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eircom National League First Division

Date	21/08/2001
Score (Blues First)	0 - 4
Venue	Jackman Park, Limerick
Kick Off	7.00 pm
Attendance	250
Weather	Warm + Dry
Referee	A Buttimer
Goal Scorers	None
Cards	Yellow: Whittle D, Scully Red: Frost, Fitzgerald W
Pitch	Very Narrow with high grass

Waterford United left Jackman Park embarrassed on Tuesday night as they went down by four goals to nil and only for bad finishing by Limerick it could have reached double figures.

Again PP put his team out in a 5-3-2 formation which seemed strange after he salvaged a point in Drogheda the previous Friday when he reverted back to 4-4-2 for the last twenty minutes. Because of this we had six players out of position and uncomfortable where they were asked to play. Limerick started the faster and were handed a dream start when Fennelly was slow off his line as a hopeful ball was played over the top and he collided with the Limerick striker. After this the Blues tried to get into the game with our new on Loan signing Gary Dempsey (from Bray Wanderers) looking lively on the ball and filling the void left by Reynolds departure. Unfortunately every long ball by Limerick was causing us problems and no one knew who to mark at the back. On both flanks limerick then took over as defenders and wingers got acre's of space as OBrien and Frost never went passed the half way line. Another long ball over the top saw us caught out again and Limerick were two up. Poor finishing by the home side saved us from a first half humiliation.

After only 5 minutes of the break the Blues took to the field and by the expression on their faces all hell must have broken lose in the Dressing room. Two changes were made with Scully and Waters replacing O'Brien and Moore and our 4-4-2 formation was restored again. Waterford were certainly not out of this game and we took control early in the half, pushing on to Limerick and forcing the game. Then disaster as the Blues gave away a free kick twenty five yards out and a powerful shot into the middle of the goal beat Fennelly. Waterford were now frustrated but excuse can be made for Frosty as an over the top tackle gave the referee now option but to send him off. Minutes later Wayne Fitzgerald was also sent to the line for an off the ball incident as Waterford hopes died. When Bradley pulled up injured and had to come off Waterford had to finish the game with eight men. Limerick scored once more as the game turned in a farce and the Blues left the pitch with their heads in the ground.

With 100 or so Waterford supporters at the match it was only Brendan Rea who approached the fans after the game. Most of the supporters had to take time off work and spend their hard earned money to travel to Limerick on a weeknight and maybe a few more players or management should have also have thanked these loyal fans.