Late Geraghty strike snatches point for Devon

Date Published: {J}

Limerick FC 1

Salthill Devon 1

Salthill Devon bounced back from their drubbing at the hands of Mervue United last week to put a serious dent in the promotion hopes of Limerick, Brian Geraghty’s late goal seeing the Drom side take a point from Jackman Park on Friday night.

The home side are in a pack of three clubs – the others being Monaghan United and Cork City – chasing league leaders Shelbourne, and the automatic promotion that comes with finishing second in the First Division, but their hopes took a serious knock with this result, that sees them lie fourth in the table.

The home side got off to the best possible start, Denis Behan firing them into the lead inside 60 seconds, and given Devon’s defensive frailties this season, you feared for Paul ‘Ski’ McGee’s side, but credit to the league’s bottom club as they knuckled down to their task after that early setback.

Former Mervue United player Rory Gaffney – one of a number of new faces big-spending Limerick brought in during the transfer window to strengthen the promotion push – went close to extending the lead in the eight minute, but fired into the side-netting from a tight angle, while Garbhan Coughlan twice fired wide from good positions.

Devon were slowly getting into the game, however, and it took a brilliant last-ditch tackle by Shaun Kelly, who started the season with Galway United, to deny Charlie Burke. Peter Hynes then thought he had doubled Limerick’s lead, only for his goal to be ruled out by an off-side flag in the 22nd minute, while Behan’s loud appeals for a penalty four minutes later are waved away by referee James McKell.

Ronan Conlon went close for the visitors 10 minutes before the break, while at the other end, Ronan Forde had to be alert to tip over Kelly’s deflected cross. Devon grew in confidence as Limerick continued to waste possession, and it took a clearance off the line by Brian McCarthy to deny Devon an equaliser in the 67th minute.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.