League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Limerick

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St. Patrick’s Athletic will be hoping to continue their recent revival when they take on struggling Limerick in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division at Richmond Park on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Pats have been in excellent form over the past few weeks and will relish the prospect of taking on the Super Blues in an intriguing clash at Inchicore in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The Saints edged out Bluebell United 1-0 in a close affair in the EA Sports Cup first round at Richmond Park on Tuesday night thanks a goal from Billy Dennehy just before the break.

St. Patrick’s Athletic had made a disastrous start to their league season with 4 defeats and a draw in their first 5 matches but have had a vast improvements in their fortunes with impressive wins over Shamrock Rovers (2-1) and a resounding 4-0 thumping of fierce rivals Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

Despite the midweek turmoil that Limerick have faced St. Pat’s manager Liam Buckley is acutely aware of the challenge that they posed, telling www.stpatsfc.ie: “Limerick are a side we know well from last season having had two really tough games against them in the EA Sports Cup and FAI Cup.

They’ve strengthened their squad again for this season having impressively won promotion last year so we know we will be in for another tough game on Friday night.”

St. Patrick’s Athletic boss Buckley is understandably content with his sides improvement which should stand them in good stead. He said: “However we’ve put three good results together in a row now so we want to try maintain that as much as possible”.

Pat’s boss Buckley feels that his sides work rate and effort has yielded the upturn in results.

“The results have gone our way because of hard work from the players so they have to maintain those levels week in week out if we’re to get results”.

Buckley has almost a fully fit squad to choose from with striker Christy Fagan still out with a hamstring injury while defender Darren Dennehy will undergo a late fitness test to prove his availability.

LIMERICK

It has been a week to forget for the Super Blues following the 3-0 drubbing at the hands of league leaders Cork City at the Market’s Field last Friday night.

This was followed up by the shock departure of manager Martin Russell who parted company with the club by mutual consent on Monday.

Former Coventry City and Limerick midfielder, Willie John Boland will take charge of the club in the interim. Boland will step back from his current role as the Limerick FC Academy Director to take the over the reins as the Shannonsiders will look to take a positive result back from the capital.

Boland was quick to appeal for calm and that the focus is in on the game ahead, telling LFC TV: “They’re professional players, they understand how football works.

“It can be quite volatile especially in relation to the Managers position. So, they’ll be focused on the game no doubt about that.

“We trained yesterday and the boys trained very well, they had a focus about them.

There’s not an awful lot to be done except give them the belief they, which they already have, to go up to St. Pat’s and get a result.

“I think the players fully believe they can go up there and get a result. So we’ll do our best to get them prepared for that and get them set up for that game, going up there with a positive attitude to go and get a positive result”.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH FACTS

St. Patrick’s Athletic and Limerick last met in a competitive match in last season’s EA Sports Cup final with St. Pats running out 4-1 winners.

Pats and the Super Blues have met each other on 12 occasions in the league and cup since 2009 with St. Pats winning seven times, Limerick winning three games and two ended in a draw.

The Saints scored 18 times and averaged 1.5 goals per game while Limerick have scored ten times, averaging 0.83 goals per game.

Pats are currently ninth place in the Premier Division with 2 wins, a draw and 4 defeats from their 7 league games. Limerick are eight with two wins, a draw and three losses from their six league games.

BETTING

St. Patrick’s Athletic 6/5 Draw 12/5 Limerick 9/4

PREDICTION

St. Patrick’s Athletic 2-0 Limerick

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Christy Fagan (hamstring).

Doubtful: Darren Dennehy.

Suspended: None.

Limerick

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Unavailable.