League Report: Limerick 0 - 0 Sligo Rovers

Sligo’s winless run away from home this season continued on Saturday they played out a tight scoreless draw against Limerick at the Markets Field. Limerick stay seventh in the table with Sligo 11th and are still in danger of relegation come the end of October.

 

Raffaele Cretaro’s second half red card was the main taking point of the match as both sides failed to convert chances in what was an end to end game.

 

Sligo had the first big chance in the 15th minute of a very cagey first half as Daniel Kearns broke inside past Dean Clarke, but his shot hit the side netting instead of going past Brendan Clarke in the Limerick goal.

 

New signing Henry Cameron looked heavy legged in the early stages of the half but almost created Limerick’s opener but his free kick could not be directed goalward by Joe Crowe.

 

Sligo were getting the better of the Limerick midfield which looked very open and great interplay from Daniel Kearns and John Russel left Limerick gaping but Cretaro hit his shot just over the bar with 27 minutes gone.

 



Limerick’s best chance of the half fell to Roderigo Tosi as Chiedozie Ogbene made a dangerous run before finding Tosi inside the D. His powerful shot was bound for the top corner but Micheal Schlingermann pulled off an amazing save to deny the Brazilian his 11th of the season.

 

While Sligo were on top for most of the opening half but it was Limerick who came out firing early in the second.

 

Just after the hour mark they had two chances to take the lead. First Substitute Stephen Kenny had his cross hit away by Micheal Schlingermann before John O’Flynn could reach it and just after Henry Cameron shot just wide.

 



Less than 60 seconds after Limerick nearly scored Sligo had the ball in the net. Kearns crossed for Cretaro whose shot was saved brilliantly by Clarke but Benny Igiehon was deemed offside as he hit in the rebound.

 

Kenny was a real difference maker for Limerick off the bench, his free kick in the 68th minute crashed of the crossbar before Ogbene had a shot blocked out for a corner.

 

Ogbene was using his sheer pace to carve open the Sligo defence but could not end the chance on a high as he fired just wide from outside the area.

 

Scenes turned nasty late on as Ogbene broke away but was rugby tackled to the ground by Cretaro and the Sligo man was shown a straight red.

 

Deep into the six minutes added on at the end, Limerick had the chance to win it but Shane Duggan had his shot pushed behind before the final whistle sounded on the scoreless stalemate.

 

Limerick: Brendan Clarke; Tony Whitehead, David O’Connor, Joe Crowe; Shane Duggan (c); Garbhan Coughlan (Stephen Kenny 54), Lee J Lynch; Dean Clarke; Henry Cameron (Bastien Henry 77), Rodrigo Tosi (John O’Flynn 54), Chiedozie Ogbene.

Subs not used: Freddy Hall (GK), Robbie Williams, Paul O’Connor, Killian Brouder.

Booked: None.

 

Sligo Rovers: Michael Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo Rowling, Gary Boylan, Michael Leahy, Regan Donelan; Daniel Kearns (Craig Roddan 91), Seamus Sharkey, Rhys McCabe; John Russell (c) (Jonah Ayunga 76)  Raffaelle Cretaro, Benny Igiehon (Michael Place 95).

Subs not used: Shaun Patton (GK), Kyle McFadden, Gary Armstrong, Jack Keaney

Booked: Tobi Adebayo Rowling (33), Regan Donelan (51), Benny Igiehon (59), Michael Leahy (79)

 

Sent Off: Raffaele Cretaro (89)

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Donegal)

Attendance: 1,327

ExtraTime.ie Man Of The Match: Stephen Kenny

 

 

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