Limerick expect to be ‘more than competitive’

DESPITE Limerick FC’s superb finish to the 2008 season the bookies now rank the Super Blues as 14/1 outsiders for the Eircom League First Division title - Waterford United (10/1) and Shelbourne (4/1) lead the betting while Sporting Fingal (8/13) have been made clear favourites to collect the league title.
Limerick FC open their 2009 campaign with a trip to Belfield to face UCD on Friday night (7.45pm) - UCD were relegated from the Premier Division last season.
Interestingly Pete Mahon, who resigned as UCD manager after last season’s disappointing campaign, has been touted as a replacement for Mike Kerley who walked away from Limerick FC two weeks ago.
Limerick FC have spread the net far and wide in their search for Kerley’s successor, but the club are unlikely to name a replacement before Friday night’s opening game.
In the interim Dave Mahedy, Paul O’Donnell and Mick Sheils will take responsibility for guiding the fortunes of the Super Blues senior side - Limerick FC’s first home game at Jackman Park will take place on Friday, March 13 at 7.45pm when newly-promoted Mervue United visit Limerick.
Although Sporting Fingal have raised many an eyebrow with their pre-season transfer exploits, splashing out on a number of experienced Premier Division stars like Gary O’Neill, Eamon Zayed and Alan Kirby Limerick CEO Andrew Mawhinney expects the Super Blues to be more than competitive this season.
“We have a squad that is strong enough to challenge for promotion this season.
“Sporting Fingal are the bench mark against which everyone else will be measured, but we think we can be more than competitive in 2009,” Andrew Mawhinney told Leader Sport this week.
“Off the field it’s also going to be a tough season; financially it will be difficult. We will be announcing a new sponsor next week, but everyone in the club is working on a voluntary basis, we still have a financial deficit to address and we hope the Limerick public will come out to support the players and the club this season.”

Limerick FC Squad: Davy Ryan, Brian Collopy, Pat Purcell, Brian O’Callaghan, Brendan Daly, Paul Danaher, Conor Molan, Tommy Barrett, Ian Storan, Jamie Wunsch, Paul Walsh, Eoin O’Brien, Thomas Lyons, Jason Hughes, Wayne Colbert, Bobby Tier, Martin Deady, Colm Carroll, John Tierney, Chimka Manjor, Colin Scanlon, Paul Cummins & James Hayes.

Brian McDonnell