Soccer

Limerick must win last game of season to survive

Goals from Miele and former Irish international McPhail give Rovers victory

Shamrock Rovers players celebrate with Stephen McPhail after he scored their second goal against Limerick at Market’s Field. Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho
Shamrock Rovers players celebrate with Stephen McPhail after he scored their second goal against Limerick at Market’s Field. Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho
Fri Oct 23 2015 - 23:18

LIMERICK FC 0 SHAMROCK ROVERS 2

Limerick must win their final game of the season away to Sligo Rovers next weekend if they are to force a play-off in a bid to remain in the premier grade.

For the second week in a row they lost at home and that dreadful early-season run of 21 games without a win is coming back to haunt them.

Limerick raised the first cheer when Faherty put the ball past Murphy but his effort was disallowed because another player was offside.

The home crowd were stunned after 14 minutes when a defensive lapse gave Brandon Miele the chance to grab his third goal of the season against Limerick and his 12th in all.

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Limerick were lucky after 29 minutes when Ryan Brennan’s shot from 20 yards thundered over off the crossbar.

Minutes later a poor kickout by Hall forced them into conceding a free on the edge of the box. Stephen McPhail stepped up to curl a superb left-footed shot past Hall.

Limerick had a second goal disallowed, again for offside, two minutes before the interval following a good run by Dean Clarke.

Limerick went closest to a second-half goal but by then Rovers were in total control.

Former international Damien Duff played the last three minutes for the winners.

LIMERICK FC: Hall, Kelly, Kanyuka, Williams, Russell (Rainsford 83), Lynch (Tracy (h-t), Duggan, O'Conor, Turner, Faherty (Guedje 87), Clarke.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy, O'Connor, Webster, Madden, Kenna, Miele, McPhail (McCabe 79), Cregg, G Brennan, R Brennan (Drennan 79), North (Duff 87).
Referee: G Kelly, Cork.