19.45 5 Jun 2015 -
Referee: Paul Tuite
League Preview: Limerick -v- Drogheda United
- Tom Clancy
- Fri, Jun 05 2015
LIMERICK
In what has been a rather disappointing season for the Club, Limerick will be looking to kick-start their 2015 campaign as they host Drogheda United in the Markets Field, kick-off 7.45pm.
The Club will be hopeful that fans will support the team despite the disappointing attendances for the last season and a half. A fresh looking ground awaits, in what has been a substantial wait for the Blues.
Aside from the obvious lift the Club will receive from the return ‘home’, the playing surface at the Garryowen venue appears to be conducive to good football, something which wasn’t always possible at Jackman Park. While the Super Blues look to build off the pitch, it’s time to start building on it. No win in 16 games this season (excluding Munster Senior Cup) makes for horrendous reading as the mid-season interval approaches.
Martin Russell will recall the late Sean Thornton equaliser in United Park which denied his side the points in March, though few would have envisaged that was to be as close as Limerick would come to a victory come June.
Russell may recall Conor O’Donnell, though Tommy Holland has done admirably since being introduced. Fellow teenagers Sean McSweeney and Paudie O’Connor have been facing state exams this week but remarkably are still in with a shout of taking to the field with the club listing the pair as doubtful, while Sean Harding is unavailable once more. Colm Murphy also misses out, having failed to make an appearance this season.
Russell will be hoping for better fortunes, having lost three and drawn three at Jackman Park.
DROGHEDA UNITED
The Drogs marched into the next round of the FAI Cup last weekend, defeating Cabinteely 3-1, the win meant it was back-to-back victories for only the second time this season. In what has been somewhat of a disappointing campaign for the Louth club, victory on Friday will put them twelve points clear of Limerick, which gives them clear daylight with around half the season now elapsed.
Cathal Brady returns to the squad following a hamstring injury while ex-Limerick man Daryl Kavanagh is suspended along with Shane Dunne.
Johnny McDonnell spoke to DroghedaUnited.ie, ahead of what is sure to be a memorable night for Limerick "There probably will be a big hullabaloo with the new stadium but that should have no impact on us. We are still playing Limerick, it's the same team regardless of where it's played and we need to prepare ourselves properly.
He also recognised that his opponents are no pushover, "I would imagine it will be a tight game as Limerick have lost the majority of their games this season by the odd goal so it's not going to be easy by any means."
Four points on the road so far this season makes for disappointing viewing, but United will know that Limerick’s lack of confidence can be used to snatch the spoils.
Drogheda have enjoyed a healthy record in Limerick, winning 3-0 in their last trip to the Treaty City, last season.
Referee: Paul Tuite
MATCH STATS
Drogheda have failed to score in five of eight away games so far.
Limerick last played competitively at Markets Field in April 1984, beating UCD on penalties in the League of Ireland Shield.
The Blues have only had six different goal-scorers thus far, with Ian Tuner, Sean Russell and Paul O'Conor all scoring two.
BETTING
Limerick 9/5; Draw 12/5; Drogheda United 7/5.
PREDICTION
Limerick 1-1 Drogheda United.
Limerick
Injured: Sean Harding, Colm Murphy.
Doubtful: Paudie O'Connor, Sean McSweeney (both Leaving Certificate).
Suspended: None.
Drogheda United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Daryl Kavanagh, Shane Dunne.
About Tom Clancy
Introduced to the League of Ireland in 2005, Tom has seen Limerick play at four different grounds down the years. He began writing for Extratime in late 2013 and was delighted to report on the …