League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Limerick

 

Shelbourne will be happy to be back in Tolka Park this Sunday after two unsuccessful trips to Louth. While the 2-0 reverse at the hands of reigning Premier Division champions and current FAI Cup holders Dundalk at Oriel Park last week came as no surprise, the 1-0 away defeat to Drogheda United the week before was a huge blow to the Reds' promotion push.

 

Niall Cooney's 59th minute goal was enough to increase the gap between second-placed Drogs and Shels to five points in the First Division table. With Limerick sitting 12 points clear of Drogs after taking maximum points from their first 11 league games, Kevin Doherty will have been disappointed by the defeat, well aware that Shels cannot afford to slip out of the reckoning for the play-off spots.

 

Doherty can take heart from the fact that for over an hour of Shels' last meeting with Limerick in early April his side was able to make life difficult for the Blues. Garbhan Couglan had given the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute at Market's Field, but they were unable to capitalize on large spells of possession and found themselves pegged back when Gavin Boyne pounced to level for Shels.

 

However, the effort of containing a rampant Limerick side seemed to eventually wear the visitors down and when Robbie Williams – culpable in the build up to Shels' equaliser – re-established the Blues' lead, the floodgates opened and Limerick put Doherty's men to the sword, running out 5-1 winners.

 

Doherty will be hoping to coax a similar endeavour from his players when Limerick travel to Dublin this Sunday, but he will have to plan without Gareth Coughlan and Stephen Elliot who are both injured. Adam O'Connor is a doubt, as are Boyne and top scorer James English.

 

Given that the only competitive game Limerick have lost in 2016 to date was to Cobh Ramblers in the Munster Senior Cup back in February, the Blues' biggest obstacle to an immediate return to the Premier Division is complacency and its potential onset.

 

Since opening their First Division campaign with a 4-1 home win over UCD, Limerick haven't even so much as dropped a point, winning 11 games from 11 to build a comfortable 12 point lead over second placed Drogheda United.

 

They have also reached the EA Sports Cup semi-finals, seeing off Premier Division opposition in the form of Wexford Youths and Galway Unitedalong the way, while they got their FAI Cup run off to a good start with a 5-2 win over Leinster Senior League side Bluebell United last week.

 

- Martin Russell has put together a very strong squad which has proven well able to produce the type of positive attacking football he was renowned for implementing at UCD with incredible results – Limerick average 4.18 goals a league game at the moment, with two goals being the least amount they've scored in a game since the start of the First Division campaign.

 

While Aaron Greene misses out once more with a groin problem, there is good news on the injury front for the Blues as Seamus Sharkey tweeted on Wednesday that he has been given the all clear to resume light training next week after suffering a head injury in the 3-0 win over Drogheda United back in early April. Garbhan Coughlan is also said to be nearing a return to first-team action after a knee injury.

 

 

Referee: Andrew Mullally.

 

 

Of the 21 games played between the sides since 2006, five have ended in draws with both teams recording eight wins apiece. 56 goals were scored in those games, evenly divided at 28 for each team.

 

John O'Flynn is Limerick's top goalscorer this season with 16 goals in all competitions, nine of them coming in the First Division. At the time of writing, the former Cork City striker has more league goals than three LOI clubs: Premier Division sides Bohemians and Bray Wanderers (eight goals each), and First Division Cabinteely (seven).

 

Limerick are yet to lose in the league, the FAI Cup or the EA Sports Cup in 2016. They have scored 46 league goals to date, more than any other LOI club at this stage, and have conceded the third fewest amount of goals (eight). Of the other 19 LOI clubs, only Dundalk (five) and Cork City (six) have conceded less goals.

 

 

Shelbourne 6/1; Draw 7/2; Limerick 4/11.

 

Shelbourne 1-3 Limerick.

 

 

Injured: Gareth Coughlan, Stephen Elliot.

Doubtful: Adam O'Connor, Gavin Boyne, James English.

Suspended: None.

 

Injured: Seamus Sharkey (head), Aaron Greene (groin).

Doubtful: Garbhan Coughlan.

Suspended: None.