Scully pleased with Limerick determination
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Limerick manager Pat Scully thinks Saturday night’s 2-1 win over Longford Town could be a defining part of their season.
The Shannonsiders didn’t play particularly well and the Town will feel aggrieved that they didn’t take something out of the game. Scully was pleased that his side came away with the three points, after a poor performance by their standards. “I said to the players after the game that these are the games that define your season. When you play well you think to yourself you have a chance of winning the match but when you have a bad game and you can win those games that can help your season. Last year we fell away at the end and just couldn’t catch up. I thought our lads showed great determination and it won us the match,” he told extratime.ie.
Limerick had opened the scoring, against the run of play, in the 17th minute but the Town deservedly got back on level terms six minutes later. The goal that won the game for Scully’s side came just seconds into the second half from Sean Brosnan. “Smash and grab” is how the Lims boss described the win. “It was smash and grab to be fair. We were a bit sloppy. We looked very lethargic and didn’t look sharp. I think Don (Cowan) going off at half-time tilted the game a little. We didn’t play well but if you want to be successful you have to grind those results out. It was a great finish from Sean. He’s a goal poacher. He got the goal and it was a case of us keeping it nice and tight after that. We did that. It’s a brilliant three points for us.”
Scully had some sympathy for luckless Longford. The result was tough on them and they also had to contend with the loss of striker Don Cowan through injury at the break. “It was a good game. Longford play lovely football. I’m delighted for them because they are getting back on their feet. They had a couple of years where they didn’t do as well as they would’ve liked. I think Tony has done a really good job. It’s a good club and it’s good to see them back up there doing well. To come here and get the three points, we’ve over the moon,” admitted the Lims boss.
With Limerick playing leaders Shelbourne on Friday night Saturday’s win was important for them to keep the pressure on the sides in front of them. Scully is confident that his side can push on and claim a promotion spot. He said, “I think the top four at the minute is how it’s going to be and the top three will come out of that four. I’m confident that we will be there at the end of it. We’ll look to Friday’s game now and approach it the same way as did the Longford one. Hopefully we’ll play a lot better.”
Scully has bolstered his squad recently for the promotion push and has been linked with several top players in recent weeks. Former Cork City striker Denis Behan looks set to join Limerick with a few more on the Dubliner’s shopping list. “If you want to go and improve the squad you have to go and get top players. That’s what we are going to try and do. “We have been very unlucky with injuries. We’ve got four long-termers that will probably not play this season. If we can get a couple in the window that can help us achieve promotion; that would be brilliant,” said the Limerick boss.
The Shannonsiders didn’t play particularly well and the Town will feel aggrieved that they didn’t take something out of the game. Scully was pleased that his side came away with the three points, after a poor performance by their standards. “I said to the players after the game that these are the games that define your season. When you play well you think to yourself you have a chance of winning the match but when you have a bad game and you can win those games that can help your season. Last year we fell away at the end and just couldn’t catch up. I thought our lads showed great determination and it won us the match,” he told extratime.ie.
Limerick had opened the scoring, against the run of play, in the 17th minute but the Town deservedly got back on level terms six minutes later. The goal that won the game for Scully’s side came just seconds into the second half from Sean Brosnan. “Smash and grab” is how the Lims boss described the win. “It was smash and grab to be fair. We were a bit sloppy. We looked very lethargic and didn’t look sharp. I think Don (Cowan) going off at half-time tilted the game a little. We didn’t play well but if you want to be successful you have to grind those results out. It was a great finish from Sean. He’s a goal poacher. He got the goal and it was a case of us keeping it nice and tight after that. We did that. It’s a brilliant three points for us.”
Scully had some sympathy for luckless Longford. The result was tough on them and they also had to contend with the loss of striker Don Cowan through injury at the break. “It was a good game. Longford play lovely football. I’m delighted for them because they are getting back on their feet. They had a couple of years where they didn’t do as well as they would’ve liked. I think Tony has done a really good job. It’s a good club and it’s good to see them back up there doing well. To come here and get the three points, we’ve over the moon,” admitted the Lims boss.
With Limerick playing leaders Shelbourne on Friday night Saturday’s win was important for them to keep the pressure on the sides in front of them. Scully is confident that his side can push on and claim a promotion spot. He said, “I think the top four at the minute is how it’s going to be and the top three will come out of that four. I’m confident that we will be there at the end of it. We’ll look to Friday’s game now and approach it the same way as did the Longford one. Hopefully we’ll play a lot better.”
Scully has bolstered his squad recently for the promotion push and has been linked with several top players in recent weeks. Former Cork City striker Denis Behan looks set to join Limerick with a few more on the Dubliner’s shopping list. “If you want to go and improve the squad you have to go and get top players. That’s what we are going to try and do. “We have been very unlucky with injuries. We’ve got four long-termers that will probably not play this season. If we can get a couple in the window that can help us achieve promotion; that would be brilliant,” said the Limerick boss.
