However Limerick FC manager Pat Scully isn’t overly concerned about Longford’s form as the Super Blues prepare for Friday night’s League of Ireland First Division clash at Jackman Park (7.45pm).
“No, I wouldn’t read too much into a result like that,” Pat Scully told Leader Sport.
“It was a great result for Longford, but it was also a cup game when anything can happen. I don’t think it will have a big impact on our league game this weekend.”
Although Longford will have been heartened by their display against Galway their league form has been poor. Longford have lost their last three league games (0-2 v Shelbourne at home, 0-3 v UCD at home & 0-3 v Sporting Fingal away) and find themselves 12 points behind Limerick FC in the First Division.
The Super Blues last faced Longford Town on Saturday, May 16 with Pat Scully’s side earning an impressive 3-2 away win - Thomas Lyons gave Limerick FC the lead before Longford equalized.
Limerick, thanks to goals from Davy Ryan and Paul Cummins, then surged into a two-goal lead while Longford plundered a consolation goal deep into injury time.
“We beat them three-two down there the last time we met,” recalled Pat Scully.
“I know they’ve had a change in manager since then and that they will be much better organised now.
“I played against and with Gareth Cronin. He’ll have Longford well organised and defensively I expect them to be very strong. We’ll need to be patient, to defend well and to take our chances. It will be a tight game, that’s the way they’ll want to keep it and then try to catch us on the counter-attack. They’re a good team with good players and we have to treat them with respect.”
Limerick won their last league encounter 2-1 away to Finn Harps thanks to goals from Shane Tracy and Stephen O’Flynn.
A result that encouraged Pat Scully no end: “It was really pleasing. We got Conor Molan back fit for the game; we moved things around a little which worked well while the players also showed a really good attitude. Finn Harps did come back into it in the last half an hour, but we were the better side and deserved to win the game.
“We were really pleased with the win. Donegal is a tough place to go and the lads showed real character to get a result up there.”
Limerick FC however were dealt a blow last week when centre-halves Brian O’Callaghan and Niall Donnelly left the squad for personal reasons. Club captain Pat Purcell is inching ever closer to returning to the starting 11, but even so the departure of O’Callaghan and Donnelly worries Pat Scully.
“It’s tough to lose two players in the same position,” admitted Pat Scully, “and it is disappointing; we’ve had a few disappointments this season haven’t we? We just have to roll up our sleeves now. We must push on without them, but it does makes things difficult.
“Some of the new lads that have come in have been great. Stephen O’Flynn and Daryl Kavanagh have been great additions to the team. They’ve come in and have done really well. They have made a huge difference to the team and O’Flynn’s second goal against Finn Harps was top class. We’ll be expecting more of the same from them this weekend.”
There was more good news for Limerick FC fans when the Football Association of Ireland inducted Kevin Fitzpatrick into the national association’s hall of fame last week.
For 22 years, from 1960 to 1982, Kevin Fitzpatrick was Limerick FC’s goalkeeper winning every honour that the League of Ireland had to offer.
Highlights from that 22-year period for Fitzpatrick include facing Young Boys of Berne in the European Cup in 1960, Spurs in a friendly in 1980 and Torino in the Cup Winners Cup.
Kevin Fitzpatrick is the only player to have participated in all five of Limerick FC’s five FAI Cup finals (1964, 1965, 1971, 1977 & 1982) - the 1982 final proved to be Kevin’s final game for the club.
With Limerick FC Kevin Fitzpatrick also won the league title in 1960.
Kevin played twice for the Irish amateur side, earned one full international cap and was a reserve for the Republic of Ireland on three occasions during his stunning goalkeeping career.
Brian McDonnell
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