Limerick FC earned a priceless three points in their bid to stay in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division with a 2-1 victory over top of the table Cork City at the Markets Field. Goals from Rodrigo Tosi and Shane Tracy had Neil McDonald’s side
Limerick FC earned a priceless three points in their bid to stay in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division with a 2-1 victory over top of the table Cork City at the Markets Field.
Goals from Rodrigo Tosi and Shane Tracy had Neil McDonald’s side two up inside nine minutes but Kieran Sadlier’s strike gave Cork a foothold in the game.
Limerick were under siege for most of the game after Sadlier’s goal but they held on for what could be a vital win come end of season with Tracy’s stunning free kick proving the difference between the sides.
He admitted that the three points were sweet reward for a side that wasn’t backed by many heading into the contest.
“Everyone wrote us off coming into the game,” Tracy said. “We have had two very good performances leading up to this game.
“I think we turned a corner with the Galway match a couple of weeks ago and we have only kicked on since. For the champions elect to come here and for us to play like that and come away with the win is excellent.”
Limerick made a fast start to the game with Tosi’s goal on seven minutes giving them a shock lead. Tracy joked that he didn’t think the Brazilian’s delicate chip went in until he saw his teammates celebrate.
There was no doubt about Limerick’s second goal however, as Tracy curled a trademark set piece beyond the reach of Cork keeper Mark McNulty.
“I have had a couple of frees since I have been back (into the team) and they have been poor enough. I was just happy to hit the target and get the winner.
“I was looking at Mark (McNulty) in goals and I felt he was edging towards that side. I had tried it a couple of times and it hasn’t worked out. Thankfully tonight it did.”
The winning goal topped off a superb week for the Limerick left back as he celebrated his testimonial with the club last Saturday.
“It’s been a great week,” he admitted. “Last weekend went really well. First of all, we got the point up in Bray and secondly the testimonial couldn’t have went any better.
"I feel myself, from start to finish, there was a lot of help organising it. Everybody I have spoken to really enjoyed it. The club were excellent for me. Neil was brilliant with anything I needed.
“The whole first team played the day after a league match with this game coming up. There was just a good buzz in training all week. We seem to be enjoying it again and to come into tonight and get another result is going to kick us forward for the rest of the season.”
Limerick and Cork meet again on Friday in the Irish Daily Mail Cup semi final with this contest taking place at Turners Cross. Despite the game being in Cork, Tracy is looking forward to the challenge.
“There is no pressure on us. Turners Cross – probably four or five thousand people down there. If you don’t want to play in them games as a professional footballer, I don’t think you want to play in any game. We will just take confidence from tonight and really look forward to going down next week.”
