Preview: Limerick 37 vs Cork City

• David Byrne
• Thu, Jun 05 2008




Cup holders Cork City travel to unfamiliar surroundings this Friday night when they take on Limerick 37 in the third round of the FAI Ford Cup. Alan Matthew’s side will be in confident mood after Sunday night’s 3-2 victory over Derry City at the Brandywell. In contrasting form, Limerick 37 go into Friday’s game on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Waterford United at Jackman Park. Kick-off is at 7:45p.m at Jackman Park.

The magic of the cup awaits both sides as the hosts look to cause a real cup upset at Jackman Park. The last time these two sides met Cork were 3-0 winners at Turners Cross in the League Cup, although that will count for very little when these two sides met again on Friday. A large crowd is expected for this all-ticket affair at Jackman.

Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie ahead of the game, Cork City manager Alan Mathews said that he is looking forward to the tie: “The FAI Cup is a terrific competition, and with this being our first game in the Cup this season it is an important fixture for us. We met Limerick earlier in the season but that will count for nothing on Friday night, and I have no doubt that they will present us with a stiff challenge at Jackman Park.”

Matthews is warning his side against complacency going into Friday night’s game “We need to begin tomorrow’s game as we finished the game in Derry and we will look for the players to take all of the positives from that match into the game against Limerick. We know that we will have a battle on our hands against Limerick and we will need to produce a good performance to get the right result.”

Limerick manager Mike Kerley was delighted with the cup draw as he sees it as another learning opportunity for his young squad. Limerick are sixth in the First Division and there is no doubt that they face an extremely tough challenge when they met Cork, who are a respectable fourth in the Premier Division. Once the two sides cross enter Jackman Park tomorrow evening that will count for nothing as past results in the FAI Cup prove.

Limerick 37 Team News: Limerick remain without long term injury worries, Pat Purcell and Shane Tracy who both are recovering from recent surgery. Limerick are also without the influential Tommy Barrett, who is currently on his honeymoon after his marriage last Friday. Paul Danaher returns from suspension, while Donie Curtain is doubtful with a hand injury.

Cork City Team News: Colin Healy and George O’Callaghan missed the trip to Derry through suspension and illness respectively, but the rest of the squad came through that tie with no fresh injuries to report. Healy returns from suspension, while O’Callaghan is struggling to shake off the illness that kept him out last Sunday. There are no suspension worries for Cork City although Gareth Farrelly remains out through illness.

Kick-off is at 7:45p.m at Jackman Park.