Limerick Junior Soccer Mid-Season Review

The Limerick District League has concluded for the annual Christmas break following last weekend’s action. Due to the inclement weather, the fixture list was significantly curtailed and only national and provincial games as well as matches fixed for astroturf took place.

It is difficult to quickly summarise the season so far and our aim is to analyse team performances in conjunction with pre-season expectations. The rumoured “wealth” of various clubs will not be taken into consideration when reviewing what is for all intents and purposes, an amateur sport.

There have been some bright sparks during the second half of 2019 with the resurgence of Fairview Rangers, a sleeping giant of the last decade who are currently top of the Premier Division table. Admittedly, this writer had reservations about the approach at the start of the campaign but the Fairgreen outfit are still competing in every competition they have entered and are currently on a superb unbeaten run.

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Despite losing Daragh Rainsford who has emigrated to Australia, Jason Purcell’s side are no less potent in front of goal. At the beginning of the season, Fairview recruited nine new players to the squad and following an early defeat to an understrength Ballynanty side, it appeared as though the new recruits would take time to gel.

However, since that defeat, the ‘View have won six league games and drawn two as well as achieving some comprehensive victories in the FAI Junior and Munster Junior Cups. The new players are complimented by last season’s star performers including Ross Mann, James Fitzgerald and John Mullane. The biggest concern was whether the harmony of the squad would be disrupted by an avalanche of newcomers.

To his credit, Purcell has managed to maintain motivation levels among the whole squad. Players coming off the bench are making an impact and outside of one or two murmurings of discontent which is inevitable at any level, Fairview are well on course to end their search for a first major junior trophy for ten years.

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Title rivals Ballynanty Rovers are one point worse off than Fairview but have endured a mixed season so far. Yes, the Northsiders are likely to last the pace in the Premier Division title race but they have been eliminated early from both the Munster Junior and FAI Junior Cups, a fate which will thoroughly disappoint manager Donal Magee and hid assistant Tom Daly.

The club were unlucky to draw both Fairview and Pike Rovers in each competition but the worry for Balla is that their league games at home to Fairview and away to Pike in the league, will almost certainly determine the destination of the Premier Division trophy in April/May.

Disappointingly for Ballynanty, the recruitment of four ex-Limerick FC has not paid dividends due to their early exit from the provincial and national competitions. The club were under the impression that Kieran Hanlon, Shaun Kelly, Jason Hughes and Connor Ellis would all be able to feature in the league and local cups.

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However, the rule states that only two re-graded ex-Airtricity League players can play in local competitions. It is vital that the club hold onto top scorer Ellis amidst Airtricity League interest, if they are to out-perform both Pike and Fairview in the second half of the season. Also, Ballynanty will have to avoid injuries to key players as they do not possess the squad depth of their rivals.

Pike Rovers have continued where they left off last season and it is incredible that the Crosagalla outfit have not lost a league game in Limerick in 20 months. Last season ended in disappointing fashion as the club only had the Tuohy Cup to show for their efforts despite only losing one game in 90 minutes over the whole season.

When manager Mick Sheil departed, many people expected a dip in form but early indications suggest that the Hoops will be heavily involved in the title race as well as the race for other major honours. The addition of Robbie Williams to the first 11 is a welcome one and it was evident on Sunday as the centre-back scored and set-up two goals from set-pieces.

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As we have spoken about on several occasions, the quality and experience among the Pike ranks is the envy of every team in the division. The likes of Steven McGann and Colin Daly have been incredibly consistent for the past two seasons and it may give the club the edge in the second half of the season.

Fourth place Geradlines have been one of this season’s surprise packages along with Mungret but when you look closely at the squad, their current performance level is not as surprising as it may seem.

The signings of Danny O’Neill and Kevin Barry from Janesboro have aided Derek Hannon’s men significantly. Barry is a handful up front and O’Neill has maintained a high level of energy and performance which was seen on a weekly basis at Janesboro. The Garryowen outfit are just three points off the top and with Fairview to visit the Garryowen Green after Christmas. their surprising challenge could be prolonged.

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Having been present at four Geraldines matches thus far, one common theme is adversely affecting their progress. In all four matches, ‘Dines have conceded a plethora of late goals due to poor concentration levels and that is something that Hannon and assistant Bobby Tier will look to improve in the new year.

It may surprise a few but arguably one of the best jobs undertaken in the first half of the season has been at Dooradoyle by the likes of Shane O’Donoghue and Declan Considine at Regional United

Last season’s squad was desecrated by Airtricity League and rival clubs in the past 12 months and there was a big re-building project to be completed. The club have once again recruited some exciting young players including former Limerick FC duo Edmund O’Dwyer and Andy Quaid and pacey striker Shane Dillon.

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It isn’t the first time that Regional have had to totally re-build in recent years and it is a credit to the resilience of club stalwarts such as brothers Dave and Andy Cowpar, that the club are never in relegation trouble and always comfortably finish in the top half of the table which will be the aim once again this season along with a long journey in the FAI Junior Cup.

Just behind Regional, there are a trio of clubs vying for the final top half position in the league table. Aisling Annacotty, Mungret Regional and Janesboro are all tied on 16 points and all clubs would view their current positions in different ways.

Mungret Regional will be delighted with their return to the Premier Division as they are all but mathematically safe from a relegation battle. Five wins from eleven games is a great return for Eddie Storan’s youthful side. Many had tipped the county outfit for a season of struggle but the youngsters have proven many wrong. Mungret boast the fourth best defensive record in the division and their discipline has to be commended thus far.

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Janesboro have suffered a well documented hangover from the success of the last three seasons with the loss of a host of players including club stalwarts Shane and Thomas Clarke. The recent heavy defeat to Ballynanty in the Tuohy Cup signalled how quickly things have changed for Shane O’Hanlon.

O’Hanlon lost co-manager Aidan Ryan at the beginning of the season to add to the tale of woe. The ‘Boro manager has been desperately trying to add to his now threadbare squad as a combination of work commitments and injury has cost him dearly. Promising youngster Aaron Fitzgerald has rarely feature for the club due to the former. It will be an interesting second half of the season for a club in transition.

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Aisling Annacotty have had a relatively mixed first half of the season. The club surprised everyone when they signed Shane and Thomas Clarke from Janesboro after four games and the signings coincided with an upturn in form following three losses in a row at the beginning of the campaign. On their home turf, Mike Aherne’s side are a match for anyone and that could see them pip the rest for a top half finish.

The quartet of clubs in relegation trouble are closely knitted together with just three points separating Kilmallock in fourth bottom with Prospect in last place. The mini-league between these teams is of paramount importance in the second half of the season as there is a big gulf in class between the top and bottom half this season. Coonagh United are the only team still remaining in the FAI Junior Cup but manager John Spillane says the club are desperate to ensure survival as top priority.