Limerick Junior Soccer Preview

The final round of games take place before the Christmas break this weekend with a reduced fixture list. Pike Rovers and Newcastle West Town meet in the FAI Junior Cup while there are two games in the Limerick District League Premier Division and three games in Premier A.

The FAI Junior Cup Limerick derby between Pike and Newcastle West was postponed a fortnight ago and will take place at Crosagalla on Sunday afternoon (2pm). It is the second all-Limerick clash of the fifth round and it was the Desmond League side Carrig Celtic who came out on top in the battle with District League side Newport two weeks ago.

Pike will be hoping for better outcome for the District League on Sunday and are favourites to advance to the last 32 of the competition. The Hoops faced Nenagh in the Tuohy Cup last night but only three Pike players; Shane Walsh, Gary Neville and Keith Mawsdsley were involved in the Limerick District League’s Oscar Traynor defeat to Kerry last weekend.

Therefore, manager Robbie Williams will be expecting his squad to be fresh for the encounter in a competition where the Crossagalla outfit have come so close to winning in recent years. Well documented defeats in 2016 against Sheriff and most recently in 2018 after a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out defeat to North End, has left this group of players desperately searching for glory in the FAI Junior Cup.

Seven players from this season’s panel; Pat Mullins, Wayne and Eddie O’Donovan, Gary Neville, Wayne Colbert, Conor Kavanagh and Eoin Hanrahan were present when the Hoops last won the trophy in Turners Cross against St. Michaels in 2011. The above is evidence of the experience and quality at Williams disposal. Also, five of the aforementioned seven players are either 30 or under nine seasons later.

Opponents Newcastle West have made a strong start to life in the Premier Division of the Limerick Desmond League with two wins from three games. The County Limerick outfit are currently fifth in the division but have at least one game in hand on all of their rivals above them in the table.

In the Limerick District League Premier Division, there a re two games of real significance in the title race with Geraldines facing Fairview at the Garryowen Green in an age old rivalry and Janesboro welcome Ballynanty to Pearse Stadium. Both games kick-off at 11am.

Despite many tipping of Ballynanty, Fairview or Pike Rovers to win the Premier Division title this season, this season’s surprise package Geraldines remain just three points behind league leaders and Sunday’s opponents Fairview.

Both title rivals Ballynanty and Pike have endured tough encounters at the Garryowen Green in the past three months and with so much at stake, both teams will be desperate to lay down an early statement of intent on Sunday. Jason Purcell’s outfit are in scintillating form of late and thrashed Castleview 9-0 in their FAI Junior Cup meeting two weeks ago. With such a competitive squad at his disposal, Purcell is a manager in an enviable position currently.

His former club will be desperate to stay in the title race for as long as possible and continue their upward trajectory and a win or a draw is vital for Derek Hannon’s men.

By recent standards, Janesboro have endured a tough season. The club were league champions for the last three seasons but have lost a plethora of players and in their recent game with Ballynanty in the Tuohy Cup, they had to field two goalkeepers in the starting 11 due to injuries and unavailability.

Manager Shane O’Hanlon will be hoping for a better outcome on this occasion but Ballynanty need victory to maintain their momentum in the title race. It promises to be an important day in the race for silverware on Sunday.