Mervue United -v- Limerick FC

• Terry Flaherty
• Fri, Mar 05 2010


Mervue Utd will begin their second season in the newly re-named Airtricity League with a home tie, as they entertain Limerick FC on Friday night at Terryland Park with a 7.45 p.m. kick-off.

It what looks a really competitive First Division line up for the new season, with both Derry and Cork demoted and set to play in the second tier of Irish soccer, points will be very hard earned by all teams. The home team comfortably held their First Division status last season even if they did finish in 11th spot, but they will look to push on this term and improve on that finishing position. Limerick on the other hand finished a respectable mid table seventh a full twenty one points ahead of the Galway side.

In last season’s three meetings between the two sides, Limerick hold the upper hand with two wins to one. Limerick gave the home side a rude lesson in League of Ireland football in only their second game last season registering a 4-1 win as Eric Browne scored Mervue’s very first goal in senior football in the two club’s first meeting. A second half Alex Lee goal gave Mervue a 1-0 win in Galway at the end of May, while Limerick won the third meeting 2-1 in early September with both goals coming within the opening 15 minutes.

Mervue begin the campaign with a new young management team in place with Tom French taking up the reins after the surprise departure of Johnny Glynn in January. French will be assisted by last season’s under 20 manager, Brendan O’Connor and Adrian Cronin as goalkeeping coach.

French has been charged with the task of trying to improve on last season’s maiden voyage into the League of Ireland. He has managed to re-sign the majority of last season’s squad and also add a few new faces with Ollie Keogh re-joining the club and Irish Under 19 International goalkeeper Ger Hanley signing from Galway Utd. While expect some of the club’s youth team to also figure more prominently with Greg Cunningham’s twin, Dan, showing up well along with Enda Curran (brother of Nicky) in pre-season friendlys.

“The pre-season preparations for the new campaign have gone really well and the squad has benefited from the intense training to date and the club’s recent training camp in Donegal” said new manager Tom French. A 3-0 second half demolition of Galway Utd the highlight of their pre-season friendlies, with Rory Gaffney scoring twice and Enda Curran adding the third.

“We are looking forward to getting started and competing in what looks like one of the strongest First Divisions in years. With a good mix of youth and experience in the side the aim is to push on and make a bigger impact in the League than last year”

Pat Scully on the other hand is in his second season with Limerick FC and has been very busy signing new players while also resigning a lot of his squad from last season. Former Arsenal and Galway Utd player Sean Kelly has been sign up along with former Wexford Youths player Peter White and former Athlone Town goalkeeper, John McGuinness. Scully has also signed a number of talented local junior players to bolster his squad.

Both clubs have suspensions to deal with which have been carried over from last season, with both Nicky Curran and David O’Dowd sitting this one out for the home team while Wayne Colbert is also banned for the visitors. Both teams will be eager to get off to a positive start but may have to settle for a share of the spoils in their first start of 2010. Venue: Terryland Park, Galway

Referee: J. McLoughlin

Paddypower.com odds: Mervue 11/4, Limerick 5/6, Draw 23/10.

Mervue United:
Injured: None
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Nicky Curran, David O’Dowd

Limerick:
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Wayne Colbert.

Extratime.ie prediction: A 1-1 share of the spoils to get both teams on the scoreboard.