‘We will be ready for UCD’

LIMERICK CEO Andrew Mawhinney has defiantly greeted the news that Garry Sheahan and Peter White have signed for the Wexford Youths by insisting that the club will be ready to face UCD on March 6.
“We would like to wish both players all the best for the future,” Andrew Mawhinney explained this morning.
“They are both talented players and we’re sorry to lose them, but the set-up in Wexford is good and we expect both players to progress down there.
“There is no need for supporters of the club to be concerned. We have signed the players we wanted to sign and the bottom line is that we will be ready to face UCD on March 6.”
Although Peter White was a regular in the side last season Super Blue supporters will particularly miss Garry Sheahan. Sheahan’s all-action style endeared him to the Limerick FC fans in 2008 when the striker notched nine goals in 18 league appearances.
Limerick FC expect to finalise their playing squad for the season this week. The Super Blues most significant signing thus far has been that of centre-half Brian O’Callaghan who previously played for Cork City, Notts County and Barnsley, among others.
The majority of last season’s squad have also been re-signed while Paul Cummins, formerly of Aisling Annacotty and a potential replacement for Garry Sheahan up front, has impressed in pre-season training.
The likely starting XI for the clash with UCD next week could read along the following lines: Davy Ryan, Conor Molan, Brendan Daly, Pat Purcell, Brian O’Callaghan (pictured below), Paul Walsh, Tommy Barrett, Jason Hughes, Thomas Lyons with John Tierney and Paul Cummins leading the line.


While Dave Mahedy has taken responsibility for putting the side through their pre-season paces the club must now widen their search for a new first team manager.
The club had hoped to convince Pete Mahon to succeed Mike Kerley, but it is understood by Leader Sport that the logistics of travelling from Dublin to manage the Super Blues has ruled out the former UCD boss.
“There has already been huge interest in the vacant managerial position for Limerick FC,” Andrew Mawhinney explained, “and a suitable successor will be put in place ASAP.”
As part of the club’s fundraising drive Limerick FC will host a Greyhound Race Night at the Market’s Field on April 4.
The night will consist of a 10-race programme. Race eight will be a ‘Buster’ race and the holder of the winning ticket, with the correct finishing order, will receive a prize of €1,000 and two tickets to see the Republic of Ireland take on Italy at Croke Park. ‘Buster’ tickets cost €20 each and are available from Limerick FC. Admission price on the night is €8 while any person who purchases a ‘Buster’ ticket will gain free entry to the stadium on the night. Contact Limerick FC at 061 324 563 or by email at info@limerickfc.ie.
Limerick CBS’ Jason Hughes and Eoin Hanrahan, along with Crescent College’s Ian Storan have been included in the under-18 FAI Schoolboys squad which faces Wales at Wexford’s Ferrycarrig Park on Thursday evening (kick-off 7pm) in the Carnegie Centenary Shield.
This will be the first competitive fixture in the competition for manager Hugh Colhoun. And, he will be hoping that home advantage will give the Irish side the edge they need to overcome a strong Welsh side. Ireland enjoyed a 2-1 victory away to Wales last season and should confidently face into this crunch encounter.
Jason Hughes is a likely to feature strongly for the under-18 side having won the Celtic Cup and Centenary Shield with the schoolboy side in 2008.

Brian McDonnell