With the recent news that Treaty United were accepted to the next stage of the application process for an Airtricity League First Division license, optimism reigned supreme once more.
Last season was the first year that the Treaty city was without a senior soccer representative since 1937, a bitter blow for many. Later that day, it became clear that Treaty were not the only Limerick entity to be accepted to the next stage as Limerick FC had also applied for a First Division license.
Attention has already turned to recruitment in the eyes of many and how competitive a new team can be. The possible new Limerick representative will not find out their fate until later this month with the Airtricity League season start date pushed back until March.
During an interview with Tommy Barrett at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray in 2019 following a First Division game between Limerick FC and Bray Wanderers, the discussion turned to the growing number of Limerick natives plying their trade in the Airtricity League at both Premier and First Division levels.
In the first decade of the 21st century, Bobby Ryan appeared to be the only Limerick born player making progress in the league outside of the players representing Limerick FC.
However, in recent years the tide has turned with the lack of a senior club in Limerick and with many players willing to take a chance at another club after benefitting from good underage training. Below, we list the known Limerick players representing other clubs in the Airtricity League and NIFL Premiership.
Ronan Coughlan: Ronan is the most high profile player from the Treaty City plying his trade in the national league. He operates as a striker and has recently completed a move from Sligo Rovers to St. Patrick’s Athletic following a decent spell with Liam Buckley’s side. Since returning to Ireland from Huddersfield, the 24-year-old has represented Bray, Cork and Sligo thus far.
In 2020, Coughlan played 18 matches and scored 6 goals as the Bit O’Red finished in fourth position and qualified for Europe. In his three year career in the league thus far, Coughlan has made 70 appearances for three clubs and scored 19 goals.
Shane Duggan: The long-time Limerick FC captain is currently the captain of Galway United in the Airtricity League First Division. Duggan won the player of the year at the club in 2020 as the Tribesmen missed out on promotion to the Premier Division following defeat against Longford in the Promotion/Relegation Play-off Semi-Final at the UCD Bowl.
The central-midfielder played a pivotal role in helping John Caulfield’s side reach the play-offs as he scored an equalising goal in injury-time on the final night of the season against UCD. As it turned out, that goal allowed Galway to overtake Cabinteely in the table when the Dublin club were deducted three points they were awarded earlier for Wexford fielding an ineligible player.
Duggan has represented five clubs in the Airtricity League. Upon returning from Plymouth Argyle in 2008, he joined UCD but after half a season with the students, he attracted the attention of Cork City and represented the Leesiders during a time of great upheaval.
He won the 2011 First Division title and returned to Limerick in 2013. Duggan won the First Division title with Limerick in 2016 but also suffered two relegations with his hometown club. Following the second relegation in 2018, Shane joined Waterford FC and following his departure after one season, joined Galway and will also compete for the club in 2021.
Karl O’Sullivan: Karl is a product of the Limerick FC academy and made his breakthrough to the first-team in 2018. It was a tough introduction for the Glin native as the club were struggling both financially and on the field.
Also, a lot of emphasis was placed on O’Sullivan’s young shoulders as an attacking force. His then manager Tommy Barrett tried to protect the player from the hype but the winger was being courted by a number of other clubs. The winger re-signed for his hometown club following relegation in 2018 and was an important player as the team challenged for a play-off spot for the majority of the season despite the unrest behind the scenes.
In 2020, O’Sullivan signed for newly promoted Finn Harps who were building a competitive side with the likes of Barry McNamee, Shane McEleney and David Webster also putting pen to paper for Ollie Horgan’s men. He enjoyed an impressive start and scored the winning goal on his first home appearance at Finn Park against Sligo Rovers.
He was often used as a central striker as well as a winger and it was clear that Karl was in great physical shape. Unfortunately, injuries plagued him once the season resumed in August and he missed the run in when Harps went on an impressive run to stay in the league and avoid their favorite Promotion/ Relegation Play-off appearance. However, O’Sullivan had impressed while fit and re-signed for the Donegal outfit for the 2021 season despite apparent interest from Derry City.
Will Fitzgerald: Both Will and the aforementioned Karl O’Sullivan broke into the Limerick FC first team at a similar time in 2018. Fitzgerald was highly thought of following his time with the club’s academy and made his first-team debut as a late substitute in a 0-1 away win against Sligo Rovers.
However, it would be fair to say that following his debut season, the winger’s career has stalled slightly. He is currently with Waterford FC in the Airtricity League Premier Division. The former Mervue man played ten times in the league for Waterford last season, starting in five of those games and coming on as a substitute in the other 5. After suffering an injury in pre-season with Limerick in 2019, he has struggled for consistency since. 2021 is a big year for the player.
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