FAI Junior Cup fever hits Limerick this weekend

Four Limerick District League Premier Division sides will take to the field on Sunday afternoon in the FAI Junior Cup in a bid to reach the last 32 of the competition.

They will be joined Limerick Desmond League side Carrig Celtic. All games involving Limerick sides will begin at 2pm. Pike Rovers were due to host Newcastle West Town but the game was postponed due to a bereavement in the Newcastle West camp.

In total 8 Limerick based sides make up the last 64 of the prestigious competition but we are guaranteed to lose at least two representative as Carrig Celtic host Newport Town while Pike Rovers play host to Newcastle West Town.

In the all- Limerick league clash, Carrig Celtic welcome Newport Town to Carrigkerry and although the Desmond League outfit sit just outside the relegation places in the Premier Division, two of their three defeats have occurred against the top two teams in Abbeyfeale and Broadford. However, conceding 8 goals in 3 games is a worry.

Newport will be looking to add to their recent good form in the cup and league with a victory which would take them to the last 32 of the national competition for the second year running. Newport are currently in Premier A and are in the process of challenging for back to back promotion and a chance to join the Premier Division for the first time in the club’s history.

With the likes of veteran Dave Ryan and Brian O’Sullivan amongst the ranks, who were both pivotal to last week’s comeback victory over Cappamore in the league, the Tipperary outfit will be hoping to continue recent progression at the club. Town defeated Prospect n the previous round.

Regional United travel to Willow Park FC of the Combine Counties league on Sunday in a bid to continue their quest to make up for last year’s exit in the quarter-final stage due to a well documented international clearance issue which denied the club the chance to compete in the semi-final of the competition for the second time in ten years following a successful objection by eventual finalists Sheriff YC.

Arguably, last season’s Regional squad had more quality and greater depth but the Dooradoyle outfit still possess good players and have recently added Edmond O’Dwyer and Andy Quaid from Limerick FC. They will face stern opposition in the last 64 as Willow Park possess many ex-League of Ireland players of their own including striker Noel Magee.

Coonagh United will be looking to reach the sixth round of the FAI Junior Cup for the second time in three years as they entertain Finglas United of Dublin in Coonagh.

John Spillane’s side have endured a tough start to life in the Limerick District League Premier Division for the first time and they are currently fourth bottom and three points ahead of bottom side Kilmallock following last weekend’s 3-0 reverse at the hands of Mungret Regional.

John Spillane’s side have endured a tough start to life in the Limerick District League Premier Division for the first time and they are currently fourth bottom and three points ahead of bottom side Kilmallock following last weekend’s 3-0 reverse at the hands of Mungret Regional.

There are still many players present from the 2017/2018 cup run including Joey Sheahen and Eoin Martin but the likes of summer signing Sean O’Dwyer are new to this stage of the competition. Coonagh will be reliant on in-form striker Ger Myles to produce the goals if they are to overcome their counterparts from the capital.

Fairview Rangers host Cork outfit Castleview FC from Cork at the Fairgreen. Jason Purcell’s side have been in scintillating form recently and have put the likes of Kilmallock, Ballynanty and Coonagh to the sword with big wins in the past month.

Fairview defeated Aisling Annacotty at home in the last round and are looking to re-create the glory days at the club where the Fairgreen outfit dominated the competition for the majority of the decade between 1995 and 2005. The last time the club won the competition was in 2010 at Turners Cross when they defeated St. Michaels.

Many of the current crop have reached the latter stages of the competition in recent years including Mark Slattery, Adam Frahill and Jason Lipper and with a big squad to choose from, the View will be confident of progression on home turf.