SINCE we last spoke, Limerick FC have been winning on the double. Last weekend in the Airtricity League First Division, Limerick defeated Longford Town, 1-0, thanks to a 52nd minute Jeffrey Judge Goal.
On the following Monday night, Limerick defeated the Kerry League in the opening round of the EA Sports Cup.
Pat Scully made eight changes to his starting eleven from the win over Longford Town on Friday night, with Chris Breen proving to be the hero with a late header to secure passage into the next round.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Limerick travel to Tolka Park to take on Alan Matthews’ Shelbourne on Friday April 1 at 8pm. Shelbourne are top of the pile at the moment, with three wins from three.
Limerick will be looking at this away trip as a litmus test of where they are this season. A good away draw in Donegal earlier in the season, shows that Limerick are no pushovers in this league. If the Superblues can take points from this game, it will set them up nicely for a tilt at the title.
Limerick’s next home game is against Wexford Youths on Friday April 8 KO 7.45pm in Jackman Park.
In off the field news, Limerick FC are currently looking for a Main sponsor for the new season to go on the front of the jersey. Limerick FC have a range of sponsorship opportunities ranging from Matchday, Programs, Pitchside Signs, Player Sponsorship, business partners & U19 Team. There are many more ways to get involved in supporting your club for details please contact the club or the commercial manager on 0857694324.or the office on 061324563.
Follow Limerick FC on twitter for updates on the aways games and of course, @donnosullivan too.
Below is the Shelbourne FC preview of this weekends game.
Shelbourne have Limerick FC as visitors to Tolka Park on Friday night for this tie between two of the top four sides in the division. Kick off at Tolka Park in 8.00pm.
Shelbourne are on top of the table having full points, nine from three games, with our visitors in fourth, with seven from four outings.
Monday night last saw Shelbourne win 4-0 against FC Carlow in the EA Cup First Round, a match which game manager Alan Mathews a chance to give a run out to some of the squad who hadn’t featured much so far this season. Lorcan Fitzgerald, Colm James, Chris Mulhall and John Sullivan all started, which Sean Byrne was introduced in the second half for his first match action of the new season.
In the last league outing, Shels picked up a good three points away to Mervue United, a side that will, on this showing, take points from many of the favourite to take league honours. In that game, Shelbourne went ahead following good build up, with Philly Hughes putting through a nice pass for David Cassidy to run onto and finish past the Mervue keeper. The home side drew level with a goal headed in from a good cross from the right, which should have been defended better. The winning score came from the head of Stephen Paisley, following a free from the left.
Manager Alan Mathews, in an interview with shelstv.com agreed that it was “a very satisfying result”. He continued “[The side] haven’t found a rhythm or consistency that we’d be happy with” – “certain aspects of our performances have been very satisfying but a lot of work has yet to be done”.
Commenting on the pressure his side came under at two-one up he said “when they threw everyone forward for set-pieces and threw balls into the box, we defended as we had to” and came away with the points.
Asked about the position at the top of the table, Mathews commented “We’ve had a decent start – it doesn’t really count for anything, it just gets us off the mark. We need to go again and build on it for the next game [against Limerick].”
Shelbourne report all squad members fit and have no suspensions for Friday’s game.
