Limerick manager Martin Russell says his players will enter this weekend’s Munster Derby with confidence and that a result against last year’s runners-up is “achievable if we put our best foot forward”.
The Shannonsiders make the trip to face Cork City at Turner’s Cross on Friday evening, kick-off 7.45pm, on the back of two disappointing results.
Last Saturday, they were on the end of a 3-0 defeat by Bohemians in their league opener at Jackman Park, before they exited the EA Sports Cup to Cobh Ramblers on a 3-2 scoreline after extra-time at Saint Colman’s Park on Tuesday night.
The boss took the positives from that knockout, pointing to “improvements in areas” from the Bohs loss, and he wants his side to build on that for their latest trip south.
Russell admitted that it is an “extremely difficult” task facing his team but that their recent Munster Senior Cup success over Cork will give them belief.
“In Cobh, we created more chances and more opportunities to win the game,” Martin told LimerickFC.ie ahead of his first trip to Turner’s Cross for the derby.
“It was an extremely difficult pitch again to try to play on, but we did try to play at times and played a lot better than in the previous game against them a few weeks ago.
“The learning curve is there to be learned and we now go and look forward to the game on Friday, the Munster Derby, to go out and play well and get a result. It will be extremely difficult but we’ll give ourselves the best chance by playing in patches like we did and show the application that we did on Tuesday.
“We’ve already beaten Cork in the Munster Senior Cup. We know it’s not going to be easy but we know it’s achievable if we put our best foot forward.”
Limerick’s recent win over Cork in the Munster Senior Cup semi-finals came through a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw in Askeaton, where Dean Clarke, Robbie Williams and captain Shane Duggan were on the mark.
Clarke also netted in Cobh which brought his tally to four goals in three cup competition appearances this term. Now, he will look to break his league duck at the second attempt after a frustrating outing against Bohs.
Cork got their Premier Division campaign underway last weekend with a last-gasp equaliser against Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds, the game ending 1-1. Last season, they lost just once at home – to champions Dundalk – in 17 league matches.
Limerick lost all four meetings with their rivals last term, three of those in the league and one in the EA Sports Cup. But they were successful at Turner’s Cross in May 2013 in their first visit there after returning to the top flight, winning 3-2.
Team News: Defensive duo Paudie O’Connor and Robbie Williams return to the squad having been rested on Tuesday but left-back Colm Murphy (hamstring) remains out.
Officials: Referee for the game is Tom Connolly, his assistants are Ken Hennessey and Trevor Cotter while the fourth official is Anthony Buttimer.
