From The Archives: Two From 1997

(missed out on publication in the July 2009 Limerick programme)

Friday 19/09/97
Waterford United 3 (2)   Limerick FC 0
Casey (og 13)
Carr (40), Reynolds (62)

Waterford disposed of Limerick with a tidy, competent performance in front of a sizeable home crowd on Friday. It wasn’t the best game seen at the RSC, but the Blues deserve great credit, for Limerick never even looked a threat, and conceded best at all stages of the game.
Paul Carr, who was absolutely outstanding, teased and tormented his former club all night, and had a major part in all three goals. After thirteen minutes had gone, Liam Maher slotted a through ball for Tommy Hewitt to run onto down the left. His cross was turned into the Limerick net by Declan Casey, under extreme pressure from Carr.
Five minutes from the interval, the ex-Limerick man bagged one for himself. Donal Golden made a great run down the right, and his low centre across the six-yard box was deftly finished by Carr, and the Blues went into the break somewhat unlucky to be only two ahead.
A second half of consolidation and midfield domination brought one more goal, and a popular one at that. Alan Reynolds, just back from suspension, came off the bench on the hour. His first touch sent Carr away on the right, and Carr’s fine cross was met by Reynolds at the far post for his first goal in almost two years.
A comfortable win, then, and one that keeps us in touch with Bray, which will become more and more important as the field strings out. Man of the match, unsurprisingly, goes to Paul Carr.

Team: Jody Byrne, John Power, Tommy Lynch, Sean Riordan, John Frost, Liam Maher, Joe Harkin, Jason Bowman (Alan Reynolds 60), Paul Carr, Tommy Hewitt, Donal Golden – subs: Derek Jordan, Mark Reid

Sunday 19/01/97
Limerick F.C.  1 (0)   Waterford United 2 (1)
King (63)                      Golden (35), Power (84 pen)

A late, late winner from the boot of John Power salvaged three points for Waterford yesterday at Rathbane. After recent drubbings for the Shannonsiders, another home defeat might have been expected, but Limerick were a touch unfortunate to lose what was a blood-and-guts tie. In fact, most of the aggression came from the home side, and, by the midpoint of the first half, four Limerick players were on yellow cards, including Howie King. Shortly before the half-hour mark, the Shannonsiders felt they deserved a penalty when the old campaigner Paul Newe appeared to have been fouled by Blues keeper John Grace. Perhaps referee Paul McKeon thought Newe had been using his experience to more dubious ends than he should have!

Waterford took the lead five minutes later, when Donal Golden stole in to head past Eddie Hickey from a corner kick. The game then wandered fairly aimlessly until Limerick deservedly drew level on 63 minutes, and in fine style. A nice combination ended with King rifling past Grace from twenty yards or so. It seemed destined to be a draw, until John Power sprung the offside trap and advanced on goal, only to be upended in the box. He got up to despatch the penalty himself, perhaps mindful of Jason Bowman’s costly miss two days earlier. Six minutes later it ended 2-1, and Waterford could feel reasonably pleased, if not ecstatic, with the weekend’s work.

Team: John Grace, John Power, Joe Reynolds, Tommy Lynch, Tony Hall, Colin Fanning (Glen Conway 70), Jason Bowman, Alan Reynolds, Paul Scully, Trond Debes (Darren Browne 57), Donal Golden