Limerick FC player profiles

With the Airtricity League First Division campaign just one week away, we take a look at the Limerick FC squad and individual players in more detail in anticipation of the club’s return to the second tier. We begin with the three most experienced players in the squad; Robbie Williams, Shaun Kelly and Shane Tracy.

Robbie Williams: The 33 year old returns to the club following a year in the first division with Galway United under Shane Keegan and Alan Murphy. Williams was surprisingly released by former Limerick manager Neil McDonald midway through the 2017 premier division season along with Paul O’Conor and Shaun Kelly. Subsequently, he joined league champions Cork City where he won both the premier division and FAI Cup medals during the four month spell.

The experienced centre-back made no secret of his desire to remain on Shannonside as his family are now settled in the local area. Williams made 19 appearances for Galway in a disappointing season in which the Tribesman finished 6th from ten teams. He re-joins the club in a player coach role to aid Tommy Barrett. However due to necessity, the one time Blackpool player will be expected to partner Killian Brouder for the season as he has done for the pre-season campaign.

The Englishman had a distinguished ten year spell in League One in England for over ten years playing with a host of clubs including Barnsley, Huddersfield, Stockport and Rochdale. However, one of the highlights of Williams career would be scoring the first goal in the 2007 League One play-off final at Wembley for Blackpool in a 2-0 victory which saw the Seasiders promoted to the championship.

Shaun Kelly: The experienced right back has been at Limerick FC for the majority of the last ten years outside of a brief spell with Derry City and with local side Ballynanty Rovers after being released by Neil McDonald in 2017. Tommy Barrett appointed the adopted Limerick man as captain of the side for the 2019 season and Kelly is held in high regard among his teammates.

He returned from Hearts in 2009 and signed for Dundalk where made over 60 appearances in two seasons. Having followed manager Sean Connor from Dundalk to Galway United, Kelly was soon on the move again as financial trouble hit the Tribesmen and they were forced to put all of their players on the transfer list. Limerick manager Pat Scully managed to convince the right-sided defender to sign for Limerick in the first division. The Killybegs native was surprisingly released by former Limerick manager Neil McDonald in 2017 along with Paul O’Conor and Robbie Williams.

Last season, Kelly was injured for the majority of the first half of the campaign and struggled to regain his place in the team. However, once Barrett re-introduced him to the squad he put in a series of impressive performances despite the circumstances. His signature was key for the club with such a young squad present.

Shane Tracy: Shane is the longest serving player currently at the club as he has had an almost un-interrupted spell since returning from Galway United on loan in 2008. Last year, Tracy was awarded a testimonial game by the club which he has served so well. He has operated in a number of different positions under a succession of managers from left wing to left-back to centre midfield.

His ability on the ball allowed him to feature in central midfield from 2010 to 2014 before the appointment of Martin Russell. In 2015, Tracy didn’t sign for the club until May with rumours of a significantly reduced budget on Shannonside. Upon his return, the former Arsenal youth player gave a number of solid displays and was key to a run which saw the club come so close to avoiding relegation, only to lose in a play-off against old foes Finn Harps in extra-time.

Another low point of his career with his hometown club came in 2016 when despite being an ever present in the team that won the Airtricity League First Division at a canter, Tracy was dropped by manager Martin Russell for the EA Sports Cup final against St. Patrick’s Athletic at the Markets Field. Tracy had struggled against winger Conan Byrne in the past and Sean Russell was favoured in the 4-1 defeat.

Last season, much like Shaun Kelly, Tracy did not feature a lot for a number of reasons as Billy Dennehy was the preferred choice. Tracy wrestled his place back as Tommy Barrett needed more experience across the team and pushed Dennehy further forward. It looked as though the former Wembley man had decided against signing for his 13th season in the league due to work and family commitments, but with just a month to go before the beginning, he delighted loyal supporters by opting to return.