EA Sports Cup Report: Limerick FC 4 - 0 Wexford Youths

Limerick strolled into the Quarter Finals of the EA Sports Cup, as they defeated Wexford Youths by four goals to nil at a sun kissed Markets Field on Tuesday evening. A brace apiece from winter acquisitions Aaron Greene and John O’Flynn meant Limerick continued their 100% start to the campaign.

The Blues had made three changes to their starting eleven, with Paul O’Conor, John O’Flynn and Captain Shane Duggan returning to the side. Wexford, meanwhile, made 10 changes, with defender Ryan Delaney the sole survivor from Friday’s defeat in Inchicore.

Paudie O’Connor had the first telling contribution in either box, heading narrowly wide from a Shane Tracy corner. Another defender, Robbie Williams, found John O’Flynn’s head soon after, but Matt Connor denied him with a fantastic save.

O’Flynn and Stephen Kenny went close again before the deadlock was eventually broken after the 30 minute mark.

Greene added to his early season tally with a fine low left-footed strike from an acute angle, though Shane Keegan will be questioning his side’s failure to clear the ball leading up to the goal.

Wexford were caught again soon after, O’Flynn forcing more from Connor before he eventually got his goal. Tracy’s corner was turned goal-wards by Lynch and the Corkman tapped home from three yards.

Limerick were utterly dominant in the opening half, and fully deserved their lead while the Youths meanwhile, failed to make much of an impression.

The second-half saw a slowing of the pace with John Bonner and John Peare gaining more possession for the visitors. The introduction of Danny Furlong did little to trouble Freddy Hall. It was Eric Molloy on the hour mark who was first to test Freddy Hall, though his deflected effort never worried the Bermudian.

Limerick sealed their last-eight place when substitute Garbhan Coughlan raided through the middle and released O’Flynn. He rounded the keeper and despite a defender close by, he rolled the ball into the empty net.

Limerick changed their keeper, as they did on Saturday, Hall appearing to limp off once again. His replacement Tommy Holland was almost lobbed immediately by Eric Molloy.

The game almost came to a walk late on, until Greene put further gloss on the score-line, when he drilled low past Connor in stoppage time. The Blues full value for their win. Wexford must re-group before hosting Galway while Limerick head to UCD on Friday looking to cement their lead at the top of the First Division.

Limerick FC: Freddy Hall (Tommy Holland 77); Shaun Kelly, Paudie O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Shane Tracy; Paul O’Conor, Shane Duggan, Lee-J Lynch; Aaron Greene, Stephen Kenny (Garbhán Coughlan 61), John O’Flynn.

Subs not used: Tony Whitehead, Colm Murphy, Chris Mulhall, Ross Mann, Jordan Moore.

Yellow Cards: None.

Wexford Youths: Matt Connor; Conor O’Keefe, Ryan Delaney, Eoin McCormack,  Danny Ledwith; Conor Whittle, Daryl Power (Danny Furlong 55), Jonny Bonner (Paul Murphy 80), John Peare, Adrian Friel; Conor English (Eric Molloy 55).

Subs not Used: Graham Doyle (gk), Conor Sutton, Paul Brennan.

Yellow Cards: None.

Referee: Padraigh Sutton

Attendance: 705.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: John O’Flynn (Limerick FC)