FAI Cup Preview: Cobh Wanderers -v- Limerick

COBH WANDERERS

Munster Senior League side Cobh Wanderers take on struggling First Division Limerick in the first round of the FAI Cup with the potential for an upset at St. Colman’s Park tomorrow evening (kick-off 7pm).

The not-so-fashionable side from the south coast of Cork will be aiming to pull off a giant-killing and defeat the league side at the first hurdle.

Darren Murphy’s side have yet to get their league campaign up and running with their opening fixture coming on 18th August against Ringmahon Rangers.

Cobh Wanderers had a decent league season last year having finished in third place, just one point behind runners-up Rockmount and were only 4 points adrift of the eventual champions UCC.

LIMERICK

The Super Blues have been in freefall as of late and will see the FAI Cup as a welcome distraction from their recent failings both on and off the pitch when they make the difficult trip to the Rebel County to take on Cobh Wanderers in a Munster derby.

Limerick were swept aside 3-0 by promotion chasing Cabinteely in the SSE Airtricity First Division at Stradbrook Park last Friday night. Cabo totally bossed the opening exchanges and took an early lead through Rob Manley after just four minutes.

Cabinteely then doubled their advantage just after the half hour mark with Manley grabbing his second of the game to give the home side a comfortable cushion at the break. It was more of the same after the resumption and Cabo added a third in the 49th minute courtesy of Keith Dalton.

Limerick never looked like getting back into it and their misery was completed when Tomas O’Connor received a straight red card just a few minutes later.



This was the Shannonsiders' fourth straight defeat in the league and has seen their slim hopes of challenging for promotion completely evaporate. Limerick’s last win came in a 3-1 win over Longford Town at the Market’s Field at the beginning of July.

Limerick boss Tommy Barrett will be hoping that his side can lift themselves for this possible banana skin and get a much needed morale boost by progressing to the next round.

Referee: Andrew Mullally

 

MATCH FACTS

Cobh Wanderers and Limerick have met on one previous occasion in the FAI Cup in the 1989/1990 season with Limerick running out 2-0 winners at St. Colman’s Park.



Limerick have a good cup pedigree having won the competition twice in 1970-71 beating Drogheda United 3-0 after a replay and again in 1981/1982 beating Bohemians 1-0 and have been runners-up three times in 1964/65, 1965/1966, and 1976/1977.

BETTING

Cobh Wanderers 9/2; Draw 7/2; Limerick 2/5.

PREDICTION

Cobh Wanderers 1 - 2 Limerick.

 

Cobh Wanderers

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.

 

Limerick

Injured: Unavailable

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.

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