Purcell happy with Limerick start
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After picking up four points from a possible six to open the season, Limerick captain Pat Purcell spoke exclusively to Extratime.ie about his sides performance against Salthill Devon last weekend and his sides good start to the season.
Purcell was quite happy with the nights proceedings despite losing Chris Breen in the warm up. “We created plenty of chances, kept a clean sheet and scored three goals, so overall we're happy with the performance. We won the game and were fairly comfortable throughout, but in saying that you still have to look at every game no matter if you've just won, lost or drawn, there's always something to improve on."
"Last night was no different, but there were only a few minor things to work on. We also had a set-back in the warm-up because Chris Breen picked up an injury, but it didn't affect the lads and they just did what was required. That's the whole point of having a strong squad, competition for places is very important.”
The loss of Garry Sheahan has indeed affected the squad but Limerick are not short on attacking options, stated Purcell. “Garry is a huge loss to the squad. Myself and all the players wish him a speedy recovery. He's a strong character and I've no doubt he'll bounce back from this set-back. We have some of the best strikers and creative players in the league and I've no doubt we'll continue to create chances in every game."
"Some games are different and some teams make it more difficult to create chances, but if we stick to our game plan, stick to the work ethic required, we will continue to create chances with the likes of Peter (Hynes) who is a vastly experienced player with loads of ability. I've played against him plenty of times over the years and I always came off the pitch knowing it was tough battle against him. He's really good in the air and has really good technical ability. Hynesy gives us another dimension up front, he can be a target man, but also a link up player. He's also a really good lad and has fitted in well with all the boys.”
Limerick can also look to youth, such as the bright talent that is Garbhan Coughlan who represented the Irish Schools side last week, scoring a brace against Wales. “Garbh is a young player with loads of ability and has great potential. He's still learning the game and is getting better and better all the time. He's a creative player and is capable of creating chances out of nothing. He and all our creative players will be vitally important this season because that's where a lot of our goals will come from. Some teams sit back and consolidate the space, so this is where Garbh and all our creative players can make a chance out of nothing and can be the difference between getting three points, or maybe having to settle for a draw.”
“Superman”, as Purcell is affectionately known on Shannonside, was realistic after his team took apart a poor Salthill team, he knows tougher challenges lie ahead, but isn’t disrespecting a Devon side with good work ethic. “Salthill were missing some key players tonight, they will cause teams a few problems this year. They sat back, but then tried to break quickly. Every team in the division is capable of taking points off the other team, just look at some of the results so far this season. Maybe we could have got another goal or two, they didn't create a whole lot, and we kept a clean sheet, so yeah the score line was probably a fair reflection overall.”
Limerick skipper Purcell also commented on Extratime.ie Man of the Match Shane Tracey. “Shane is a top quality player; he's flying fit and looking really sharp. He's got a great attitude and is our most technically gifted player. Every player has a crucial role to play this year, I really can't stress that enough. We won't do anything this year with eight or nine players, we need a fully committed squad of players all working towards the same common goal. This is to work hard as a fundamental and to win as many matches as we can and transfer what we do on the training ground to the pitch.”
Finally, when asked about the most important aspect of the Limerick side this year, Purcell was quick to enhance the fine mix of motivated youth, with experienced senior players. “We have a really good mix of players. Some guys, like myself, John Frost, Stephen O’Flynn, Barry Ryan, Peter Hynes and Brian O’Callaghan, have all been around the league for years, while some are in the first or second year. It's all about getting the right balance and the right dynamic and I believe we have that. You need experienced players who will hopefully be able to pass on their knowledge to the younger lads.”
“Then you need to have the younger players who bring their youth, enthusiasm and unpredictability to the team. It's the ideal combination really. We have some really talented young players at the club. There's a big difference when you take the step-up from underage level to the Airtricity League, it's tough because the expectation is higher and the game is much more physical, but that's what the experienced players and the coaches are there for, the young players need to use us as much as possible.”
