Monaghan United give Limerick FC the Blues

LIMERICK FC were unceremoniously dumped out of the EA Sports Cup at the quarter-final stage in Jackman Park on Tuesday night when they lost three-nil against an utterly dominant Monaghan Utd.


After a ponderous start to the game Monaghan created the first real goal-scoring opportunity in the 14th minute when Karl Bermingham created a shooting chance for Sean Brennan, but Limerick FC ‘keeper Dave Ryan made a stunning save.
Eight minutes later Aidan Collins flashed his shot over the Limerick bar and the Super Blues looked in real trouble. Limerick responded to the threat posed by the away side however. Pat Scully’s men soon gained a foothold in the game and in the 34th minute, following a brilliant move, Daryl Kavanagh looked to have played Stephen Hickey through on goal, but the Clare man was strangely flagged offside. Then, just as Limerick attempted to absorb that bizarre decision, Monaghan were presented with a 25-yard free kick following a foul on Cathal O’Connor which Philip Hughes curled home via Dave Ryan’s left-hand post.
Monaghan dominated after the break and scored a deserved, if controversial, goal in the 54th minute.
When Conor McMahon delivered a cross Sean Brennan looked completely, and utterly, offside, but the flag stayed down and a delighted Brennan stepped around Dave Ryan before rolling home Monaghan United’s second goal of the evening.
In the 64th minute Sean Brennan stung the hands of Dave Ryan with a snap shot and although Limerick FC manager Pat Scully introduced Robbie Kelleher, David McGrath and Peter Ballough to his side the Super Blues found themselves 3-0 down in the 73rd minute. This time a brilliant Monaghan counter-attack, led by Philip Hughes, culminated when Hughes sprayed the ball out to Sean Brennan on the left flank who expertly steered his shot wide of Dave Ryan and into the bottom right-hand corner of the Limerick goal.
Limerick FC will be back in cup action once more on Friday night when Tolka Rovers visit Jackman Park (7.45pm) in the third round of the FAI Ford Cup.
Although the Glasnevin-based Tolka Rovers are an amateur side and play in the Leinster Senior League they are expected to present Limerick FC with a stern test.
Before the mid-season break Limerick FC will be back in Airtricity League Division One action on Tuesday, June 8 when the Super Blues host Finn Harps at Jackman Park (kick-off 7.45pm) - after next Tuesday night’s encounter Limerick FC will not be back in competitive action until Friday, June 25 when they make the journey to Turner’s Cross to take on Cork City.
Limerick FC have already beaten Finn Harps this season. On Friday, March 26 the Super Blues traveled to Ballybofey in Donegal and won 3-0 thanks to goals from John Tierney, Stephen Hickey and Shane Tracy.
Limerick FC: Dave Ryan, Gavin Roche, Sean Kelly, Declan Cahill, Pat Purcell, Peter White, Daryl Kavanagh, Jeffrey Judge, Jason Hughes, Stephen Hickey, Thomas Lyons. Subs: Robbie Kelleher for Jason Hughes, David McGrath for Stephen Hickey, Peter Ballough for Thomas Lyons.
Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava, Conor McMahon, Anthony Costigan, Aidan Lynch, Brian Gartland, Dom Tierney, Cathal O’Connor, Aidan Collins, Karl Bermingham, Philip Hughes, Sean Brennan.
Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare).

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Limerick FC cancel Barca clash

SADLY, Limerick FC have confirmed that the proposed friendly with FC Barcelona on Saturday, July 31 at Thomond Park has now been canceled.
Last week Limerick FC were mere hours away from signing an agreement with the Spanish giants, but the Football of Association of Ireland refused to sanction the game. On Thursday Limerick FC released a statement criticising the FAI for refusing to do so while the club estimated that the event could be worth €10 million-plus to the local economy.


Following several days of controversial press coverage FC Barcelona, on Monday evening, contacted Limerick FC requesting a final clarification on whether the proposed friendly was likely to go ahead. Considering the FAI stance Limerick FC officials had no option but to resign themselves to the fact that, practically, the friendly could not go ahead.
On Tuesday night the club publicly admitted that the game was off - Limerick FC explained that FC Barcelona needed to finalise their pre-season plans, especially since the club planned to begin their Asian tour in the first week of August.
The statement also indicated that its wording had been agreed by Barcelona officials and that “the only reason that this match is not going ahead is the decision of the Airtricity League Director (Fran Gavin) and the FAI not to sanction the proposed match”.
Limerick FC also claim in their latest statement that FC Barcelona emailed FAI officials on Monday, May 17 confirming their desire to play at Thomond Park and stated their disagreement with the decision not to sanction the game.
Limerick are also eager “to thank FC Barcelona for the professional nature in which all negotiations were carried out and their support for Limerick FC’s attempts to get the necessary sanction from the FAI. Limerick FC would also like to thank its fans, its fellow league clubs and all the public who supported their call for sanctioning of the game.
“It is extremely disappointing,” the statement reads, “that Limerick FC and FC Barcelona will now not meet in Thomond Park as a result of the decision by the Airtricity League Director and the FAI not to sanction the game. The loss to the region both economically and in terms of improving the profile of soccer in the region is enormous.
“Limerick will continue to appeal the decision of the Airtricity League Director as a matter of principle as there is a need to fully clarify the position all Airtricity League clubs now find themselves in with regards to the receiving of a sanction for friendly games of this nature.
“Limerick FC,” the statement concludes, “still hope that at some stage in the future they will be in a position to welcome FC Barcelona to the mid-west region and allow all sports lovers the opportunity to see some of the world’s greatest stars in person”.

Fixtures clash
Originally the FAI cited a clash with Airtricity League fixtures as their reason for refusing to sanction the game, but the national association has since explained that they are precluded from doing so because of an agreement signed with a third party charged with bringing friendlies, which would attract crowds in excess of 15,000, to Ireland.
The FAI have scheduled an Airtricity League XI to play Manchester United at the Aviva Stadium on August 4. The Man United match could clash with European ties for Irish clubs with Bohemians potentially playing in the second leg of the Champions League and several other Airtricity League clubs embroiled in Europa League action.
In conversation with Marian Finucane on RTÉ Radio One Football Association of Ireland CEO John Delaney elaborated on the FAI’s decision not to sanction Limerick FC’s proposed friendly with Spanish giants FC Barcelona while he also labeled Limerick FC officials as “naive”.
“I think Limerick have acted very naively in the whole situation,” FAI CEO John Delaney explained.
John Delaney also said that the FAI were contractually bound to a third party in terms of arranging friendly games involving Irish clubs.
“We would have a relationship in terms of the organisation of friendlies coming into Ireland and there are certain games that we can grant and certain games that we cannot grant in terms of attendance figures,” John Delaney said.
Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell, who was also party to the discussion on RTÉ Radio One, challenged John Delaney on his ability of the FAI to sanction the game.
“It’s not within out ability,” John Delaney replied.

Hardened stance
On Monday evening the FAI released a statement as its stance hardened on the Limerick FC issue.
In that detailed statement the national association emphasised its sole objective to foster the game in Ireland and that any profit the FAI makes is “delivered straight back into the development of the game”.
Even though Limerick FC furnished Leader Sport with a copy of the heads of agreement contract between Limerick FC and FC Barcelona for the friendly in question, the FAI questioned the bona fides of that contract. In the statement the FAI also outlined that the national association is precluded legally from granting friendly games in stadiums with a capacity in excess of 15,000 and that the FAI is obliged to retain ownership of Saturday, July 31 because of Airtricity League fixtures.
Late on Monday night Limerick FC publicly replied to that FAI statement in an effort to clarify their stance on the issue. The Super Blues refuted the FAI claim that they were aware of the third party commercial agreement in question.
Once more they reiterated the fact that the reason they were given for the FAI refusal to sanction the proposed friendly was because of a clash with Airtricity League fixtures. The club were also annoyed by the FAI accusation that they had not finalised the deal to bring FC Barcelona to Limerick. In fact Limerick had reached an agreement with the Spanish giants, but could not sign the contract as the FAI were required to sanction the deal beforehand.

