Limerick’s feast of football

THE Republic of Ireland’s friendly with Australia on Wednesday forms the centrepiece of four days of soccer activity in Limerick next week.
The Republic of Ireland play their first full international outside of Dublin since 1985 when Giovanni Trapattoni’s team face the Socceroos at Thomond Park on August 12 (kick-off is at 7.30pm).


A feast of football is planned for Limerick beginning on Sunday next when the FAI Under-12 Inter-League Futsal Tournament will be staged at the University of Limerick, beginning at 3pm.
On Monday evening, at the Irish squad’s team base in Tipperary Town, a civic reception will be held to honour Irish manager, Giovanni Trapattoni. On Tuesday, the focus switches back to Limerick when Geraldines AFC will celebrate the opening of their new dressing room facilities at 4pm.
On big-match day, Wednesday, August 12, an FAI Football Fun for All Day will be hosted at Shelbourne Park between 4pm and 7pm. This event will include face painting, soccer skills, crossbar challenge, obstacle course, penalty shootout target and the speed gun challenge.
The Republic of Ireland team will train at St. Michael’s FC’s Cooke Park, Tipperary Town on both Sunday and Monday. Tickets to the training session have already been distributed to members of the public. Meanwhile Irish team manager, Trapattoni has urged his team to produce a performance befitting the fabulous Thomond Park arena.
Not since 1985 when Flower Lodge in Cork hosted the friendly against Spain has a home International being staged outside of Dublin. Trapattoni said: “It will be important to win and produce a great performance in this famous stadium. Hopefully, the stadium will be full of fans.
“This will not be an easy game against Australia, but I am confident. It is important that can get the players together so we see their condition ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus game in September.
“I hope we can get a good result. It helps for the future and it helps the players believe that qualification for the World Cup is possible.”
The Irish squad will have a run-out at Thomond Park at teatime on Tuesday evening next.
Australia head coach, Pim Verbeek has selected a 22-player squad for the upcoming international, including several players who will be well known to fans of the Premier League - Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and Everton playmaker Tim Cahill make the squad along with Lucas Neill, Harry Kewell and Scott McDonald.

Australia: Mark Schwarzer, Ante Covic; Patrick Kisnorbo, Lucas Neill, Rhys Williams, Jade North, Matthew Spiranovic, Adrian Madaschi, Luke Wilkshire; Mark Bresciano, James Holland, Dario Vidosic, Tim Cahill, Nick Carle, Aaron Mooy, Harry Kewell, Oliver Bozanic, David Carney, Mile Jedinak; Scott McDonald, Brett Holman, Nikita Rukavytsya.

Colm Kinsella