League Preview: Limerick FC -v- Drogheda United
- Extratime Team
- Sat, Apr 15 2017
LIMERICK FC
What a start it was for interim manager Willie Boland last Friday at Richmond Park. The Super Blues came away with all three points and a clean sheet against St Patrick’s Athletic.
Tony Whitehead put the away side ahead in the first half before Pat’s old boy Brendan Clarke saved a penalty from Conan Byrne midway through the second half. With less than ten minutes remaining John O’Flynn sealed all three points for the visitors.
Speaking to limerickfc.ie, Boland was delighted with how his players performed in his first game in charge, “It’s a great result for the lads tonight. To go to St. Pat’s and win the game two nil, to keep a clean sheet, and most importantly getting those three points, I’m delighted with it. I thought the players tonight showed a magnificent attitude throughout the whole game, great work rate, and great commitment. They made good decisions at the right time and two good finishes. I’m delighted for Tony to get his first senior goal and John O’Flynn was very cool with the second goal.”
With almost a quarter of the season gone and with a game in hand, Limerick find themselves in a decent position in fifth place. However they will still be looking below them as they are just two points clear of third from bottom Sligo Rovers, albeit with that game in hand to come.
Boland will be targeting maximum points from his next two league fixtures which are both at home against opposition in the bottom half of the table and he will be hoping to kick it off with a win here against Drogheda United.
“We have two home games coming up in the League, we should be going into that to game now next week against Drogheda full of confidence and belief. If we can another three points that puts us into a very very favorable position.”
DROGHEDA UNITED
The Drogs earned a massive three points last time out against Shamrock Rovers. Former Sunderland midfielder Sean Thornton put them ahead when he dispatched a first half penalty. The game was to end with five minutes of mayhem as the home side conceded a penalty, this was followed by a straight red for captain Sean Brennan for dissent. Graham Burke made no mistake from the spot and it looked like we would be heading for a share of the spoils. However Drogheda were not finished there and an injury time free kick from Thornton was met by Ryan McEvoy before Burke bundled it into his own net to hand the home side a dramatic win.
This result ended a six match losing run and moved them out of the bottom three. They face a tough assignment against last season’s First Divisions rivals Limerick.
The Boynesiders are entering a crucial run of games as they travel to Finn Harps next week before hosting back-to-back games against fellow bottom-half sides Sligo Rovers and Galway United.
Killian Brennan misses out again for Drogheda through injury while Sean Brennan is suspended. Marc Griffin and Gavin Brennan are also injury doubts.
Referee: Graham Kelly
MATCH STATS
Tomorrow’s meeting marks the first contest between last season’s top two in the First Division as Limerick were runaway winners while Drogheda achieved promotion via the play-off.
Limerick won two of the four meetings between the sides while the Blues netted stoppage time equalisers on the other two occasions to leave the Drogs frustrated.
Drogheda do have the honour of having won the inaugural game at the Markets Field in 2015 as they registered a 2-1 win courtesy of goals from Lee Duffy and Michael Daly.
BETTING
Limerick 4/7; Draw 14/5; Drogheda United 5/1 .
PREDICTION
Limerick 1–0 Drogheda United
Limerick FC
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: Jonah Ayunga.
Drogheda United
Injured: Killian Brennan.
Doubtful: Marc Griffin, Gavin Brennan.
Suspended: Sean Brennan.