Ramifications
The issue could have wide-ranging ramifications on the Airtricity League since the FAI’s third-party agreement essentially precludes all clubs from arranging similarly attractive friendlies against top class opposition.
Such an arrangement could prove disastrous for Limerick FC. The club’s five-year plan features a determination to arrange such friendlies, in conjunction with Thomond Park, as a major part of its fund-raising initiatives. Now, it appears that Limerick FC will not be in a position to raise much-needed funds in that way.
Limerick FC have lodged an official objection with the FAI Disciplinary Control Unit regarding the Airtricity League Director’s refusal to sanction the friendly against FC Barcelona. A letter regarding same from Limerick FC was scheduled to arrive at the FAI HQ in Abbotstown on Tuesday.

FAI Ford Cup
The draw for the third round of the FAI Ford Cup took place on Monday night - Limerick FC will face either Tolka Rovers or Tralee Dynamos at Jackman Park on the weekend of June 6.

Brian McDonnell

FAI harden friendly stance

DESPITE all 19 of Limerick FC’s Airtricity League club colleagues moving a motion on Monday night to support the Super Blues in their on-going battle with the Football Association of Ireland the FAI have hardened their stance and as a result Limerick FC officials are now resigned to the fact that FC Barcelona will not be playing at Thomond Park on Saturday, July 31.


The controversy erupted on Thursday last when Limerick FC released a statement criticising the FAI for refusing to sanction a friendly against the Spanish giants.
Originally the FAI cited a clash with Airtricity League fixtures as their reason for doing so, but the national association has since explained that they are precluded from sanctioning the game because of an agreement signed with a third party charged with bringing friendlies which would attract crowds in excess of 15,000 to Ireland.
On Monday night, just hours before the FAI Ford Cup third round draw, a meeting of the Airtricity League clubs saw all members vote to support the Limerick FC stance while it is understood that the league members will now seek the exact details of the FAI agreement which precludes all clubs from arranging high-profile friendlies.
On Monday evening the FAI released a statement as its stance hardened on the Limerick FC issue.
In that detailed statement the national association emphasised its sole objective to foster the game in Ireland and that any profit the FAI makes is “delivered straight back into the development of the game”. The FAI have suggested that the agreement they have signed with regard to friendlies is “to benefit the game as a whole”.
Even though Limerick FC have furnished Chronicle Sport with a copy of the heads of agreement contract between Limerick FC and FC Barcelona for the friendly in question, the FAI have once again questioned the bona fides of that contract. In the statement the FAI also outlined that the national association is precluded legally from granting friendly games in stadiums with a capacity in excess of 15,000 and that the FAI is obliged to retain ownership of Saturday, July 31 because of Airtricity League fixtures.
The FAI have also pointed to the fact that all Airtricity League clubs, including Limerick FC, have signed a participation agreement which entitles the FAI to enter into any agreement which its sees as beneficial to the game and that no club can arrange a friendly without the national association’s prior consent.
Late on Monday night Limerick FC publicly replied to that FAI statement in an effort to clarify their stance on the issue. The Super Blues have refuted the FAI claim that they were aware of the third party commercial agreement in question and that it referred to stadiums with a capacity in excess of 15,000. Once more they have reiterated the fact that the reason they were given for the FAI refusal to sanction the proposed friendly was because of a clash with Airtricity League fixtures.
The club were also annoyed by the FAI accusation that they had not finalised the deal to bring FC Barcelona to Limerick.
In fact Limerick had reached an agreement with the Spanish giants, but could not sign the contract as the FAI were required to sanction the deal beforehand.
Sadly, Limerick FC have now learned that FC Barcelona are now assessing other potential pre-season friendlies before the Spanish champions embark on their Asian tour in August.
Therefore there is little if no chance that the friendly will go ahead at Thomond Park on Saturday, July 31 and the mid-west region has missed out on an estimated €10 million in revenue associated with the potentially ground-breaking event.
It is also thought that the issue could have wide-ranging ramifications on the Airtricity League since the FAI’s third-party agreement essentially precludes all clubs from arranging similarly attractive friendlies against top class opposition.
Such an arrangement could prove disastrous for Limerick FC. The club’s five-year plan features a determination to arrange such friendlies in conjunction with Thomond Park as a major part of its fund-raising initiatives. Now, it appears that Limerick FC will not be in a position to raise much-needed funds in that way.
On Monday, speaking exclusively to the Limerick Leader, club chairman Pat O’Sullivan explained that he was not going to take the FAI decision “lying down”, but he, like all Super Blues supporters, must be very concerned by the position the club now finds itself in.
Limerick face Waterford United on Tuesday night at 7.45pm at Jackman Park in the semi-final of the Munster Senior Cup while the third-placed Super Blues are back in Airtricity League First Division action this Friday night when they travel to take on league leaders Derry City at the Brandywell.
Although over-shadowed by the FC Barcelona controversy the draw for the third round of the FAI Ford Cup took place on Monday night - Limerick FC will face the winner of the second round clash between Tolka Rovers and Tralee Dynamos at Jackman Park on the weekend of June 6.
In other news Chronicle sport has learned that Pike Rovers, who were thrown out of the FAI Junior Cup following an arbitration hearing last week, have been reinstated to the Munster Junior Cup. The Hoops were scheduled to take on Carrick United in the semi-finals last April, but the Munster Football Association decided to postpone that semi-final until the result of the protracted dispute over the eligibility of certain Pike Rovers players following an FAI Junior Cup quarter-final against St. Michael’s (Tipperary) was known.
Pike Rovers expected the Munster Football Association to follow the example of the arbitrator in last week’s decision to remove the Limerick club from the FAI Junior Cup, but, extraordinarily, the Hoops have been reinstated in the Munster Junior Cup and will host Carrick United at Jackman Park on Saturday, May 29 at 7.30pm.

Brian McDonnell

Controversial comments inflame friendly debacle

FURIOUS Limerick FC officials are meeting this morning to discuss their next move following controversial comments made by FAI CEO John Delaney on Sunday morning.
In conversation with Marian Finucane on RTÉ Radio One Football Association of Ireland CEO John Delaney elaborated on the FAI’s decision not to sanction Limerick FC’s proposed friendly with Spanish giants FC Barcelona. Delaney labelled Limerick FC officials as “naive” while he also suggested that the club had no agreement in place to bring FC Barcelona to Thomond Park on July 31.


