Waterford impress against Limerick
Waterford United 1 http://www.Limerick 1
Waterford United played their last pre-season game last week when they played hosts to Limerick at the RSC. This was by far their most impressive display to date and with the new season approaching quickly supporters left the ground in a happy frame of mind. This Saturday (March 1st) they play Cork City in The Munster Senior Cup at the RSC at 5pm. The following Friday they travel to Donegal to play Finn Harps in the first league game of the new campaign.
Shane Murray had The Blues first chance when he was fouled on the edge of the Limerick penalty area. Murray stepped up and forced Limerick keeper Shane Cusack to push his powerful strike away from goal. One minute later Paddy Barrett, who was playing in a central midfield role, pressured Limerick defender Samuel Oji into a mistake to allow his to run toward goal but Cusack saved his attempted chip.
Rory Gaffney looked the most likely for Limerick but Blues defender Patrick Fitzgerald was brilliantly positioned to make an important block. Barrett's perfect through ball then found Kynan Rocks on the right side but Limerick defender Shane Costelloe got back to clear the danger.
Kevin O'Connor was alert as he through himself in front of Jason Hughes' strike to make a vital interception. Pressure from Rocks on Costelloe almost forced the defender into an OG, but the ball dropped just wide of Cusack's left hand post as The Blues continued to press.
Limerick were forced into a change of goalkeeper five minutes before half-time through injury, but the first task for sub keeper Nathan Murray was to take the ball out of his own net. Blues midfielder Shane Murray whipped in the corner into the wind from the right which evaded everybody and nestled in the far corner of the Limerick net for a deserved half-time lead.
Rory Gaffney threatened after the break but again Blues ``keeper Matthew Connor was alert and saved well. At the other end Philip Drohan found Vinny Sullivan who looked towards goal but Stephen Folan blocked his effort.
Limerick equalised with half an hour remaining – Shane Tracy using the wind to score from 40 yards lobbing the ball over the head of Blues keeper Matthew. Connor.
Blues sub keeepr Kevin Burns was called up with 15 minutes to go as he saved brilliantly from Gaffney's close range back-heel strike. Three minutes later Burns was saving again – getting down well to save Gaffney's low strike as the striker raced in on goal. Peter White was next to threaten but he fired over for The Blues last chance of the game
