Listen: Limerick FC manager Tommy Barrett targets further progression in the FAI Cup

Limerick FC manager Tommy Barrett was relieved to overcome the challenge from first division Cabinteely in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup on Friday night with a 2-1 victory. Goals from Conor Ellis and Barry Maguire gave Limerick a decent advantage before a late Kevin Knight goal gave the home side a late scare. In truth, Pat Devlin’s side should have equalised in injury time through centre-back Jack Tuite.

Speaking after the game, Barrett was happy to secure the win. “Yeah it’s grand to get the win. We probably should have had it wrapped up but it’s good to get the win.”

Cabinteely are no longer in the race for promotion to the premier division. It looks likely that Limerick will feature in the promotion/relegation playoff at the end of October against one of Finn Harps, Shelbourne, Drogheda or Longford. Barrett believes that the gap between the bottom half of the premier division and the top half of the first division hasn’t increased since his playing days with Limerick FC.

“The gap has probably became bigger with the top sides in the premier league due to European money. Has it gotten bigger from the bottom of the premier to the top of the first division? Probably not. You look at the likes of Shelbourne and the players they have signed. They have signed premier division standard players and we couldn’t sign any. Those teams probably have a bigger budget than us now or very similar.”

Barrett is targeting further progression in the FAI Cup. The Super Blues are now in the last eight of the competition with some accomplished names such as Cork City, Dundalk, Derry, Bohemians and Waterford. However, the former Shamrock Rovers midfielder maintains that anything can happen in the cup.

“The cup competitions are very important to us. Especially as we went out of the EA Sports Cup in a poor way. It’s a quarter final so you never know. There are teams there that we can definitely beat. Obviously Cork and Dundalk would be really difficult for us but anyone else on our day I think we can compete with.”

Tommy also speaks about the reasoning behind his five changes for the game as well as the plan to stop a rampaging Dundalk side at the Markets Field on Friday night. To listen to the full interview, click on the link below.