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Airtricity First Division: Matchday 16 - Leaders Longford fail to beat Athlone
7 Jul 2012 21:40:00
Waterford United blew the Airtricity First Division promotion chase wide open with a comeback win against Limerick, while Longford Town were held to a draw by Athlone Town
| Waterford United 2-1 Limerick FC |
| Waterford United scored two second-half goals to come back from a goal down to Limerick FC at the Regional Sports Centre and close the gap between the top three to just five points. It took the sides some time to settle into the game due to the stormy weather, and when the first proper shot came in, it resulted in a goal. Denis Behan put the hosts ahead after some good work in the box from Shane Tracy put him through on goal. Waterford created little in the opening 45 minutes, but looked much sharper in the second half and snatched an equaliser when Peter White headed in a 55th-minute corner. Under 10 minutes later the hosts had taken the lead from another corner as Dylan Mernagh met Dempsey's set-piece with his head. The Blues held on to win 2-1 and move within four points of Limerick with the same number of games played. |
| Finn Harps 3-2 Mervue United |
| Finn Harps scored the odd goal to beat struggling Mervue United in a five goal thriller at Finn Park. Finn Harps found themselves two up after half an hour. Kevin McHugh put the home side ahead after nine minutes, connecting with Gary Merritt's centre. Shane Keogh hit the bar for Mervue before Paul McVeigh doubled Harps' lead. Mervue got themselves back into the game before half-time thanks to Alan Murphy's goal. The striker reacted first after Ciaran Gallagher spilled Jason Molloy's cross. Murphy tied the game up for Mervue five minutes into the second half, scoring from the spot after the visitors won a penalty. However, the hosts did not give up, and regained the lead with Paul McVeigh's headed goal 23 minutes from time. |
| Longford Town 0-0 Athlone Town |
| Longford Town spurned a number of great chances against Athlone Town, as they failed to capitalise on Limerick's loss and move further ahead at the top of the table. A poor first half saw neither keeper troubled, with a block from Craig Hyland on a Noel McGee effort the closest either side got in the opening 45 minutes. Longford were much the better side after the interval, but missed a number of chances, with Jamie Duffy particularly wasteful in front of goal. Colm James had the best chance for the hosts, but his shot went just wide after taking a deflection off a defender with ten minutes remaining. |
| SD Galway 2-2 Wexford Youths |
| SD Galway twice came from behind to draw with Wexford Youths at Terryland Park for only their ninth point of the season. Wexford got off to a perfect start, and found themselves a goal up after just two minutes. Midfielder Thomas Croke headed in Joe Mulcahy's cross after a weak clearance. SD Galway were much the better side, with Mike Harty hitting the post before Enda Curran finally got an equaliser on the stroke of half-time. The visitors improved in the second half, and their increased workrate saw them retake the lead through Joe Mulcahy's 58th minute goal. However, Wexford once again failed to hold on to win, and saw Damien O'Reilly snatch a point for SD Galway in stoppage time. |
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