Purcell was quite happy with the nights proceedings despite losing Chris Breen in the warm up. “We created plenty of chances, kept a clean sheet and scored three goals, so overall we're happy with the performance. We won the game and were fairly comfortable throughout, but in saying that you still have to look at every game no matter if you've just won, lost or drawn, there's always something to improve on."
"Last night was no different, but there were only a few minor things to work on. We also had a set-back in the warm-up because Chris Breen picked up an injury, but it didn't affect the lads and they just did what was required. That's the whole point of having a strong squad, competition for places is very important.”
The loss of Garry Sheahan has indeed affected the squad but Limerick are not short on attacking options, stated Purcell. “Garry is a huge loss to the squad. Myself and all the players wish him a speedy recovery. He's a strong character and I've no doubt he'll bounce back from this set-back. We have some of the best strikers and creative players in the league and I've no doubt we'll continue to create chances in every game."
"Some games are different and some teams make it more difficult to create chances, but if we stick to our game plan, stick to the work ethic required, we will continue to create chances with the likes of Peter (Hynes) who is a vastly experienced player with loads of ability. I've played against him plenty of times over the years and I always came off the pitch knowing it was tough battle against him. He's really good in the air and has really good technical ability. Hynesy gives us another dimension up front, he can be a target man, but also a link up player. He's also a really good lad and has fitted in well with all the boys.”
Limerick can also look to youth, such as the bright talent that is Garbhan Coughlan who represented the Irish Schools side last week, scoring a brace against Wales. “Garbh is a young player with loads of ability and has great potential. He's still learning the game and is getting better and better all the time. He's a creative player and is capable of creating chances out of nothing. He and all our creative players will be vitally important this season because that's where a lot of our goals will come from. Some teams sit back and consolidate the space, so this is where Garbh and all our creative players can make a chance out of nothing and can be the difference between getting three points, or maybe having to settle for a draw.”
“Superman”, as Purcell is affectionately known on Shannonside, was realistic after his team took apart a poor Salthill team, he knows tougher challenges lie ahead, but isn’t disrespecting a Devon side with good work ethic. “Salthill were missing some key players tonight, they will cause teams a few problems this year. They sat back, but then tried to break quickly. Every team in the division is capable of taking points off the other team, just look at some of the results so far this season. Maybe we could have got another goal or two, they didn't create a whole lot, and we kept a clean sheet, so yeah the score line was probably a fair reflection overall.”
Limerick skipper Purcell also commented on Extratime.ie Man of the Match Shane Tracey. “Shane is a top quality player; he's flying fit and looking really sharp. He's got a great attitude and is our most technically gifted player. Every player has a crucial role to play this year, I really can't stress that enough. We won't do anything this year with eight or nine players, we need a fully committed squad of players all working towards the same common goal. This is to work hard as a fundamental and to win as many matches as we can and transfer what we do on the training ground to the pitch.”
Finally, when asked about the most important aspect of the Limerick side this year, Purcell was quick to enhance the fine mix of motivated youth, with experienced senior players. “We have a really good mix of players. Some guys, like myself, John Frost, Stephen O’Flynn, Barry Ryan, Peter Hynes and Brian O’Callaghan, have all been around the league for years, while some are in the first or second year. It's all about getting the right balance and the right dynamic and I believe we have that. You need experienced players who will hopefully be able to pass on their knowledge to the younger lads.”
“Then you need to have the younger players who bring their youth, enthusiasm and unpredictability to the team. It's the ideal combination really. We have some really talented young players at the club. There's a big difference when you take the step-up from underage level to the Airtricity League, it's tough because the expectation is higher and the game is much more physical, but that's what the experienced players and the coaches are there for, the young players need to use us as much as possible.”
About Andrew Cunneen
Andrew joined Extratime for the 2010 season and covers all the on-goings down in Limerick. Having first experienced the League of Ireland in 2002, Andrew became hooked, even at such an early age. He is … View Full Profile