Limerick FC have refuted this allegation and presented Leader Sport with a copy of the heads of agreement contract between FC Barcelona and the Airtricity League club.
In a detailed interview (see page 23) Limerick FC CEO Pat O’Sullivan has told Leader Sport that the Airtricity League club will not take the FAI’s refusal to sanction the friendly with FC Barcelona at Thomond Park “lying down” - it is estimated that the game could have benefited the local economy to the tune of €10 million.
“I think Limerick have acted very naively in the whole situation and I’ll tell you why,” FAI CEO John Delaney explained on RTÉ Radio One.
“Noel Mooney, who works for the FAI, spoke to the owner of Limerick on Thursday morning and explained to him that we couldn’t grant the game, that we are contractually bound to other people and that we weren’t able to grant the game. I would love to have the game played in Limerick. I have nothing against Limerick.”
John Delaney also said that the FAI were contractually bound to a third party in terms of arranging friendly games involving Irish clubs.
“We would have a relationship in terms of the organisation of friendlies coming into Ireland and there are certain games that we can grant and certain games that we cannot grant in terms of attendance figures,” John Delaney said.
“So, we explained that to Limerick on Thursday morning and they accepted that. The owner of Limerick Football Club accepted that position and he said that would be the end of the matter. Unfortunately then they started issuing statements on Thursday night and they have tried to, I suppose, bring it into the public arena to put public pressure on us.
“We’re unable to grant it that’s the bottom line. We were negotiating with Barcelona to come to Dublin next year.
“Padraig Smith and Noel Mooney went out there three or four weeks ago and met Barcelona. They looked for a proposal which was going to be sent to them in the autumn. We have also got correspondence from Barcelona last week saying that they have not agreed to the game in Limerick.”
Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell, who was also party to the discussion on RTÉ Radio One, challenged John Delaney on his ability of the FAI to sanction the game.
“It’s not within out ability,” John Delaney replied.
“The game will not be going ahead. I would love it to go ahead, but the game will not be going ahead . . . We have signed up an agreement, as I said earlier, with an agency who will bring games into Ireland on our behalf. That restricts our ability to grant friendlies of a certain capacity. We’re contractually bound . . . We can’t let it happen . . . We’re legally restricted from it.”
Kieran O’Donnell asked John Delaney if it was possible to now sit down with Limerick FC and work the issue out, but the FAI CEO said: “It’s too late for that . . . If you behave in the manner that they’ve done (Limerick FC) you’re bringing the game into disrepute over the last couple of days with the way they have been behaving,” John Delaney added.
“Around the time of the opening of the stadium as well on Thursday night issuing legal letters that come into us on Friday morning was done in poor taste, naive. I also think, and I keep going back to the point, I deal with clubs all the time, I deal with national associations, I deal with agents, I know the way it works. I think the guys in Limerick have been very naive about how they’ve dealt with this and who they’re dealing with.”
FC Barcelona collected their 20th Spanish league title beating Real Valladolid on Sunday evening and while Limerick FC are still hopeful that the FAI will reverse their decision not to sanction the proposed friendly time is fast running out for the Super Blues to seal the deal.

BRIAN MCDONNELL

FAI respond to Limerick FC statement

THE Football Association of Ireland have responded to a Limerick FC statement which criticised the national body's refusal to sanction a high-profile friendly between the Super Blues and FC Barcelona on Saturday, July 31 next.


Limerick FC, led by chairman Pat O'Sullivan, arrived at an agreement this week with the Spanish giants which would see the Airtricity League club take on FC Barcelona, featuring marquee names such as Lionel Messi, at Thomond Park.
The FAI however refused to sanction the game which could have benefited the local economy to the tune of €10 million.
The FAI released a statement on Thursday evening (May 13) stating: “As the FAI has already told Limerick FC, their request for authorisation to confirm to FC Barcelona that they would be able to play in Ireland on July 31, was refused because of third party commercial agreements which prevent the Association from doing so.
“In addition, the FAI has also told Limerick FC that it is in active and ongoing negotiations with FC Barcelona in relation to a visit to the Aviva Stadium.
“Thirdly, the association told Limerick FC that it was obliged to retain ownership of the July 31 date because of Airtricity League fixtures.
“Although the timing of Limerick FC’s proposal means this request cannot be granted, the FAI has already given permission to Limerick FC for a match it applied for involving Sunderland in Thomond Park on July 13”.

Brian McDonnell

FAI refuse to sanction friendly with FC Barcelona

LIMERICK FC were left reeling this Thursday afternoon with the news that the Football Association of Ireland has refused to sanction a high-profile friendly against Spanish giants FC Barcelona at Thomond Park.


As previously reported by Leader Sport Limerick FC have confirmed that they were engaged in on-going negotiations with FC Barcelona with a view to hosting a friendly against the 2009 European champions at Thomond Park this coming July.
The Airtricity League club, led by CEO Pat O'Sullivan, were thrilled when they reached an agreement with FC Barcelona to schedule the match for Saturday, July 31 - that contractual agreement guaranteed that the FC Barcelona team to play the Super Blues would include marquee stars such as Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Xavi and all new marquee signings.
The proposed fixture was subject to sanctioning by the Football Association of Ireland. Unfortunately, Limerick FC have now been informed by the FAI that the Airtricity League Director has refused to sanction the game. Sadly, the failure of the FAI and the Airtricity League Director to sanction this game ensures that fans throughout the mid-west region and beyond will not have the opportunity to see the world’s greatest stars in action.
“This is a massive setback for Limerick FC, Limerick city and the mid-west region,” Pat O’Sullivan, the Limerick FC chairman, said reacting to this devastating news.
“We along with Thomond Park and local tourism bodies have worked tirelessly to bring a team of the stature of FC Barcelona to the sports-mad mid-west region. The potential benefit to the local economy of up to €10 million and to the profile of soccer in the region is enormous. This makes it imperative that the Airtricity League Director reverse his decision, sanction this match and allow fans all over the region see the likes of Lionel Messi grace Thomond Park in July.”
As previously reported by Leader Sport a UK-based sports agent visited Limerick last week with the stated intention of bringing FC Barcelona to the mid-west. The agent in question attended Limerick FC's Airtricity League First Division game against Shelbourne while he also inspected the facilities at the Gaelic Grounds. The continued existence of the GAA's Rule 42, which prohibits sports other than Gaelic Games being played at the Ennis Road venue, essentially pointed to Thomond Park as being the only Limerick venue capable of hosting such a unique event.
Leader Sport is currently awaiting a response to the story from the Football Association of Ireland.

Brian McDonnell

Premier League soccer comes to Thomond Park

ON Tuesday afternoon Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn announced the details of an exciting charity match between his English Premier League side and a Munster XI which will form the centre-piece of ‘A Day For Shane’ in honour of Shane Geoghegan.
The game, in association with the Shane Geoghegan Trust, will take place on Tuesday, July 13 at Thomond Park and although the game itself will kick-off at 7.45pm ‘A Day For Shane’ will also include a schools long puck competition, a celebrity penalty shoot-out, mini-rugby and hurling, celebrity Sumo wrestling and a parade of sport while Munster stars will also compete in a novel 100-metre dash.
The Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn was joined at the launch by Munster Rugby president Declan Madden, Limerick FC CEO Pat O’Sullivan and Tony Geoghegan of the Shane Geoghegan Trust.


