Limerick 4, Bray Wanderers 1 The honeymoon period for new Limerick boss Martin Russell continued at Thomond Park last night thanks to a fine Rory Gaffney hat-trick and a goal from Lee Lynch.

The home side dominated the opening exchanges and they took a deserved leave after 38 minutes. A pin-point cross from Robbie Williams found the head of Gaffney who guided the ball home.

The second half was only 15 minutes old when Bray’s David Scully found himself heading for an early shower after he received a second yellow card for a dive in the Limerick penalty area.

Nine minutes later Bray were made to pay when a Gaffney break saw him find Lynch, who finished well. To their credit Bray responded and on 72 minutes, Dean Zambra finished low past Barry Ryan.

However, Gaffney scored his second with eight minutes remaining and then rounded off his hat-trick in stoppage time to make it 4-1.