Limerick FC travel to Donegal to take on Cockhill Celtic in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup

Limerick FC make the long trip to Donegal on Sunday afternoon where they will face Ulster Senior League side Cockhill Celtic in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup (kick-off 3pm). The game will take place at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds.

Limerick will be clear favourites for the game but it remains to be seen what type of team manager Tommy Barrett is willing to choose as the club face a massive game against Sligo Rovers in the league next week. Due to the lack of depth in the Limerick squad, many of the under-19s may feature especially as they were knocked out of the Enda McGuill Cup at the semi-final stage on Tuesday evening.

It will be a stern test for the Super Blues in Buncrana as Cockhill have been Ulster Senior League Premier Division champions on five occasions in the last eight years. Limerick have made many visits to Donegal in the past to face Finn Harps and have always struggled to gain a result. Last season, current player Danny Morrissey scored for Finn Harps in a 3-2 win over a Neil McDonald managed Limerick side.

Tommy Barrett has injury concerns over Eoin Wearen, Killian Cantwell and Colman Kennedy. Kennedy’s suspension for his straight red card against Bohemians will not come into affect until next week’s home clash with Sligo.

Current Munster Junior Cup champions Pike Rovers gave a good account of themselves as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of runaway first division leaders UCD at the Belfield Bowl on Friday night. Goals from Timmy Molloy and a late strike from Conor Davis ensured that Collie O’Neill’s team advanced to the last 16 of the competition. Pike manager Mick Sheil is likely to be happy with his side’s showing against their more illustrious opponents just five days before the start of the Limerick junior soccer season.