“We are now bringing the team over to support the on-going work that the Shane Geoghegan Trust so valuably carries out. All funds from the night will go to this marvellous initiative and we hope to continue supporting it for a long time,” an enthusiastic Niall Quinn explained.
‘A Day For Shane’ has been billed as a family event and the ticket prices have been structured accordingly - €5 for children and €20 for adults.
Niall Quinn also insisted that Sunderland will be treating the game as part of their pre-season preparations and that Steve Bruce will bring his A squad to Thomond Park.
“Absolutely, Steve Bruce is really looking forward to coming,” Niall Quinn said.
“We have a pre-season plan worked out for our team and this is a very important part of it, it is the first game we play. The players will have done a fortnight’s training and will get themselves in shape for the game.”
Niall Quinn also called on the “powers that be” to back-up the work of the Shane Geoghegan Trust.
“Officially it’s a game of football for Sunderland, but there’s a lot more than that happening. A great family day, a sports and cultural day that will be so fitting to such a marvelous trust and to such a marvelous memory to keep alive like Shane Geoghegan’s. He was a brilliant and brave sportsman who did all he could as the captain of his club,” Quinn said.
“I want to get one very strong message out there, that the people that have the power back something like this. That they have the belief in the Shane Geoghegan Trust and back it all the way.
“I hope the people who have the purse strings will release those purse strings and grow and nurture the Shane Geoghegan Trust.
“The expertise to do it is there and I am 100 per cent certain that this will be such a successful thing over the years to come. This could be a fitting tribute to Shane, but it will only be a fitting tribute if people get behind it.”
The Munster XI selection, managed by Limerick FC’s Pat Scully, will be drawn from Airtricity League clubs around the province while the event organisers also hope to attract a number of established international footballers with links to Munster to be part of the team.
Pat O’Sullivan, CEO of Limerick FC, said he was delighted to have the Super Blues associated with such a momentous event: “Limerick FC are delighted to be able to assist the Shane Geoghegan Trust as the goals of both organisations are very similar in relation to their commitment to the local community.
“People on the ground in Limerick need to look within themselves and say what can we do to help,” Pat O’Sullivan insisted.
“I would like to think this trust could be a catalyst to help bring all the different mindsets and groups together.
“We should look at the problems we have in our city and recognise that sport is the simplest tool to help solve those problems.
“That’s the sole reason I got involved in Limerick soccer.
“We need to keep the club alive just like we need to keep the Shane Geoghegan Trust strong.
“But it’s not about money all the time, it’s about leadership.”
Munster Branch president Declan Madden said they were delighted to make Thomond Park available for this unique event: “Munster Rugby are delighted to be associated with such a worthy project and to be able to make Thomond Park available to host the Sunderland game.
“It is appropriate that Munster Rugby supports the Shane Geoghegan Trust as Shane was a true rugby person who played and loved the game, was a great clubman with Garryowen FC and embodied all the qualities of heart and spirit which makes Munster Rugby what it is.
“It’s terribly unfortunate what happened to Shane, that he was the unfortunate victim of a mindless crime.
“But if something good comes of this, having known Shane, he would be very happy.”
Tony Geoghegan, chairman of the Shane Geoghegan Trust and Shane’s uncle, said the event would be “a day for Shane, a day for Munster and a day for fun and I would urge the people of Munster to come out and support their team”.
The Shane Geoghegan Trust was set up in the aftermath of Shane’s murder to provide children with an alternative to anti-social behaviour by making a range of sporting and cultural activities available to them.
A ‘Day For Shane’ will take place on July 13 in Thomond Park.
Tickets for the event will range from €5 for children and €20 for adults. For more see: www.sgt3.com

FC Barcelona
A Thomond Park source has refuted a claim made in the Limerick media this week that a delegation was flying out to Spain this Wednesday (May 12) to finalise a deal which would see the 2009 European champions Barcelona play a friendly at the Limerick venue this July.
Leader Sport has confirmed that a UK-based sports agent did visit Limerick last week.
The agent in question attended Limerick FC’s Airtricity League First Division game against Shelbourne while he also inspected the facilities at the Gaelic Grounds.
The continued existence of the GAA’s Rule 42, which prohibits sports other than Gaelic Games being played at the Ennis Road venue, essentially points to Thomond Park as being the only Limerick venue capable of hosting such a unique event.
Limerick FC have confirmed that the club officials from the Airtricity League club met with the sports agent in question, but that suggestions of FC Barcelona playing a high-profile friendly at Thomond Park were premature.
A soccer friendly could not take place at Thomond Park without the express permission of the Football Association of Ireland.
Limerick FC have indicated that the club has fielded a number of applications proposing to bring high-profile soccer clubs to the region, but that no agreement is in place with regard to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side.
Limerick FC have also confirmed that it remains a stated ambition of the club to host high-profile friendlies in the city in their efforts to raise the profile of the game in Limerick and to raise much-needed funds for the Airtricity League club.

Brian McDonnell

Boland’s signing will boost the Super Blues

LIMERICK FC manager Pat Scully says a victory in Saturday night’s Airtricity League First Division game with Athlone Town would leave him ‘pleasantly pleased’ with his side’s progress at the end of the first series of league games.
Limerick FC will travel to Lissywoollen in confident mood on the back of their precious 1-0 victory over Shelbourne at Jackman Park on Monday night.
And, Limerick will also be boosted by the availability of experienced new signing Willie John Boland for the game.
Thirty-four-year-old Boland, who played English Premier League with Coventry City, went on to become Cardiff City’s longest-serving player, lining out for the Welsh outfit 234 times over seven years. Former Carew Park schoolboy star Boland is about to fulfil a long-held ambition and line out with his home town club.
A knee injury prompted Boland to announce his retirement last year and take up a coaching role at Hartlepool United. However, his recovery from the injury and the chance to play for Limerick FC has seen the tough-tackling midfielder reverse that decision.
Boland said: “This is something I definitely want, my knee has recovered and I’ve been back training for around 12 weeks now. I only want to come back if I’m at my best and can give it everything.
“I had a lot to consider, including my family. Also this is my hometown club and I don’t want to let anyone down,” Boland said.
Manager Pat Scully is excited by Boland’s arrival at Jackman Park.
Scully said: “I’m not just looking for players in certain positions, they have to have the right attitude, they have to be able to add something significant to the squad or else you run the risk of disrupting the balance.
“Willie came highly recommended as a person and a professional, obviously we know he’s a great player. As a professional in England for 17 years he’s only had three clubs. That speaks volumes, he’s a lad managers want to hang on to.”
Manager Scully said it was important that Limerick manage to build on Monday night’s win over Shels - a headed goal from defender Declan Cahill saw Limerick secure three precious League points.
“If we can get a good result on Saturday against Athlone then I think we can look back on the first series of games and say we are pleasantly pleased,” Pat Scully said.
“If we can go there and perform and defend like we did tonight, then I think we have a good chance of winning the match. With any luck I think we would be up to 19 points and be in around fourth and maybe even third.
“We would be reasonably happy with that, but the most important thing is that we keep pushing on. We have lost four games, but we are capable of going on a good run and winning matches. I don’t think we will draw many, to be fair. I think we will win a lot of games with the amount of chances we create. I am reasonably pleased. There are things we need to brush up on. If we keep improving and keep learning, I think we can finish the season very well.”
Pat Scully said that while he was pleased with the side scoring a set-piece winner against Shels, he felt they needed to score more goals in such a manner.
“We knock some great set pieces in week after week. We should score more goals from those situations,” Pat Scully said.
“Declan is an aggressive lad. He got his head on the ball brilliantly and more importantly he defended well as did Paddy (Purcell) and the rest of the team.
“We played some good football when he had the chance to go forward. Tonight was always going to be about desire against a very experienced Shels side. I think we more than matched them in that respect.”

COLM KINSELLA

‘We’re delighted for Stephen’

ALTHOUGH Limerick FC begin their pre-season training programme in just ten days time (January 16) manager Pat Scully does not regard the loss of striker Stephen O’Flynn to Northampton Town as a negative for the club. Instead, Pat Scully regards the O’Flynn move as a positive story, as a compliment to the League of Ireland club.


