Fans urged to come out in force

WITH Limerick FC’s tantalising FAI Ford Cup third round clash against St. Patrick’s Athletic mere days away manager Pat Scully is urging soccer fans right across Limerick to come out in support of the Super Blues on Friday night at Jackman Park (kick-off 7.45pm).
“I would urge the fans to come out,” Pat Scully told Leader Sport.
“This is a huge game for us and we need all the support we can get. We need supporters to make the reception as hostile as possible for St. Pat’s. I would urge supporters to come along to the game - we need that 12th man against St. Pat’s.”
And, Pat Scully says that the Limerick FC players are eager to impress the home crowd.


The Super Blues attracted their largest home crowd of the season against Waterford United on April 24 last, but lost two-nil to their Munster rivals. Now the players have an opportunity to redress the balance.
“We talked to the players after we had a thousand or so at the game against Waterford in the league,” explained Pat Scully.
“We didn’t play at all that night and lost. The last time we had a really big crowd at Jackman Park we know and the players know that we let the supporters down.
“Now we have a point to prove.
“This is our chance to prove to the fans that we are a good team and that we are going places, that the future is bright and that good times are coming for the club. It should be a great night for Limerick football.”
Pat Scully, who is a distant cousin of St. Patrick’s Athletic manager Jeff Kenna, is well aware of the task faced by his Limerick FC side.
Last Friday night, in the Premier Division, St. Pat’s, featuring Limerick’s Bobby Ryan as a second half substitute, beat the defending league champions Bohemians 3-1 at Richmond Park - the Saints first win over Bohs in Inchicore in six seasons.
“St. Pat’s is a really good draw for us,” admitted Pat Scully.
“We were looking for a big team at home and that what’s we’ve got.
“They’re not having as good a season as in previous seasons, but they are a good side. Most of the pressure will be on them to win.
“And, one thing I will say is that our players have great character. Now we have to show the spirit to go out and stand up to them.
“Cup games can often come down to a bit of luck and if that bit of luck comes our way we’re definitely capable of causing an upset.”
St. Patrick’s Athletic, who have won the league title on seven occasions, draws its support from south west Dublin while their record league victory arrived during the 1966-67 season when they beat Limerick 8-0 - the Super Blues will be hoping to avoid a similar fate this Friday night.
St. Pat’s last contested the FAI Cup final in 2006 when the Saints lost 4-3 to Derry City in Lansdowne Road.
St. Pat’s have won the FAI Cup on two occasions (1959 & 1961) while Limerick have also won the cup twice (1971 & 1982) - Limerick also contested the final in 1965, 1966 and 1977.
Last season Limerick lost two-nil to Cork City in the third round while third round defeat also proved Limerick’s lot in 2007 when the Super Blues lost away to Longford Town at Flancare Park.
Limerick’s preparations for Friday night’s game have been hamstrung by an injury crisis with John Tierney, Pat Purcell, Paul Cummins, Brian O’Callaghan, Ian Storan, Brendan Daly and Thomas Lyons all ruled out through injury.
Meanwhile Pat Scully was delighted last week to secure his first two signings as Limerick FC manager.
The Super Blues signed Tomás Barrett from Kilmallock United while the senior side has also acquired the services of Janesboro’s Shane Clarke. Tomás Barrett’s older brother Liam was a member of Mike Kerley’s Limerick squad last season while Shane Clarke is well known to the Limerick soccer fraternity.
Clarke, who captained Limerick CBS to an All-Ireland Colleges title last year, was a member of the Super Blues squad in 2007. Indeed Clarke, a decorated schoolboy international, scored twice against the Wexford Youths on October 5, 2007 in his League of Ireland debut for then manager Paul McGee.
Shane Clarke has played exceptionally well for Janesboro in the Limerick District Premier League for the past two seasons.
And although Mike Kerley failed to tempt the teenager back to senior soccer last season Pat Scully has succeeded in signing one of the most talented strikers in Limerick.
Shane Clarke will not play his part in Friday night’s game - Clarke needed to have signed for the club a full 14 days before the St. Pat’s clash to be eligible to play, but unfortunately the teenager only signed on the dotted line 12 days previous to the crucial FAI Ford Cup clash.

Brian McDonnell