Limerick FC 2017 season.

diusmr8a504cvk

Massive three points tonight.
I'd expect another three at home to Drogs and we could very well pick up points at St. Pat's and at home to Galway.

johnnyryan89

Tickets on sale for the semi final game against Cork in McMahons butchers all this week up until 1pm Friday unless they sell out before that. The supporters clubs (official and Blue Army) have been given an allocation also so can contact them if you're a member.

Paddico

600+ been mentioned that Limerick will bring dwon to us. That would make a great occasion but I think 300 would be more realistic.

Yes very good win Friday for Limerick, I expect a bit of a bite in this game and a great atmosphere

johnnyryan89

Paddico wrote: »

600+ been mentioned that Limerick will bring dwon to us. That would make a great occasion but I think 300 would be more realistic.

Yes very good win Friday for Limerick, I expect a bit of a bite in this game and a great atmosphere

Yeah I doubt we'll get the same numbers as the league game back in June which was around 600 - 650, the early kick off will catch some people out.

osarusan

FAI Cup Semi-final: Cork 1-0 Limerick

Limerick's cup run came to an end tonight, but it was a creditable performance.

I missed the first 25 minutes because of bad traffic, and consequently missed the only goal of the game. By all accounts it was a scrappy goal, and Limerick were poor for the first 20 minutes, and maybe fortunate not to be further behind.

But they gradually got into the game, and were much the better side for the 15 minutes before half-time, with an Ogbene shot that deflected and nearly crept in past a wrong-footed keeper being the closest we came.

In the second half, we were always in it but never able to be as dominant again. We pressed and had decent spells of possession and territory, but never really threatened the Cork goal. A Tosi header that looped just over and a goalmouth scramble was all we could muster, and athough a 1 goal lead is never comfortable, Cork saw the game out without too much fuss. Our 35-year wait for an FAI cup final appearance goes on.

Next game: away to St. Pats, Saturday October 7th.

osarusan

St Pats 2-2 Limerick

(Ogbene, Duggan)

A late late equaliser rescued a point for Limerick in a crucial game away to St Pat's tonight.

We were defensive and hesitant for most of the first half, with Pat's the more energetic team, but they didn't create much in the way of real chances.

Out of nothing, we took an undeserved lead when Ogbene worked space for a shot outside the area and fired a rocket off the underside of the crossbar. It bounced down and back out into play, but the linesman ruled that it had crossed the line.

It would have been a fantastic halftime lead, but we conceded almost immediately. St Pats had some intricate passes inside our penalty area, setting up former Limerick player Paul O'Conor to score from about 6 yards out.

In the second half we continued to be defensive, and the substitution of Joe Crowe for Dean Clarke indicated that we planned to see the game out for a draw. But we went behind on 70 minutes when we sloppily failed to clear a cross, and Conan Byrne took the opportunity to fire home.

As the minutes ticked by, we pressed, but it looks like being at painful and costly defeat until the final seconds. Barry Cotter played a superb low ball into the penalty area which Tosi laid off for Duggan to rifle a shot into the top corner. Pat's only had time to kick off before the referee blew the final whistle.

With Finn Harps losing and Galway only drawing, Limerick keep their nose ahead of the relegation pack with the teams below us running out of games. 3 points at homes to already relegated Drogheda next Saturday will make us all but safe.

Next game: home to Drogheda, Saturday October 15th, 6:30 p.m.

diusmr8a504cvk

Could have done without Sligo winning and Galway drawing as mentioned, I've been banking on Drogs at home with weeks as the game that will guarantee safety.

johnnyryan89

If the table stays the same I'll be happy out, would have liked to see Galway stay up but they've got a couple of handy players that could maybe tempt away if they get relegated.

osarusan

Limerick 1-0 Drogheda

(Tosi penalty)

There was a very good crowd in the Markets Field tonight, but it was a pity they got to see such a brutal game of football.

Drogheda offered nothing up front, with former Limerick player Chris Mulhall left all alone against our back line. For pretty much the entire game, it was a case of us trying to break them down. And for pretty much the entire game, we failed miserably. Poor decisions, poor crosses, underhit passes, delaying too long...there was a great variety in the way we broke down in attack. A dangerous Kenny low ball across the box that nobody attacked and a Tosi header was the best of the first half.

Just 4 minutes into the second, Tosi exaggerated a tug from a defender to ensure the referee gave the penalty, and converted it himself, low to the keeper's left.

After that it was back to the sluggish misfiring stuff we were accustomed to. Drogheda had a man sent off with twenty minutes to go but it made no difference. It was nervy at the end simply because there was only 1 goal in it, but Drogheda never created anything in the second half beyond a few hopeful shots from distance.

With 2 games left, Drogheda and Harps cannot catch us, and we can be mathematically safe next Friday by getting even a point against Galway, which is our last home game of the season.