“To be honest I would not consider Stephen moving to Northampton as a negative story for the club,” Pat Scully explained to Leader Sport.
“I think myself that it’s a positive story. I think it’s a great thing for us. It sends out the message that if you play for Limerick and do well for the club you will get an opportunity to move on. That’s great for a club. Now players know that people respect what we’re doing at the club and that big clubs are paying attention to the talented players we have. That’s a very positive thing in my opinion.”
Striker Stephen O’Flynn signed for the English League Two outfit Northampton Town on Tuesday afternoon. O’Flynn joined the Super Blues last July and since the Mallow man fired in 14 goals in just 13 games for Limerick Pat Scully always suspected that it would prove difficult to retain the services of the talented 27-year-old centre-forward.
“We knew that a couple of clubs were interested in Stephen, but when an English club gets interested it’s very difficult to hold onto a player,” admitted Pat Scully.
“We were very close to signing Stephen before Christmas, but obviously that didn’t work out. In saying that we’re delighted for Stephen. Everyone at the club is. We did our best to encourage him to stay with Limerick and he really did enjoy his time with Limerick. And you never know we could see Stephen in a Limerick jersey again.”
Limerick FC have already signed a number of players for the 2010 season (Jack Allen, Peter Balogh, Daniel Clinton, Derek Daly, Dean Finnan, Ed Gallagher, Aaron Leahy, Darren Lynch, David Njuki, Michael Sheehan, John Boyle, Daryl Kavanagh, Dave Ryan, John Tierney, Martin Deady, Jason Hughes, Thomas Lyons, Shane Tracy, Conor Molan & Brian Collopy) and manager Pat Scully has asked Declan Cahill (formerly of Cobh Ramblers and Cork City) to join the club’s pre-season training camp with a view to possibly signing for the season ahead.
Super Blues supporters will also be heartened to note that Peter White has also joined the club.
“He (Peter White) really is a big signing for us and I’m delighted about it,” added Pat Scully.
“He’s a versatile player in that he can play at the back or in midfield and he’s a great athlete.
“We’re still very hopeful of signing three or four more players, but there’s no real rush as of yet.”
In fact, Pat Scully doesn’t think that Limerick FC need to sign many players. He is confident that, with the talent at his disposal, the current squad can challenge for promotion.
“We don’t need to change the whole thing,” insisted Pat Scully.
“We don’t need to make a lot of signings. We already have some very talented players. We do need to add a few more, but we already have a good squad and there’s no point in signing players unless they are right for the club. We have a strong squad and we are expecting to have a very good season.
“People forget that we were missing people like Pat Purcell, Jason Hughes, Thomas Lyons and Brian O’Callaghan for long periods of last season,” added Pat Scully.
“Then you have a guy like Paul Cummins who missed nearly all of last year. We’re hopeful that Paul will be fit for the start of the new season and with players like him in the team we are expecting to do well.
“It’s not about signing ten or 12 players. We just don’t need them. Another three or four and I would be very happy. I’m very pleased with how things are going.”
Limerick FC have also released details of pre-season friendlies against Premier Division outfits St. Patrick’s Athletic (February 13) and UCD (February 27) - both matches will be played away from home.
The Limerick FC squad will also participate in a pre-season training camp on February 19-21 in the Breaffy House Hotel (Castlebar).
What could, however, really grab the attention of local soccer fans is a potential clash between Kilmurry Lodge Premier League champions Pike Rovers and Limerick FC in the quarter-finals of the Munster Senior Cup. As a League of Ireland club Limerick FC are exempt from the early rounds of the competition, but now await either Pike Rovers or St. Mary’s (Munster Senior League) in the last eight. Should the Hoops beat St. Mary’s they will enjoy home advantage against the Super Blues in what could prove an extremely entertaining encounter.
Limerick FC have also launched a number of new initiatives to help raise funds for the club - full details of these are available on: limerickfc.ie. Entry to the club’s ‘Last Man Standing’ competition costs just €20 while supporters of the club can now play Leo’s Lotto online - the first weekly draw will take place on January 21 with a €1,000 jackpot up for grabs (tickets cost €2).
Limerick FC has also purchased two ten-year Vantage Club Tickets for the Aviva Stadium and an annual draw will be held to allocate these tickets to one lucky supporter - tickets for the draw cost just €20.
Meanwhile the Republic of Ireland under-16 manager John Morling has named Fairview Rangers’ Rhys Healy in his 18-strong squad for an international double-header away to Israel on Monday, January 11 and Wednesday, January 13. The squad will travel to Tel Aviv this weekend.
Republic of Ireland under-16 squad: Steven Smith (Arsenal), Carel TioFack (Ballincollig AFC), Adam Evans, Darragh Lenihan, Eoin Hyland, Kealan Dillon (all Belvedere), Conor O’Donnell (Buncrana Hearts), Shane Griffin (Carrigaline Utd), Brandon Miele, Jamie Smith, Luke Gallagher (all Cherry Orchard), Michael Drennan (Evergreen), Rhys Healy (Fairview Rangers), Joseph Coll (Glenea Utd), Sami Ade Osobe (Glenmuir Utd), James Murphy (Reading), John Kavanagh (Ringmahon Rangers) & Kenneth McEvoy (Villa FC).

BRIAN MCDONNELL

Stephen O’Flynn signs for Northampton

LIMERICK FC’s star striker Stephen O’Flynn is today expected to put pen to paper with English League Two outfit Northampton Town.


Stephen O’Flynn (pictured above) scored 14 goals in 13 appearances for Pat Scully’s Limerick in the second half of last season and it was hoped that the Mallow man would re-sign for the new season with the Super Blues. The 27-year-old flew to England in December for a trial and impressed manager Ian Sampson and all at the Sixfields Stadium. O’Fynn was offered an initial six-month contract by the Cobblers.
“I’m buzzing - I feel like a schoolboy again. I’m 27 and I’ve been given an opportunity that a teenager would give anything for. I’m totally humbled by this,” said O’Flynn.
“I flew over to Northampton for a few days and they said they decided to sign me until the end of the season. I don’t want this to be a six-month break from Irish football. I want to make it work because the last year and a half was hard enough.”
This is O’Flynn’s second spell cross channel. He previously lined out with Wimbledon before returning to Ireland where he enjoyed two successful spells with Limerick as well as Derry City, Galway Utd and Cork City.
O’Flynn joins a Northampton side that are currently in 16th place in League Two - nine points off the promotion play-offs.

Jerome O’Connell

Limerick FC bid to buy Market’s Field

LIMERICK FC have made an official bid to purchase the Market’s Field in an effort to return senior soccer to it’s spiritual home.
Leader Sport has learned that a bid has been received by the Irish Greyhound Board for the Mulgrave Street venue which was last home to senior soccer 25 years ago.
A spokesperson for the Greyhound Board confirmed that they had received a financial offer for the Market’s Field stadium.
It is understood that there have been a number of expressions of interest since the announcement last year that the Greyhound Stadium would be moving to a new site on the Dock Road.
“This latest development is a serious bid, but we are at a very early stage and we have an obligation to our own sport to only sell the site in the current climate so long as a fair price is being offered,” explained Adrian Neilan, Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Greyhound Board.
“That said we understand that talks may be taking place between the bidders, Limerick City Council and the FAI. If there was a positive outcome to these talks, and the council felt that supporting such a project was in the best interests of our sporting city, the Irish Greyhound Board would be pleased to sell to buyers who would maintain the sporting heritage of the site,” said Neilan.
Meanwhile Cllr Kevin Kiely, the Mayor of Limerick, has called on the Irish Greyhound Board to show “good will” and give the backers of Limerick FC a long-term lease on the Market’s Field for a nominal fee.
“I would call on Bord na gCon to give Limerick FC a long-term lease for a nominal figure of €1 per year. I know it’s a commercial venture for Bord na gCon, but they are funded by the taxpayer,” Mayor Kevin Kiely told the Limerick Leader.
“The Market’s Field will not be ever used for anything other than sport,” the Mayor confirmed.
“I think a gesture like that from Bord na gCon would create great goodwill and would be a big gesture to soccer in Limerick and to the people of Limerick,” said Mayor Kiely.
“I have been in negotiations with Pat O’Sullivan, who has taken over the reins of Limerick FC, and I know that Pat is anxious to return soccer to the Market’s Field,” said the Mayor.
The Irish Greyhound Board hope that the sale of the Market’s Field and their headquarters in Henry St. would off-set the cost of construction of their new stadium.
The new greyhound stadium on Limerick’s Dock Road is located on the old racecourse site at Greenpark and is expected to open in September 2010.
Following delivery of the steel girders last month, building work has gathered pace and is now well over ground on the grandstand with office buildings and clearly visible to passing traffic.
The new greyhound stadium is to cost €18 million and promises to create 100 permanent jobs and will host over 1,750 races a year and have a capacity attendance of 2,900.
The state-of-the-art facility will feature a main stand with viewing and dining areas as well as a number of bars.
The stadium will boast a 190 seat restaurant, private hospitality suites and gallery bars.

