Limerick’s captain and goal scorer Shane Duggan was a happy and relieved man after his side’s battling 1-0 win over Bray Wanderers. “It was a massive result for us. We knew it was a must win game. We rode our luck once or twice with them missing a
Limerick’s captain and goal scorer Shane Duggan was a happy and relieved man after his side’s battling 1-0 win over Bray Wanderers.
“It was a massive result for us. We knew it was a must win game. We rode our luck once or twice with them missing a penalty and one or two chances but to come away with the three points was brilliant.
"These are the games that we really have to win to try to push up the table.”
Some blunt words at the break ramped up Limerick’s play at the Carlisle Grounds. “We were a bit slow closing down, a bit slow on the ball as well. We didn’t move things quickly enough. We had words about it at half time – needed to up the tempo a bit. We came out in the second half on the front foot and once you do that you always create chances.”
Duggan capitalised on one of those opportunities, sending the away end into raptures. “The ball was in the box. It just fell to me. I was trying to stay composed.
"I could have swiped at it with my right foot. I took a touch and tried to get it back on my left. Once it felt to my left, I just hit it and luckily, it went in.”
That 50th minute strike proved to be the winner, but Bray made Duggan’s men fight for the points, all the way to Hugh Douglas’ 96th minute header from a corner, which crept just wide.
“They were very dangerous from set pieces. They’ve quite a big team, a few big lads at the back who attack the ball well. We knew once we defended that area, that was the main danger. The lads dealt with it well and we saw out the game.”
Duggan’s attention now switches to the Market’s Field and the next assignment “We have another big one at home on Monday (Derry City, 7.45pm) - we just have to go again. We have to keep going."
“Every game is massive for us this season. We played quite well up there (against Derry) for 50-60 minutes but we ended up getting a bit of a hammering and that’s that the top teams do to you, if you switch off. We know we can compete with them. We need to stay switched on and focused and if we get chances make sure we take them.”
