LIMERICK 0
DERRY CITY 0
PIKE ROVERS SG, 2pm
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With a cup-tie feel to the game, Derry’s top-flight experience saw them emerge as slightly the better side, despite the receipt of four yellow cards from referee Alan Kelly. Limerick, who have lost just twice at the Pike Rovers ground, attacked best through striker Stephen O’Flynn, who had the ball in the net on 58 minutes, only for Kelly to rule it out for offside.
An unchanged Limerick side from that which drew 1-1 with Kildare on Sunday, were under pressure early on when Peter Hutton’s third minute free kick was narrowly turned wide by the unmarked Michael Holt, who started for Derry in place of Sean Hargan. Limerick striker O’Flynn, scorer of 14 goals this season, saw his 25-yard free kick deflect off the Derry wall and gathered by goalkeeper Alan Gough, under pressure from Eoin Keating, at the second attempt.
The visitors’ physicality saw them earn two yellow cards inside the first 20 minutes with defender Paddy McLaughlin fouling O’Flynn and young striker Mark Farren guilty of a poor challenge on James Sugrue, when tracking back. Ciaran Martyn put through Farren on goal in the 26th minute, but with just John Healy to beat, the young striker fluffed his chance with the recovering Pat Purcell putting him under enough pressure for Healy to gather the loose ball.
Farren was again at the centre of another Derry chance, perhaps their best of the opening half, as six minutes before the break, he picked out Eamon Doherty at the back post only for defender Paul Finucane to clear off the Limerick goal line.
Farren’s strike partner Gary Beckett also went close as Derry closed out the half as the better side.
The Candystripes upped their effort in the second half but it was the busy O’Flynn who went closest in the 58th minute, when having slotted past Gough, referee Kelly deemed midfielder Sugrue to have been offside earlier in the attack. Former UCD midfielder Ciaran Martyn had seen his close range effort smothered by Limerick’s Healy a minute earlier, with O’Flynn picking up the game’s fifth booking soon after.
Again O’Flynn took the game to Derry up front, as his 65th minute thunderbolt from 30 yards saw Gough parry brilliantly. Derry closed the game out well, with Limerick's Derek McCarthy having the only other chance of note for the valiant home side, as his 84th minute header almost caught Gough out at his near post.
Nearly nineteen months since they defeated Derry on penalties in the 2002 eircom League Cup final, Limerick might have to try the same avenue when they face Gavin Dykes’ men in Saturday’ second leg.
Kick-off at the Brandywell is 7.30pm, with extra time and penalties to take place if the match is deadlocked after 90 minutes. Away goals do not count as double in the play-off series.