KILKENNY CITY moved up to third place in the First Division table with an emphatic 3-0 win over Limerick at Hogan Park yesterday to exorcise fully their shock defeat at Monaghan United the week before.
Kilkenny utterly dominated against an injury and suspension hit Limerick, who found themselves 2-0 down by half time.
Aidan Cooney should have given Kilkenny the perfect start in only the first minute when Pascal Keane rounded Limerick goalkeeper Eddie Hickey and found the unmarked Cooney, but he somehow shot wide of an open goal.
Keane was involved again when Kilkenny's pressure finally told on 31 minutes. He controlled a cross into the box superbly to set up Kevin Kelly to volley home from 15 yards. Keane then increased Kilkenny's lead three minutes before half time when heading home Jimmy Donnelly's corner.
Big central defender Brendan Rea headed in Kilkenny's third goal in the final minutes from Martin Reid's free kick.
Cobh Ramblers' problems in front of goal continued to haunt them as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against St Francis at Baldonnel, thus leaving them without a win in five games.
New loan signing, Will Davies, gave Cobh the start they wanted with a simple tap in goal after five minutes. St Francis goalkeeper, Gary Matthews, may count himself unlucky twice in the build up to the goal. He initially did well to parry a fiercely struck free kick from Willie Byrne and then could only flap at the follow up cross from Tommy Butler, leaving Davies with a simple finish.
Davies might have given Cobh a 2-0 interval lead but just failed to connect with Butler's low cross after great work by the youngster nine minute from time.
An error of judgment by Cobb goalkeeper Michael Devine cost his side the equaliser four minutes into the second half. Devine came to collect an outswinging cross into his box from Thomas Clarke, but, crucially, hesitated, allowing Paddy Doyle to get to the ball first and toe poke it past him.
Cobh then missed three proverbial sitters, two from Paul Caughlin, and another from Butler who forced the save of the match from Matthews.
Such are their problems in front of goal, Ramblers' manager, Liam McMahoon, is expected to up his efforts to sign Antonio Izzi from Limerick this week.
Waterford United had to come from behind to end a run of three successive defeats and earn a point against improving bottom club Monaghan United at the Regional Sports Centre on Saturday night.
Ian Douglas gave Monaghan the lead with a headed goal after 22 minutes, stooping low to beat John Grace from Ian Woods's cross.
Recent signing, Donal Golden, equalised for Waterford with a spectacular overhead kick on the stroke of half time. Golden then provided the cross for Norwegian, Trond Debes, to head Waterford in front after 54 minutes.
Monaghan fought back well and - deservedly equalised in the 65th minute when Mark Devlin volleyed - home Lee King's cross.