Jerome O’Connell

Scully dismisses ‘pub league’ description of First Division

LIMERICK FC manager Pat Scully has dismissed Shaun Williams’ assertion that the League of Ireland First Division was a “pub league”.


On Friday the Sporting Fingal winger, on the eve of their promotion play-off against Bray Wanderers, said that it would be heartbreaking to miss out on promotion to the Premier Division and be condemned to another season in the First Division.
“Obviously it would be heartbreaking to get this far and to be pegged back for another year, it’d be terrible,” the 23-year-old winger told the Irish Independent.
“The First Division is like a pub league compared to the Premier Division. The standard of player and facilities is just 10 times better in the Premier -- the First Division is horrendous in comparison.”
“Every league has a two-tier system so you are always going to have a situation where one division is slightly weaker and made up of younger players who need to develop before they become Premier Division players. You can’t dispute that,” Pat Scully said.
“But that was an arrogant comment to make. All players have to start somewhere. It’s easy to look at a lower level and criticise it. I’ve no problems with the First Division at all. There’s plenty of good clubs and good players in it.”
Pat Scully was also surprised that a Sporting Fingal player would make such a comment about the division - after all Sporting did not win the First Division and required a play-off win over Bray Wanderers (4-2 on aggregate) to book their place in next season’s Premier Division.
“The funny thing is that Sporting Fingal had the biggest budget this year in the First Division and because of that they should have won the division,” Pat Scully said.
“Instead they had to get through a play-off with Bray Wanderers to be promoted. So it’s a bit hypocritical for a player from that team to criticise the division after they failed to win it in the first place.
“Shaun is entitled to his opinion, afterall football is all about opinions, but, for me, the First Division has a lot of plusses, a lot of good players and a lot of good facilities.
“From our own point of view we have some things to improve on and work on. And, we’re working hard to move the club forward.”
Supporters will be heartened to learn that Limerick FC have already signed 11 players for the 2010 season and that they have made approaches to sign up to six more players to strengthen the squad.
Super Blues fans will be most concerned about the future of striker Stephen O’Flynn who scored 14 goals since he joined Limerick FC in July. It is widely understood that several rival clubs have their eye on O’Flynn, but Pat Scully is hopeful that the talented centre-forward will sign for another season.
“Stephen has really enjoyed his time with Limerick and we know that other people are trying to sign him,” Scully added.
“We’ve met with Stephen and we have done everything we can to convince him to stay, so we hope that he will.”
Although the Limerick FC playing squad missed out on a proper pre-season campaign for the past two years Pat Scully will not allow that to happen this time round.
The squad have already received details a three-week programme which each individual player must carry out before pre-season starts on January 16 next while the club are also currently attempting to organise a series of pre-season friendlies.

Brian McDonnell

Super Blues face Shels at Dublin’s Tolka Park

NEXT Friday night Limerick FC take on Division One leaders Shelbourne at Tolka Park (kick-off 8pm) with Pat Scully’s Super Blues now chasing their third consecutive league win.
Last weekend Limerick FC beat Athlone Town 6-1 while they preceded that impressive display with a 2-1 win over Mervue United. Manager Pat Scully, as you would expect, was pleased by the five-goal margin of victory.
“It was a good result and our finishing was very clinical,” Pat Scully told Leader Sport this week.
“To be honest I don’t think we played as well as last week against Mervue United. We created chances and to be fair to the lads they put them away very well.
“That’s two good results now, we’re playing well and now we must push on and continue to improve.”
For prolonged periods of this season Limerick FC have failed to score despite dominating games, a weakness which has certainly cost the club league points.
“Yeah, all season we’ve been creating loads of chances,” explained Pat Scully, “but we’ve been missing them and our results have suffered as a result of that. We were very clinical on Friday night. The lads we brought in during the (transfer) window, Stephen O’Flynn and Daryl Kavanagh especially, have made a huge difference. We’ve got a good balance and a good mix there now. John (Tierney) and Stephen (O’Flynn) are playing well up front and with Daryl (Kavanagh) and Shane (Tracy) on the wings we really are a handful for anyone.”
While captain Pat Purcell and striker Paul Cummins are still injured centre-half Brian O’Callaghan has returned to the club to give Pat Scully a timely boost ahead of the Super Blues’ clash with the league leaders on Friday night.
Shelbourne lead the league, two points clear of UCD, and have only been beaten on three occasions this season - against Sporting Fingal, UCD and most recently against the Wexford Youths during which game Kilcornan striker Garry Sheahan scored both goals for Wexford.
Limerick FC and Shelbourne have met twice already this season with Shels winning one-nil on both occasions - on March 27 Anto Flood got the winner at Tolka Park while on June 19 David Cassidy pounced for a late goal to give Shelbourne another win at Jackman Park.
Despite those two defeats Pat Scully believes his developing side can earn a result at Tolka Park: “It’s a great game for us. Shelbourne are probably the best team in the league, but Tolka Park is a great place to go and play football.
“If we play like I know we can, if we do that, then I know we can get a good result.
“There’s no doubt in my mind about that.”

Brian McDonnell

Scully eargerly looks forward to Athlone clash

LIMERICK FC manager Pat Scully was delighted by the Super Blues 2-1 win over Mervue United last weekend and is now eagerly looking forward to this Friday night’s clash with Athlone Town at Jackman Park (7.45pm).
Scully signed a new two-year contract with the League of Ireland First Division club last week and although he was annoyed by the penalty awarded against Bobby Tier in the second half against Mervue United the overall performance of the Super Blues, featuring goals from Darly Kavanagh and Shane Tracy, pleased the Dubliner.
“Yeah, it was good to get the win especially after a few bad results at home,” Pat Scully told Leader Sport.
“Our first half performance was very good and we played really well. We were not as good in the second half, but we certainly deserved to win the game. The penalty we conceded was a bit of a mystery since we didn’t know what it was for - the linesman and the fourth official both gave us different reasons for why it was given.
“We’ve had a difficult few weeks and it was hard on the players to get beaten heavily at home by (Sporting) Fingal and Longford, but we just haven’t had time to settle down at all. Now we need to stay clear of injuries - every week we’ve been missing at least 10 players through injury. It’s important now that we stay fit and build on this win.”
Limerick FC have collided with Athlone Town on two occasions already this season - on March 20 Athlone held on for a nil-all draw at Jackman Park while Limerick, thanks to goals from Shane Tracy and Paul Cummins, beat Town 2-0 at Lissywoollen on June 5.
Two wins from their opening brace of league games against Mervue United and Kildare County propelled Athlone to the top of the league, but that 100 per cent record proved utterly deceiving with Athlone only managing to add two more wins in the ensuing 22 league games against Longford Town and Kildare County - Athlone last won a game on May 30 against the Thoroughbreds, have earned just six points from the last 33 on offer and drew 2-2 at home to Kildare County last weekend.
Athlone’s poor form suggests Limerick FC as hot favourites to beat the Westmeath side on Friday night, but Pat Scully isn’t worried by such expectation.
“I don’t mind supporters expecting us to win,” Pat Scully explained.
“That’s a good thing. We’ve a good team and we’re capable of beating anyone in the league. But with all the injuries we just have not been given the opportunity to go out and do that. The future is very bright and the lads we have are giving us plenty of food for thought on the kind of squad we want to build for next season.”
While the Limerick FC senior side have struggled this season the League of Ireland club’s under-20 side top pool two.
So far the Limerick under-20s have beaten Waterford United (2-1 away) and Cork City (2-1 home) while they have drawn with FC Carlow (1-1 home) and lost to the Wexford Youths (1-3 home).
The Super Blues are one point clear of the Wexford Youths at top of pool two of the League of Ireland Under-20 League and this weekend face a stiff test when they travel to Wexford’s Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday afternoon to face the home side in a crucial game (kick-off 2pm).
Although Limerick FC have three remaining pool games (against FC Carlow on September 27, Waterford United on October 4 and Cork City on October 18) Sunday’s encounter could have a big bearing on whether the Super Blues progress to the knock-out stages of the competition.

