Credit:
Derry City -v- Limerick FC
- Simon O'Gorman
- Fri, May 21 2010
Limerick FC travel to the Brandywell on Friday night to challenge a Derry City side that are riding high at the top of the Airtricity First Division and putting in the kind of performances that are reminding people of their Premier Division pedigree. (kick off 7.45pm)
The Candystripes have lost only once all season and among their nine league wins they can look back on a 5-1 win over Wexford and a startling 7-0 victory over Salthill Devon. But last weekend they allowed their cloak of invincibility to slip, drawing 1-1 against Cork City Foras at Turners Cross, the venue where they famously missed out on the 2005 league title.
This blip in an intimidating record may offer some encouragement to a Limerick side whose subtle climb up the league table is unfolding in stark contrast to off it’s off-field travails. Limerick have put together a run of five wins in their last six league games and, should they win on Friday night, they will be just four points behind Derry.
They’ve been scoring goals too. They’ve bagged three against Finn Harps, Mervue and Athlone and with twenty league goals in total only Derry themselves have hit the back of the net more often. Throw in a 3-0 win over Cork in the League Cup and it’s clear to see that the Shannonsiders are becoming a significant factor in this season’s race for promotion.
However, only Cork (on the opening day of the season) have left the Brandywell with anything but a sound beating and Limerick’s ability to stifle Derry’s multiple points of creativity will be crucial if they hope to get anything from this game.
Davy McDaid and James McLean have scored eleven league goals between them and Patrick McEleney, Kevin Deery and Ruairi Harkin are all players that can unlock a tight game. Moreover, in Barry Molloy, Derry have a deep lying midfielder who has all the necessary guile and experience to shut down even the most productive of opposition midfields.
Victory at the Brandywell, should it come to pass, would be a mighty achievement for Limerick and would certainly soften the blow of their abortive friendly against Spanish champions Barcelona. Do they have it in them? That’s the question.
Derry City
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Unavailable:Shane McEleney (international duty).
Suspended: None
Limerick FC
Team news unavailable
Referee: J Grimes
Extratime prediction: A 2-0 home win.
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and …