Limerick -v- Bohemians

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Mon, Sep 30 2013




LIMERICK

Limerick will welcome Bohemians to Thomond Park on Monday night in the Airtricity Premier Division. This weekend Stuart Taylor issued a plea to the Limerick supporters to come back and support their team.

 

Having got over 3, 500 for their opening league game, attendances have since dwindled dramatically falling to less than 850 last month for the visit of UCD.

 

“We’re looking forward to Monday’s game; it’s going to be very difficult again,” Taylor told LimerickFC.ie. “But we’ve got our targets, we’re pushing on and we’re on a rich vein of form at this moment in time."

 

“Owen Heary has done fantastically well since he took over at Bohemians and has gathered up a few points which have got them into safety. I’m sure they’ll have Premier Division football next season but I hope they pick up no points on Monday.


I went to see them in the last couple of weeks when they played Shelbourne and they had a really good win and looked a good side.


We want a big turnout for our last two home games, against Bohemians and Shelbourne, as the players want to pay a big thank you to the supporters for the support that they’ve given them throughout the year.


I’m hopeful and I’m pleading for a massive crowd to come to the game, to come and see what the boys are performing like right now. We promised them we would have a strong finish and we’re doing that at the moment, and I plead with every supporter to come out in force.


We’ve got two home games left and it would be great if we could get a massive crowd for them because we’ve wanted to go and put a spectacle on for the supporters and make them and everybody from Limerick proud of us."

 

In injury news Stewart Taylor will be without the services of Shane Tracey and midfielder Stephen McGrann who are suffering from knee and foot injuries respectively. There has however been some more bad news as club captain Pat Purcell has suffered a set back with his ankle injury which will now require further consultation with a specialist.

 

The injury list doesn't stop there as Shane Costello is also set to remain sidelined with an ankle injury he picked up five weeks ago against Dundalk.

 

BOHEMIANS

Bohs will travel to Thomond Park on Monday evening in confident mood having beaten Derry two nil on Friday night whilst they also beat Shels by three goals to nil just over a week ago.

 

The Gypsies don't have the same injury crises that Limerick have but they will still be without Anto Murphy and Stephen Traynor. Murphy has been rules out with a hamstring injury whilst Traynor is unavailable due to a quad complaint.

 

“Down there [last April], we were 1-0 up with a half-hour to go and two free kicks cost us the game. We played very well against them up here [in July] and then they hit a long ball, get a good touch on it, and they score,” said assistant manager Own Heary.

 

“Limerick are a hard-working team, they have a good squad, with good attackers and Stuart [Taylor] has done a great job there. But they may be a bit tired with three games in six days. We’ll go down full of confidence.”

 

Speaking to the press after his side’s victory on Friday night against Derry, Heary now believes that his squad's mindset has changed since the departure of Aaron Callaghan.

 

"We're going down there to get a result. The lads are full of confidence".

 

Referee: Sean Grant

 

MATCH FACTS

If Limerick manage to beat Bohs it will be their third win in just six days. A Bohs win will also secure a third straight victory for the Gypsies.

 

Bohs are now clear of the relegation zone and are two points ahead of UCD.

 

The last time these two sides did battle in Thomond Park it was the home side that came out on top 2-1. The goals on that day came from Shane Tracey and David O'Leary with Ciaran Nangle scoring for Bohs.

 

BETTING

Limerick 19/20 Draw 23/10 Bohemians 14/5

 

PREDICITION

2-2 draw

 

Limerick

Injured: Shane Tracey (knee), Stephen McGrann (foot), Pat Purcell (ankle), Shane Costello (ankle)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

 

Bohemians

Injured: Anto Murphy (hamstring), Stephen Traynor (quad)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None