City Council call Market’s Field meeting

REPRESENTATIVES of Limerick FC, the FAI and Bord na gCon will today meet with Limerick City Council in an effort to determine the future of the Market’s Field.
“This meeting was called by the Limerick City Council,” Limerick FC CEO Andrew Mawhinney told Leader Sport.


“They want us to present our plans for the Market’s Field and we are eager to do so. It’s about making a strong case for the re-development of the Market’s Field on a short-term and long-term basis.
“In the short-term we want to get Limerick FC playing home games in the Market’s Field as soon as possible and in the long-term we want to see the site developed into a municipal stadium. This is an opportunity for Limerick FC in its fight for survival.
“No disrespect to Jackman Park, but if we don’t move to the Market’s Field the club won’t survive, the numbers just don’t stack up.”
Limerick FC’s potential move to the Market’s Field depends upon the package pieced together for the purchase of the stadium from Bord na gCon and its transformation into a multi-sport municipal stadium.
Gilroy McMahon, the firm of architects behind the redevelopment of Croke Park, were commissioned to produce plans for the 5.3-acre site and Des McMahon is due to present his ideas to today’s meeting - the proposals are estimated to have a price tag approaching €12 million.
In other Limerick FC news Dave Mahedy, Paul O’Donnell and Mick Shiels will take responsibility for starting team when the Super Blues launch their Eircom League campaign against UCD on Friday night.
Meanwhile the only Limerick side left in the FAI Junior Cup has a familiar ring to it: Fairview Rangers.
Fairview, thanks to an emphatic 4-1 win against Evergreen on Sunday afternoon, have now joined St. Peter’s (Athlone), Ballymun United (Dublin), Sheriff YC (Dublin), Erris United (Mayo), Lisselton Celtic (Kerry) or City United (Sligo), Bohemians (Waterford) and Clonmel Town (Tipperary) in the eighth round (quarter-finals).
Unfortunately Janesboro lost in extra time to Clonmel Town at Pearse Stadium while Regional United travelled to Waterford to face Bohemians and lost on penalties.
There was more encouraging news for the Limerick District League in the Munster Senior Cup when Pike Rovers beat the holders and ten-time champions Cork City (2-1) in Bishopstown.
On Thursday night last the Republic of Ireland under-18 schoolboys made the perfect start to the Centenary Shield when they beat Wales 3-1 at Ferrycarrig Park in Wexford. Crescent College’s Ian Storan started for the Republic of Ireland as did Limerick CBS’ Jason Hughes. Hughes was injured in the 85th minute and replaced by Eoin Hanrahan (Limerick CBS).

Brian McDonnell