael D Higgins meets the Limerick FC team prior to kick-off at the reopening of the Markets Field versus Drogheda United.
President Michael D Higgins meets the Limerick FC team prior to kick-off at the reopening of the Markets Field versus Drogheda United.

Limerick FC 1-2 Drogheda United

THERE was a party atmosphere at the Markets Field on Friday evening as Limerick FC played their first match at the venue since 1984, but Drogheda United would gleefully fulfil the role of party poopers by taking all three points back to Boyneside.

Such was the turnout at the Garryowen venue that kick-off had to be delayed by 15 minutes to allow for all of the 2,308 paying punters to take their places in the stadium, with the East Stand, nominally designated for away supporters, even housing a substantial Limerick contingent to ease crowd congestion.

President Michael D Higgins was guest of honour and he was introduced to the players and officials prior to kick-off. He saw Drogheda make a far more convincing start to the game than the home side, with the first goal taking just 13 minutes to arrive.

After Robbie Williams lost out in the possession stakes to Adam Whelan, the Limerick defender was adjudged to have fouled his opponent and, from the resulting free kick, former Ireland international Sean Thornton delivered an inviting set piece which Michael Daly headed to the net via the upright. A touch of fortune about the goal, perhaps, but Limerick’s marking was nonexistent.

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Martin Russell’s team had been slow out of the traps but they began to get a foothold in the game midway through the first half, with Shane Duggan and Dean Clarke both trying their luck from distance. Only the heroics of Michael Schlingermann in the Drogheda goal kept Limerick at bay, the keeper pulling off a quick-fire treble save from close range to deny Sean Russell (twice) and Kieran Hanlon.

Hanlon again warmed the gloves of Schlingermann with a low shot from inside the area on 36 minutes and, just before half-time, the Drogheda goalkeeper had to be alert to parry away a deceptive cross from the young Limerick striker.

The Super Blues continued that momentum into the second half and drew level within two minutes of the restart. A whipped cross from Shane Tracy was met forcefully from six yards out by the head of Paul O’Conor, the ex-Drogheda man on target against his old club two years after scoring a winning goal for Drogs at Thomond Park. The Markets Field crowd produced the loudest cheer heard at a soccer match in Limerick for many a while.

With the home side’s tails up, Williams had a decent effort from 30 yards which wasn’t far away, but on 53 minutes the experienced defender let Lee Duffy turn him before shooting off the post and into the Limerick net, the ball trickling over the line. There was also a strong suspicion that the Drogheda striker was offside, further adding to the hosts’ torment.

Limerick’s response to going 0-1 down was impressive but, having been on level terms for only six minutes before falling behind again, a team lacking in confidence couldn’t rouse themselves in the same manner once more. It was Drogheda who had the next chance in the 70th minute after Jason Hughes coughed up possession and Sean Brennan surged forward, only to take a tumble once he looked primed to shoot.

Clarke, playing on the left-hand side of a three-man attacking midfield, sent a header wide soon afterwards and, on 81 minutes, was cruelly denied by Schlingermann, his header from Vinny Faherty’s cross blocked at point blank range by the Drogheda netminder.

The Limerick striker then had a penalty claim waved away in stoppage time after he was clattered by the advancing Schlingermann, but the goalkeeper appeared to get a touch on the ball first and hence Paul Tuite did not give in to the howls of the Markets Field faithful.

In one sense it was a magnificent night for Limerick FC, the long-awaited return to their iconic spiritual home now a reality and something for a new generation of supporters to enjoy. Sadly, once you strip away the sense of occasion, you’re left with a 10th defeat out of 15 league games and an increasingly uphill task to preserve the Premier League status that took so long to regain.

 

Limerick FC: O’Donnell; Hughes, Whitehead, Williams, Tracy; Duggan, O’Conor; Rainsford (Turner 72), Russell (Mann 87), Clarke; Hanlon (Faherty 72).
Drogheda United: Schlingermann; Daly, Byrne, O’Reilly, Gorman; Hughes (Maher 68), Thornton; Whelan, Brennan, Marks (Brady 77); Duffy (Mulvenna 58).
Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin)
Attendance: 2,308
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