Brian McDonnell

‘The future is still very bright’

LIMERICK FC manager Pat Scully was delighted by the Super Blues 2-1 win over Mervue United last weekend and is now eagerly looking forward to this Friday night’s clash with Athlone Town at Jackman Park (7.45pm).


Scully signed a new two-year contract with the League of Ireland First Division club last week and although he was annoyed by the penalty awarded against Bobby Tier in the second half against Mervue United the overall performance of the Super Blues, featuring goals from Darly Kavanagh and Shane Tracy, pleased the Dubliner.
“Yeah, it was good to get the win especially after a few bad results at home,” Pat Scully told Leader Sport.
“Our first half performance was very good and we played really well. We were not as good in the second half, but we certainly deserved to win the game. The penalty we conceded was a bit of a mystery since we didn’t know what it was for - the linesman and the fourth official both gave us different reasons for why it was given.
“We’ve had a difficult few weeks and it was hard on the players to get beaten heavily at home by (Sporting) Fingal and Longford, but we just haven’t had time to settle down at all.
“Now we need to stay clear of injuries - every week we’ve been missing at least 10 players through injury.
“It’s important now that we stay fit and build on this win.”
Limerick FC have collided with Athlone Town on two occasions already this season - on March 20 Athlone held on for a nil-all draw at Jackman Park while Limerick, thanks to goals from Shane Tracy and Paul Cummins, beat Town 2-0 at Lissywoollen on June 5 last.
Two wins from their opening brace of league games against Mervue United and Kildare County propelled Athlone to the top of the league, but that 100 per cent record proved utterly deceiving with Athlone only managing to add two more wins in the ensuing 22 league games against Longford Town and Kildare County - Athlone last won a game on May 30 against the Thoroughbreds, have earned just six points from the last 33 on offer and drew 2-2 at home to Kildare County last weekend.
Athlone’s poor form suggests Limerick FC as hot favourites to beat the Westmeath side on Friday night, but Pat Scully isn’t worried by such expectation.
“I don’t mind supporters expecting us to win,” Pat Scully explained.
“That’s a good thing. We’ve a good team and we’re capable of beating anyone in the league. But with all the injuries we just have not been given the opportunity to go out and do that. The future is still very bright and the lads we have are giving us plenty of food for thought on the kind of squad we want to build for next season.”

Brian McDonnell

Scully signs two-year deal as Limerick FC hope to end poor run

Limerick FC have announced through club chairman Pat O’Sullivan that manager Pat Scully has signed a two-year deal with the club.
Pat O’Sullivan said: “The club are delighted that Pat Scully has agreed a two-year deal. This gives the club stability with one of the top young managers in the country.
“I and everyone running the club have been so impressed by the professionalism Pat Scully has brought to the club and we all feel he is the man to take this once great club back to where it belongs in the Premier Division”.
With the Super Blues looking as vulnerable as skittles lately supporters will welcome Mervue United to Jackman Park with open arms on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).


Although the Galway men are certainly no pushovers Limerick FC fans will nourish their minds with the memory of the four-one thrashing the Super Blues handed to Mervue on April 13 last.
In the second game of the season goals from Brian O’Callaghan, John Tierney, Jamie Wunsch and Paul Walsh (penalty) capped a great night at Jackman Park.
That brilliant performance was reminiscent of the form which saw Limerick FC dominate the second half of last season, but since then the Super Blues’ form has been mixed to say the least.
Indeed, it was doubly disheartening on Friday night to see Limerick FC lose their tenth league game against UCD (1-2) at the Belfield Bowl while Kilcornan’s Garry Sheehan smacked in two goals to beat Shelbourne at Tolka Park and give the Wexford Youths a priceless away win.
The task of pinpointing the reason for Limerick’s season petering out so badly has weakened many a stout heart.
On May 22, for instance, Limerick FC drew 0-0 with UCD, but they should have beaten the Students that night at Jackman Park.
Ironically enough Limerick followed that impressive display up with a one-nil defeat away to Mervue United, Alex Lee pounced for the winner in the 47th minute, and in the last 11 games the Super Blues have only managed to gather 10 points from the 33 on offer - during that period they have beaten Athlone, Wexford and Finn Harps, drawn with Kildare and lost to Mervue, Shelbourne, Monaghan, Waterford, Sporting Fingal, Longford Town and UCD. Pat Scully’s side have also failed to keep a clean sheet in five games now since drawing nil-all away to Kildare County and shipped 13 goals in their last five outings. But what has really hamstrung Pat Scully’s efforts to mould a winning team is squad instability and injury to key players.
Inspirational club captain Pat Purcell has only managed to play a part in 10 league games this season while the club has also missed the promising Paul Cummins up front.
The manager however has had to deal with an even more acute problem in that a startling number of players have pulled on the Super Blue jersey this season.
Bobby Tier, for example, became the 39th player to turn out for Limerick FC this season against UCD on Friday night.
For one reason or another Limerick FC have failed in their efforts to retain quality players this season with Tommy Barrett, Shane Clarke, Brian O’Callaghan and Paul Walsh the most notable individuals to withdraw their services in recent weeks.
Only left-back Martin Deady has played in all 23 of Limerick’s league games this season while the Limerick District League Premier Division is littered with players of League of Ireland quality.
Last weekend Mervue United beat Athlone Town 3-1 in Ferrycarrig Park and will be more than eager to build on that form come Friday night.

Brian McDonnell

Limerick hope to bring poor run to an end

WITH Limerick FC looking as vulnerable as skittles lately Super Blues supporters will welcome Mervue United to Jackman Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
Although the Galway men are certainly no pushovers Limerick FC fans will nourish their minds with the memory of the four-one thrashing the Super Blues handed to Mervue on April 13 last - that performance was reminiscent of the form which saw Limerick FC dominate the second half of last season, but since then the Super Blues’ form has been mixed to say the least.
Indeed, it was doubly disheartening on Friday night to see Limerick FC lose their tenth league game against UCD (1-2) at the Belfield Bowl while Kilcornan’s Garry Sheehan smacked in two goals to beat Shelbourne at Tolka Park and give the Wexford Youths a priceless away win.
The task of pinpointing the reason for Limerick’s season petering out so badly has weakened many a stout heart.
On May 22, for instance, Limerick FC drew 0-0 with UCD, but they should have beaten the Students that night at Jackman Park.
Ironically enough Limerick followed that impressive display up with a one-nil defeat away to Mervue United, Alex Lee pounced for the winner in the 47th minute, and in the last 11 games the Super Blues have only managed to gather 10 points from the 33 on offer.
What has really hamstrung Pat Scully’s efforts to mould a winning team is squad instability and injury to key players.
Inspirational club captain Pat Purcell has only managed to play a part in 10 league games this season while the club has also missed the promising Paul Cummins up front.
The manager however has had to deal with an even more acute problem in that a startling number of players have pulled on the Super Blue jersey this season.
Bobby Tier, for example, became the 39th player to turn out for Limerick FC this season against UCD on Friday night.
For one reason or another Limerick FC have failed in their efforts to retain quality players this season with Tommy Barrett, Shane Clarke, Brian O’Callaghan and Paul Walsh the most notable individuals to withdraw their services in recent weeks.
Only left-back Martin Deady has played in all 23 of Limerick’s league games this season while the Limerick District League Premier Division is littered with players of League of Ireland quality.
Mervue United beat Athlone Town 3-1 last weekend.

