Limerick FC aiming for third win in a row in Athlone

Limerick FC travel to the midlands on Friday night in the Airtricity League First Division to take on Athlone Town (7.45).

The Super Blues won their second consecutive game last Friday with a 1-0 win over Cabinteely at the Markets Field. A first half header from Connor Ellis was enough to grab all three points and keep Limerick within four points of Shelbourne in top spot.

In truth, Limerick were the better side in an entertaining game. Ellis could have had a hattrick but was thwarted on two occasions by Stephen McGuinness. Eoin Massey and Zack O’Neill went close with long range strikes for Cabinteely but the home side’s defence were rarely troubled.

With 79 minutes gone on the clock, it looked as if the win may have slipped from Limerick’s grasp in bizarre circumstances. There was an issue with the floodlights at the Markets Field and referee Jason Mannix stopped play in order to allow the problem to be solved. The game was delayed by 20 minutes with home supporters beginning to fear that the game would be abandoned.

However, to the relief of Tommy Barrett and his players, the lights came on and play resumed with Limerick coming under very little pressure from their play-off rivals in the final 10 minutes and added time.

The Shannonsiders will travel to the Athlone Town Stadium as favourites due to the poor form of their opponents. Athlone made a positive start to the season under manager Terry Butler after last year’s nightmare but have collected just point in nine games.

In their last two games, the Midlanders lost 3-1 to fierce rivals Longford Town and were easily beaten 0-5 by Bray Wanderers at home the previous week. The club now find themselves just two points ahead of basement side Wexford Youths.

Limerick and Athlone have met once already this season with Limerick running out 2-0 winners courtesy of goals from Shane Tracy and Connor Ellis. Sean Russell suffered his season ending injury during the game which has led to well documented poor publicity for the club.

With the return of Sean McSweeney and Jason Hughes from suspension, Tommy Barrett has been able to name close to a full set of substitutes for the first time in a month.

It appears that the players received their wages last Thursday evening which would put off strike action for the time being. It is believed that Pat O’Sullivan and a group of investors headed by Sean Connor are still in talks in relation to investment in the club.

Tommy Barrett reflected on his Limerick tenure so far and re-iterated his belief that the club have to produce their own players for the future.

We are at where we should be. We don’t have the finances and we have to become a better run club. We have to produce our own players. You look at the two teams that went up this year.

Finn Harps didn’t win a game for 13 matches and they have a fairly decent squad. It is a really difficult league and you have to produce your own players and this is the place to produce them.