Soccer – Blues return from break to face Dundalk

LIMERICK FC return from the mid-season break with the unenviable task of travelling to Oriel Park to face champions and current leaders Dundalk on Friday night (kick-off 7:45pm).
The Super Blues have reached the midway point of the campaign still seeking their first win, although they are one of only three clubs to have taken points off Dundalk this season, earning a 1-1 draw at Jackman Park at Easter.
Limerick manager Martin Russell is hopeful that his team can reach those same heights again this weekend, having also put in an encouraging performance against St Patrick’s Athletic in their most recent outing.
“Dundalk are proven. They’re champions and they’ve done ever so well this year, but by the same token we managed to get a point off them earlier in the season. We have that as something to hold on to and if we play something like how we played against St Pat’s in the first half, we can be competitive and who knows? On the night maybe something will go our way.”
The situation at present looks rather bleak for Limerick, who have taken just five points all season and are six adrift of their nearest challengers, but Russell believes that the picture can change very quickly given the competitive nature of the Premier Division.
“Such is the shape of the league that if we can get two wins, we’re back in amongst other teams. If any of the bottom sides get three wins out of five games, they’ll soon leapfrog others and that’s what we’re looking at.
“If we can start off against Dundalk and get something there, brilliant. Then we’ve got two massive home games against Bray and Galway, so it’s all still to play for.
“We’ve still all got to play each other. Some of us have to play each other twice more and there’s lot of points to be taken. It’s very much all to play for.”
Russell said that he is intending to add to his squad in the July transfer window, with ex-Super Blues midfielder Lee-J Lynch reportedly training with the club, having been released by Scottish Premiership outfit Hamilton.
The Limerick native was brought back to Shannonside by Russell a year ago and the manager said that Limerick FC “is an option for him”, but added that any potential signing will be determined by feasibility within the club’s budget.