Limerick FC focus turns to on-field matters against Longford

Limerick FC face second place Longford Town at the City Calling Stadium on Saturday night (7.45) looking to bounce back from their second league defeat at the hands of Shelbourne last weekend.

Limerick were beaten 2-0 by their Dublin rivals thanks to goals from Karl Moore and Lorcan Fitzgerald from the penalty spot. In truth, it was a game in which the Drumcondra side showed why they were hotly tipped to win the first division at the start of the season.

Ryan Brennan and James English played particularly prominent roles with the latter winning a penalty from young left-back Aaron Fitzgerald late in the first half.

The defeat in Tolka Park brought an end to Limerick’s five game unbeaten run which stretched back to the victory against Cobh Ramblers. The Super Blues are now fifth in the league on goal difference behind Bray Wanderers.

Speaking after the defeat to Shels, Tommy Barrett re-iterated that he was pleased with the start made in the first round of games.

“I think we have to be happy. We are fifth but we are four points from the top. We are competitive. If people told us we were going to be a point behind Shels after the first round of games, I think we would have been happy with that.”

The meeting with Longford will be the second time the sides have met this season as we begin the second round of fixtures in the first division. The Shannonsiders and the Midlanders played out a 0-0 draw on the opening night of the campaign at the Markets Field.

Limerick had a big opportunity to win the game through Karl O’Sullivan but former Limerick player Paul O’Connor also drew a big save from Jack Brady to keep the scores level.

It will be an extremely tough assignment for Tommy Barrett’s men as Longford have yet to concede a goal at the City Calling Stadium and have also secured impressive victories over likely promotion rivals Drogheda, Shelbourne and Bray.

The centre-back partnership between Conor Kenna and Mick McDonnell has been key for Town although Limerick supporters will be hoping that Conor Ellis’ work rate will cause problems once more.

Winger Colm Walsh-O’Loughlen has impressed so far since gaining an opportunity due to the unfortunate season ending injury to Sean Russell.

Walsh-O’Loughlen’s pace is a real asset and the youth graduate has shown glimpses of what he can produce against both Galway and Shelbourne recently.

Longford boast a much more experienced squad with much more depth than Limerick which is evident by the fact that Barrett is being forced to use Kieran Hanlon week in and week out despite the striker being unable to train fully due to a knee injury.

The pitch at the City Calling Stadium has been hailed as one of if not the best in the first division so the performances of Jason Hughes and Darren Murphy will be vital when bringing the likes of Karl O’Sullivan into the game.

The form of goalkeeper Jack Brady has been superb and the former Longford goalkeeper will be looking to impress upon his return to face his old side. Brady has made a string of fine saves, particularly last week against Shelbourne, and his distribution will aid the Shannonsiders on Saturday night.

In light of recent revelations off the field that Limerick FC’s players hadn’t been paid in three weeks leading up to this game, the hope is that the players can pull out a big performance and the situation is sorted quickly.

It is a disastrous story especially so quickly after last season’s debacle. Limerick FC supporters would have hoped with the budget being cut significantly, that days like this were in the past.

However, recent news that possible investors have decided against pursuing a takeover of the club is equally problematic for the Shannonsiders.