Avondale United 4 - 2 Limerick FC

Avondale United will be in the hat for the draw for the Munster Senior Cup Semi-Final, thanks to a marvellous performance and result against Airtricity League Premier Division side Limerick. The Dale more than matched their illustrious opponents for the whole game, thanks to a nigh perfect blend – comfortable and uncompromising in defence, talented in the final third.

The home side squandered two excellent chances in the opening ten minutes – both involving the combination of front pair Ian Stapleton and Roy Long. Then, on the quarter of an hour mark, Avondale had a penalty. Stapleton made absolutely no mistake from the spot, firing into the back of the net despite the goalkeeper diving the right way.

The visitors were improving as the game wore on, but it was still Avondale who were creating all the chances – minutes after the restart, both Mark O’Sullivan and Danny Long struck wide when they should have done better.

Limerick were back on level terms on the stroke of the hour – substitute Steve Folan broke down the left side, before cutting it back to Barry Sheedy, who finished neatly.

The Dale refused to surrender their lead without a fight however, and were back in front just five minutes later. Limerick’s defensive frailties were exposed once again by a long ball over the top, allowing Roy Long to find enough space to slot home tidily from close range.

Limerick responded well however, and got their second equalizer of the afternoon on 86 minutes - a sumptuous volley from midfielder David O’Leary being the only real moment of quality the  reigning First Division champions showed on the day.

The visitors really were in charge at this stage, but Avondale, full of dogged determination, managed to score twice in the final four minutes.

Unsurprisingly, it was the outstanding Roy Long at the hub of both goals – for the first, he collected a long pass, before squaring to Karl Caulfield to score via a few heavy deflections off the Limerick defence. For the second, he picked up the ball on the left flank, and then laid it off for Mark O’Sullivan to convert, to really put the gloss on a fantastic day for everyone involved at Avondale United Football Club.

Avondale United: Dave O’Keefe; David Spratt, Mark Horgan, Declan Cahill, Michael Kiernan (Graham McCarthy 68), Karl Caulfield, Kenny Murphy, Roy Long, Brian Murphy; Ian Stapleton (Mark O’Sullivan 42), Danny Long (Eoghan Lougheed 90).

Limerick FC: Barry Ryan; Shane Costelloe, Pat Purcell, Brian O’Callaghan, Anto O’Donnell (Steve Folan 46); Barry Sheedy, James McGrath (Stephen McGann 52), David O’Leary, Shane Tracy; Garbhan Coughlan (Darragh Rainsford 78), Rory Gaffney.