U19's Advance to Quarter Finals   16/12/2014

Mervue Utd 1  Limerick 1 ( Mervue win 4-3 on Penalties )

Limerick started brightly and could have been ahead through Killian Hayes in the opening moments, but the game turned into a typical Cup tie with little between the teams.Clear-cut chances were hard to come by throughout, but Limerick eventually found a way through on 79 minutes when Maguire rose to power a Val Feeney corner over the line.That appeared to be the winner but Mervue conjured a late, late leveller as substitute Oskar Nowak’s deflected shot from the left of the box looped into the net over a hapless Arkadiusz Mamala.

Mervue stand-in stopper Andrew Connolly denied Feeney in the best chance of extra-time, and then the visiting No1 stood up to convert the decisive spot-kick after he had saved from both Clyde O’Connell and Feeney.

Limerick – with nine wins from nine over Mervue at this level over the last 2 years – were on the front foot from the first whistle and Ross Mann combined with Hayes in the first 30 seconds, the latter getting a shot off but Connolly gathered. Hayes then broke in on the left again but his low shot past the ‘keeper was deflected onto the crossbar by left-back Maurice Nugent.

The tie settled down after that and the next chance did not arrive until 20 minutes in. Hayes played the ball out to Shane Lowth on the right and his low cross was agonizingly missed by Mann in the centre. A minute later, after some terrific combination play involving Peter Walsh & Darren Murray, Mervue Skipper Gary Baily broke into the Limerick box and as he was about to pull the trigger – was upended ! Only for Ref Gleeson to wave “play on” & not given !! Definitely a poor decision.

Past the half-hour, Declan Cusack fired a free-kick from the edge of the area just over. Mervue then had their an effort when Peter Walsh’s set-piece was headed wide by Youssef Madhy.

Before the break, Cusack saw a shot gathered by the ‘keeper while Ross Fitzgerald fired tamely off target. Into the second half, a Cusack effort went the same way and Killian Brouder headed over, in what turned out to be a quiet period. On 67 minutes, Madhy headed Joe Hynes’ cross wide. Shortly after, Limerick went close when Feeney’s curling free-kick was spilled by Connolly but sub Evan Cusack was unable to take advantage as he put too much weight on the cross back in.

On 77 minutes, O’Connell whistled a free-kick just past the post. But within seconds, Limerick had the lead as Feeney floated a corner in for Maguire who headed on to the crossbar & appeared to cross, despite the ball being in Connolly’s hands – Referee gave it as a goal ! Mervue responded well to this setback with both Alan Muphy & Brian O’Connor going close. And then, seven minutes into injury-time – which came following a lengthy stoppage at the start of the half – Nowak’s deflected shot looped to the far corner of the net to give the visitors a deserved equalizer at the death

Into extra-time, Mervue were the first to threaten when a cross found Madhy all alone in the middle, but with plenty of time he got his header all wrong. At the end of the first period, Mikey Fox went close with a shot from distance. On 108 minutes, Jack Lynch played in Feeney but in a one-on-one the midfielder’s low shot was well pushed behind by Connolly, in what was to be the last opportunity to avoid penalties.

In the shootout, Brouder converted the opener but the next two from Limerick saw O’Connell and Feeney both denied by Keeper Connolly, while Mikey Fox and Darren Murray netted for Mervue. Limerick were given a glimmer of hope when Madhy’s poor effort was easy for Mamala.

Mark Hoban and Lowth both scored for Limerick either side of Mervue captain Gary Bailey’s conversion, and so it was left to the visiting ‘keeper Andrew Connolly – a striker by trade – to seal the deal, and he did so expertly to send the Galwegians through to the quarter-finals.

Mervue United: Andrew Connolly, Moise Assogba, Tony McHugh, Chris Carroll, Maurice Nugent, Gary Bailey, Brian O’Connor, Darren Murray, Alan Murphy, Peter Walsh, Youssef Madhy. Goal: O Nowak. Subs Bench: Joe Hynes, Oskar Nowak, Eoghan Kelly, Mikey Fox, Ryan Forde.

Limerick FC: Arkadiusz Mamala, Liam McCartan, Conor Maguire, Stephen Nolan, Killian Brouder, Jack Lynch, Ross Fitzgerald, Declan Cusack, Shane Lowth, Killian Hayes, Ross Mann. Goal: C Maguire . Subs: Val Feeney, Evan Cusack, Mark Hoban, Clyde O’Connell, Eoin Whelan. Unused Subs: Tommy Holland (GK).

Match Report courtesy of www.limerickfc.ie 





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