Limerick Interest in National Leagues this Season

Over the last six weeks, one would certainly be forgiven for becoming disillusioned with soccer in Limerick city and county. Legal battles, public disputes and criticism, premature press conferences and old regimes clinging on to power is a very basic summary of the pandemonium which has ensued since the middle of January.

In the midst of all this, there has only been one real loser; the genuine football supporters in Limerick. For the third largest city in the country, it is shambolic that there will be no Airtricity League Senior men’s representative in 2020.

Just as the most ardent senior soccer enthusiast had come to terms with the fact that there would be no senior Airtricity League side in the city, we were given false hope as Pat O’Sullivan won a legal battle to gain permission to apply for an Airtricity League First Division licence.

Although there was very little positive reaction to the news with many sighting the treatment of Sean Russell as a reason for the lack of goodwill towards Limerick FC, it presented a chance for redemption. However, as stated by the FAI, Limerick FC never applied for an Airtricity League First Division licence and only applied to be included in the underage leagues, which they will be at U-15 and U-17 level for the 2020 campaign.

Limerick FC were embroiled in a legal battle with the FAI but also threatened the newly formed Treaty United with court proceedings due to their plans to use the name Limerick United which Conn Murray stated was the main reason for the organisation pulling out of the application process. It was a nasty affair and it appeared that calls for unity which had been expressed by O’Sullivan following his successful High Court battle, had fallen on deaf ears on both sides.

Treaty United wanted a fresh start, free from the old regime and were bitterly disappointed at the developments after their press conference unveiling their future plans.

However, due to the hard work and dedication of Irene Hehir, Dave Rooney and co, Treaty United will have one representative in the national league this season as a women’s senior side will enter the Continental Tyres Women’s National League. It was vitally important that the women’s set-up who it was feared would be one of the biggest victims in this debacle, were given a platform to perform at this level as they have been improving every year.

Even while competing under the name of Limerick FC last season, the Ladies committee was effectively a separately run entity as the financial worries at the club became abundantly clear to all.

The fractured nature of Limerick soccer is evident now as we have two separate clubs competing at different levels. With Limerick FC competing at Airtricity League U-15 and U-17 level, the hope is that it will lead to the possibility of a return to senior soccer in the near future. However, many people have grave concerns about the club and the same owner running the organisation following events last season.

Also, we have Treaty United competing at the highest level of the women’s game in the country but it seems highly unlikely that either organisation can flourish in such a divided city. Treaty United will play their homes game at the Markets Field and it is believed that Limerick FC will play at Hogan Park.