Brian McDonnell

Scully: ‘We are too weak and too soft when things go against us’

A TRIP to promotion-chasing UCD might not exactly have been top of Pat Scully’s wish-list in the wake of his side’s crushing 4-1 home defeat to Longford Town, but Limerick FC must now re-focus for a trip to the UCD Bowl to take on the high-flying Dublin students this Friday night in their latest League of Ireland First Division fixture (7.45pm).
While the Blues were conceding four goals at home to Longford, UCD were moving to second in the league table, thanks to an eye-catching 1-0 away win over Waterford United.


Strangely though, inconsistent Limerick FC seem to have developed an uncanny ability to produce a big performance immediately after a very poor one.
In the wake of their recent 4-1 home defeat to Sporting Fingal, Pat Scully’s charges registered a plucky 2-1 away win over struggling Finn Harps in Ballybofey.
Scully is looking for his young squad to show some steely resolve in their fixture with UCD this Friday night: “We have to improve. We are too weak and too soft when things go against us. We have some young players, but young players can do a bit more fighting.
“I remember four years ago when I had to come down here to Limerick as a manager and a player with Shamrock Rovers, it was physically very demanding to get anything from the game. Physically we are a very, very small team now. We don’t have much running power in the team. And at the minute when teams get on top of us we are folding.
“We have done it now on a few occasions, but it goes back to the same thing, the amount of chances we have had, compared to the number Longford had. We probably had double the number of chances, but we did not force their goalkeeper into making a save.
“We missed the target. We have done that all the way through the season and it has cost us.
“As I said to the players last week, we had a great opportunity to go close to that promotion play-off place. I would have thought that we would be seven or eight points off that third spot and we should be given the amount of games we have thrown away. We have been sloppy.
“When things are going well and you are winning every week, football is the easiest game to play in the world. When things are going bad you see whether people stand up and fight for it or they don’t.
“It is extremely disappointing, but we haven’t got any real consistency.
“There have been times when we have played well, but we haven’t consistently got results.
“When we have gone out and played, we have played very well. We are a decent team.
“This is a harsh time for the players, but they have to come out the other end. These are the things that make footballers.
“It has been very, very frustrating, very difficult, but I am really enjoying it. I believe I will get the club where I want it to go.”
Scully was adamant that he would not allow the players to simply go through the motions over the remainder of the season now that their promotion hopes had evaporated: “We have been out of the promotion play-off race for a few weeks now, realistically.
“But I won’t let any players go through the motions between now and the end of the season.
“These are not nice times, but these are times when players will learn and improve. This is how you improve your character.
“We have some young players who are only 18 or 19. For a lot of them this is their first or second season playing in the league.
“These tough times are the times when it is important they can show they can come through it.
“In a season you will always have ups and downs. A lot of things have gone against us. We have had a couple of players leaving and other bits and pieces which have happened.
“To change the culture and mentality of the football club is difficult. It is probably the hardest thing to do and to do it mid-season is even more difficult, but I think we will be fine.”
Scully will be sweating on the fitness of club captain Pat Purcell in the lead up to the clash with UCD.
“Pat (Purcell) still has a little bit of a problem with his knee. With the two lads leaving last week we needed a centre half and we had to play him against Longford,” Pat Scully said.
“He got the first half, but there was a little bit of a twinge, so we thought it best to take Pat off at half time.
“We will have to see how it goes during the week to see if we have Pat available for the UCD game.”

Colm Kinsella

Scully: ‘We must push on’

LAST Friday night 10-man Longford Town surprised Galway United (1-0) to force themselves into the FAI Ford Cup quarter-finals thanks to a goal from Liam Lynch seven minutes from full-time.
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

‘Worst night of my managerial career’

ALMOST ten weeks ago Limerick FC played their part in an unadulterated orgy of free-flowing football and quite probably the most entertaining match in the League of Ireland that particular weekend.
UCD paid a visit to Jackman Park and were extremely fortunate to walk away with a point following an enthralling nil-all draw.


The Super Blues deserved to win the game and the Students knew it. Leaving the field the then league leaders breathed a sigh of relief while Limerick FC fans sensed a revolution.
That encounter represented Pat Scully’s ninth league game at the helm. Mere days after Scully succeeded Mike Kerley Limerick FC lost to Shelbourne away from home, but in the wake of that defeat the Super Blues only lost once (to Waterford) in eight games.
Then against UCD, a game Limerick should have won, Pat Scully’s side showed they had learnt to compete with the division’s top sides.
Just then the wheels came off. Five key players found themselves injured following the game against UCD and Limerick’s form dipped horribly. Pat Scully’s side have only managed seven points from their last eight league games losing to Mervue United, Shelbourne, Monaghan, Waterford and on Friday night last they were humiliated (4-1) by Sporting Fingal. That disastrous run has left Limerick trailing the league leaders Shelbourne by 23 points and their 2009 season in ruins.
Ten weeks ago Limerick FC laid down a marker that they could compete with the top sides in the division, but on Friday night they, sadly, were humiliated.
Almost at will Sporting Fingal tore a hole in Limerick that you could have driven an eighteen wheeler through.
As the game progressed from bad to worse manager Pat Scully looked upon the exchanges with an increasingly disinterested eye, as if he had just uncovered his plate in a fine restaurant and found a Nutella sandwich. Normally Scully maintains a conspicuous presence on the sideline, but minutes into the second half on Friday night he retreated to the sanctuary of dug out.
“Our defending was awful against (Sporting) Fingal,” explained a disconsolate Pat Scully to Leader Sport.
“It was very embarrassing and the worst night of my managerial career.
“I’m embarrassed for the club, the board and most of all for the supporters. The manner of the defeat was the most galling of all and at one stage it was obvious that we had given up.
“It was a really bad night.
“Four, five and six games ago we were playing well, but we were not taking chances and that was costing us. Now it’s different. Now we’re not defending well and we’re not scoring. We really are performing poorly.”
Pat Scully was expecting a positive reaction to Limerick FC’s defeat at the hands of Waterford United a week previously, but he didn’t get it.
“We didn’t react to the Waterford game,” Pat Scully said.
“We did introduce new players to the team and to be fair the team looked a little dis-jointed. Stephen O’Flynn did well and I think the new lads will be good players for us, but we can’t defend like that and give away goals so easy. They scored their first goal during the first few minutes. They won possession in midfield and had the ball in the back of our net without our lads getting in a single tackle. You just can’t hope to get results performing like that.”
Perhaps now it’s time for Limerick FC to reassess their targets for the season and re-adjust their ambitions downward.
Pat Scully chewed over that question as if it were cud: “Maybe you’re right maybe we need to start again.
“We didn’t set huge targets for the team when I came in. I am disappointed that we didn’t get the results that we should have done. There’s definitely a little bit of adapting to be done. We’re trying to instill a set of standards in the club that will get Limerick out of this division in the near future. Maybe we need time for things to settle down again, but in saying that I am disappointed in myself and in the results. The supporters of the club will look at the results and they have a right to be disappointed, that’s what football is all about.
“We’ve got a good set of lads at the club, they’re very honest and they’re very disappointed with how things are going. They are suffering from a dip in their confidence so now it’s a case of the players needing to keep believing. We need to up our concentration, defend better and score more goals. We’ve come to a point in the season now where we can’t keep saying that we have been unlucky. Against Fingal we were not unlucky, but we have to learn from the defeat.”
Thankfully Limerick’s injury crisis has begun to ease a little with club captain Pat Purcell the most notable addition to training this week.
Meanwhile the Super Blues prepare for an arduous trip to Ballybofey to face Finn Harps next Saturday night.
When the sides met at Jackman Park on May 8 Finn Harps clung on for a one-all draw with next weekend’s clash representing a crucial encounter for both sides.
Like Limerick Finn Harps have failed to win their last three games and in consecutive weeks have lost to Sporting Fingal, Waterford United and most recently Shelbourne.
“Finn Harps is a tough place to go,” admitted manager Pat Scully, “but we have to roll up our sleeves and show everyone, all over again, that we are a good team.”

Brian McDonnell