News

UL share spoils with SETU Waterford News: results

Posted On 8th Oct 2024
Posted By Men's Soccer
Author Mark Nolan (Fixtures Secretary)
Location Maguires Pitches, UL

CUFL Premier Division

University of Limerick 2-2 SETU Waterford

UL began their CUFL Premier Division campaign with a hard fought 2-2 draw with SETU Waterford at Maguires Pitches this afternoon. 

Seven months on from their historic Collingwood Cup success the home side were able to call upon a sizeable cohort who have previous inter varsity experience while also mixing in some fresh faces.


Chances were at a premium in the early stages of the game, Leon Daly and Donnacha O’Leary were able to exploit their pace in the wide areas for the Shannonsiders but several UL attacks failed to trouble the Waterford defence. 


Limerick goalkeeper Josh Coady was called into action on a few occasions in the opening quarter to deny the visitors, a fisted effort from Coady in the 23rd minute allowed UL to breakaway on a counter attack with Daly racing forward, as he knocked the ball past his maker he was dragged down. Appeals for a dismissal fell on deaf ears and Waterford averted the danger from the resulting free kick. 


Both sides had chances to break the deadlock before the interval, a dangerous free kick from Waterford swung towards the back post only to be headed wide. UL came close to delivering a sucker punch in first half injury time as a corner was headed narrowly wide by Tom Kelly. 


After a fairly dull first half the second began with greater intensity, inside the opening minute Waterford advanced up the right wing before cutting the ball back to the area where a shot was sent just over the bar.


UL responded to that warning shot and came agonisingly close to opening the scoring, once again Daly was the main outlet as the mercurial winger setoff toward goal unleashing a strike that beat the Waterford shot stopper but crashed against the base of the upright.

With 52 minutes played O’Leary tested the Waterford keeper but his effort was dealt with well, and minutes later he saw another chance denied. The midfield battle was crucial in this tie as Paul Brennan and Tom Kidd competed well with their counterparts but neither side was able to find the crucial ball to release their forwards in on goal. 

The deadlock would eventually be broken in the 59th minute, substitute Dean Hegarty made inroads on the left wing before sending the ball towards goal, a mixup in the Waterford backline saw the ball spill to Brennan who made no mistake on his UL debut to put the home side ahead.

That lead would only last seven minutes as Waterford struck back. An unfortunate slip from a Limerick defender opened a gap on the right flank for the visitors who took full advantage to race towards the byline before delivering a cross that was fired home to level matters. 


The game became a scrappy affair with few real chances of note but more goals would arrive late on. UL were the first to hit the front, Daly stretched the Waterford defence, his effort was saved but it was spilled loose to Alex Cuddy who had joined the UL attack from centre back. He sent an effort toward goal where Alex Siderov popped up to restore the home side’s lead. 


The drama was not over yet however as Waterford showed great spirit to reply in the final minute of normal time. A well worked team goal finished with a curled effort from the edge of the area that Coady was powerless to prevent. 


Four minutes of added time would arrive with UL applying pressure but their efforts would come to naught as Waterford held on to share the spoils.


UL now prepare for games against UCC and SETU Carlow in the coming weeks.

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