Hoping to get back on track

LIMERICK FC enjoy an ideal opportunity to put the pain of Monday night’s penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of the Wexford Youths behind them when they face a struggling Kildare County at Jackman Park on Friday night (7.45pm).

Although the Super Blues enjoyed a monopoly of possession during that EA Sports Cup clash against the Wexford Youths, and had beaten Noel O’Connor’s men 2-0 in the league on Friday night last, they struggled to break down the visitors to Jackman Park and after a one-all draw lost on penalties (3-5) when ‘keeper Pa Doyle guessed right and saved Martin Deady’s spot kick.
Limerick FC, however, will be raging hot favourites to beat Kildare County next Friday night.
Shamrock Rovers (3-0) dumped Kildare County out of the EA Sports Cup on Monday last while the Thoroughbreds lost a league encounter to Mervue United (0-3) on Friday night last.
Limerick proved four goals (4-0) too good for Mervue when the Galway side visited Jackman Park earlier this season and since Kildare have conceded 26 goals (23 in the league) in seven games thus far the Super Blues will be hoping to take advantage of a struggling defence.
Pat Scully recorded his first league win on Friday night last when goals from Colin Scanlon and Paul Walsh (penalty) helped Limerick to a 2-0 win away to the Wexford Youths.
Scully rested the majority of his side for the return game against the Wexford Youths in Monday night’s EA Sports Cup clash and is expected to name a strong side for the visit of Kildare County - the signing of Shane Tracy, who was formerly on the books of Arsenal, has also bolstered the Limerick FC squad.
Kildare County conceded three headed goals against Mervue United last weekend and the significance of that fact will not be lost on a manager as experienced as Scully.
It is not known at this point whether Pat Scully will employ the talents of Jason Hughes and Ian Storan on Friday night.
Both did play their part on Monday night last, but it is likely that these talented schoolboys will be rested in view of their international commitments.
Hughes (Limerick CBS) and Storan (Crescent Comp.) join Pike Rovers’ Eoin Hanrahan on the Republic of Ireland under-18 schoolboy side which faces England at the RSC, Waterford on Friday, April 24.
The game, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports (7.35pm), will serve as the deciding game in this season’s Carnegie Centenary Shield. The Republic, having beaten Wales and Northern Ireland and having drawn with Scotland are in pole position, but defeat in Waterford could cost the Republic of Ireland their chance of successfully defending the trophy they won so emphatically in 2008.
Meanwhile Limerick have also launched the club’s very first soccer camp. The Easter camp is taking place at Abbey Rovers ground in Abbeyvale, Corbally and was completely booked out running from 10am to 1.30pm every day costing €50 per child aged between five and 12 years. Each participant received expert coaching from Limerick FC players including Colin Scanlan, Wayne Colbert, Conor Molan, Brian O’Callaghan, Derek Daly, Shane Tracey, Bobby Tier and ‘keeper Brian Collopy.
At the end of the camp each child received a certificate from the club as well as a gift pack which included a ticket for the Limerick FC versus Kildare County match at Jackman Park on Friday night. The camp was run by Colin Scanlan and Paddy Hartnett who were so overwhelmed by the response they have decided to continue with weekly soccer camps as well as running summer camps. The summer camps will take place in a number of venues across Limerick city and county and if your club would like to host one of these camps, or if you are interested in booking a place for your child please contact the club on 085 130 5752, 086 301 9408 or 061 324 563.
Alternatively you can email the Super Blues on academy@limerickfc.ie.

Brian McDonnell