Busy Season Begins in the Limerick District League

As we approach the beginning of April, we reach a crucial juncture in the Limerick District League with evening games set to return next week which will see clubs playing three games a week on average. Plenty of clubs have differing motivations heading into this section with some clubs desperate to avoid relegation, others looking to win the league or gain promotion and others concentrating solely on cup competitions. The action begins tonight with the Premier A Cup meeting of Corbally United and Fairview Rangers B at Jackman Park (7pm).

This weekend there is a mixture of league and cup action with Fairview Rangers and Carew Park representing Limerick in the Munster Junior Cup last 16. They are looking to join Aisling Annacotty in the quarter-final stage after John Lysaght’s side secured an impressive win over Clonmel Town last weekend. Carew Park make the trip to Cork to take on Coachford on Saturday (2.30). The Leesiders knocked out fellow Limerick side Prospect in the last round and it is a great occasion for the Limerick club who are also in pole position to gain promotion back to the topflight next season.

After a couple of disappointing exploits in the cups including a Tuohy Cup final defeat to Ballynanty last week, Fairview will be desperate to see off the challenge of Carrigaline United at the Fairgreen on Sunday (2pm). Losing their hold on the FAI Junior Cup will also see a response from Jason Purcell’s men who are still fighting on the league front also.

In the top 6 section of the Premier Division, high flying Ballynanty Rovers host Nenagh in LIT on Sunday morning as they look to close the gap on two sides Fairview and Pike. As we have mentioned many times since Christmas, the northsiders have been on a great run of form outside of a loss to Aisling Annacotty in the Lawson Cup. Last week’s come back win over Fairview was huge for Dave Dunphy’s men with Adrian Power and Thomas Byrnes getting the goals.

Regional United and Pike Rovers will renew rivalries and face each other for the fourth time since the turn of the year. The Dooradoyle side recently knocked Pike out of the Munster Junior Cup on penalties and revenge will be on Robbie Williams mind. Regional were eliminated from the provincial competition last weekend at the hands of St. Michaels with a depleted side. Tom O’Connell’s outfit can close the gap on Aisling Annacotty to three points with a win while Pike can move level on points with Fairview.

Prospect Priory will be looking to build on an all-important victory over Janesboro last weekend which was a big step towards survival. The win moved Wayne Colbert’s side 7 points clear of Kilmallock and within 3 points of 7^th place Mungret who currently lead the chase for the premier division shield. Prospect entertain basement club Geraldines at home on Sunday morning (11am). Janesboro host Coonagh at Pearse Stadium with just three points separating the sides. Both teams are hot on the heels of Mungret and Prospect in a congested area in the bottom half with all sides beating each other in recent weeks.