Next game: home to Galway, Friday October 20th, 7.45pm

johnnyryan89

Wins a win, wasn't pretty but this time of the season is where you forget about pretty football and just get the result. Next week's game should be good. Galway need a win so will be coming to go all out for the 3pts.

osarusan

Limerick 2-2 Galway

(Tosi penalty, Ogbene)

In the final home game of the season, Limerick guaranteed their place in next year's premier division with a nervy, defensive performance against a decent Galway side, who are now in deep deep trouble themselves.

After a 25-minte delay which was apparently caused by what uber-tosser referee Anthony Buttimer decided was a clash of kits, we finally got underway. Galway dominated the first half an hour, going close a few times, with Brendan Clarke having to work hard, and make one absolutely superb save. Limerick looked lethargic and directionless, and it was hard to see what we were even trying to do when we had the ball.

But out of nothing we were ahead. Ogbene was bowled over as he attacked a cross into the box, and Tosi cooly placed the penalty into the bottom left corner. And even better, we were 2-0 up just before half time. Lee Lynch chased down a hoofed clearance, and after some very nice interplay between himself, Kenny, and Tosi, Kenny crossed to the far post where Ogbene arrived to slam home. We were in dreamland after the way the majority of the first half had been, and losing keeper Clarke to injury was the only negative before half time.

But our luck wasn't to last, and we conceded just a minute into the second half. Bastien Hery tried to be too clever, heading the back towards substitute keeper Hall, but a Galway player was loitering and collected the ball to fire home under Hall.

From then on it was Galway pressing, and Limerick relieving pressure, mainly through the indusrious Lee Lynch. Galway were given the gift of a very soft penalty when a player went down under no real contact, but Hall did brilliantly to dive to his left and save. We were creating chances on the break, and both Ogbene and Tosi went close with shots. Hall, however, went from hero to villain when he conceded another penalty, adjudged to have fouled when trying to fist the ball clear, and this time he went the wrong way.

The final few minutes was Galway laying siege to our goal, and there were a few hairy moments, but we held on for the point that makes us safe.

Next game: away to Shamrock Rovers, Friday October 27th, 7.45pm. This is the last game of the season.

osarusan

Some early transfer news and rumours: the club has announced that John O'Flynn, Stephen Kenny, and Joe Crowe are leaving at the end of the season.

Rumour is that Barry McNamee of Derry is moving to Limerick to study at UL, and would sign for the club too.

osarusan

Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Limerick

(Walsh-O’Loughlin)

A half-strength Limerick side lost a pedestrian encounter to end the season.

Of two teams who were just going through the motions, we probably the better side in the first half, but didn't create much in the way of real chances. Henry Cameron had a chance, and Freddy Hall had to make one good save.

Early in the second half we conceded a penalty after some wrestling in the box from a corner and were 1-0 down.

Not long after we needlessly gave away possession in our own half and allowed Rovers work a shot on goal, and Hall was beaten at his near post.

We began to press and pulled one back after a ball into the box bobbled round a bit and substitute Walsh-O’Loughlin lashed the loose ball into the top corner.

We could have equalised after a dangerous Ogbene run and cross, but had substitute keeper Tommy Holland to thank for a late save to keep it at 2-1, and that's how it ended.

And that's it, all over for another 3 or 4 months. We finish the season 7th. On the one hand, not bad for a newly-promoted team. On the other, we looked poor enough for long periods of the season. The off-season and transfer window will be interesting.

AlanOB

A long-read, comprehensively combing over Limerick FC's rollercoaster 2017 season: http://bit.ly/2ykCxUt

osarusan

Limerick sign Cian Coleman from Cobh Ramblers (after previously spending a few year with Cork at underage levels), and Shane Tracy signs for another season.

McNamee rumour was just that, he signed for Cork.

diusmr8a504cvk

Danny Morrissey signed as well today from Finn Harps.

osarusan

Bastien Hery signed for Waterford today.

Of all the individual transfer-related things that could have happened, this sickens me the most.

johnnyryan89

Was no chance of holding onto him. Lee Power is pumping serious money into them and players being offered 52 week contracts, also owns Swindon which can give Bastain a way back to England.

diusmr8a504cvk

Duggie has been re-signed for the season.

diusmr8a504cvk

Neil McDonald is the new Scunthorpe Assistant manager.
Pre-season starts today and we've about 13 lads signed, three of which are goalkeepers.

Time for a new thread too I'd say.

osarusan

Our woeful offseason continues.

Mc Love

Couldnt fault him for turning that opportunity down, would have been nice if he had stayed though.

johnnyryan89

Couldn't fault him for escaping the sinking ship is more like it. Said it to one the lads back in November when he returned to England for the off season that he won't come back.

Paddico

Whats the story with Ogbene. Read somewhere he was over in England.
Hols or considering options?

Real Psycrow

Paddico wrote: »

Whats the story with Ogbene. Read somewhere he was over in England.
Hols or considering options?

I heard he had a few trials.

damowill

Real Psycrow wrote: »

I heard he had a few trials.

Ogbene is signed up for another year so Limerick would actually get a few quid for him, as would Cork City (for development). Judging by our state of affairs, it might not be the worst to sell him and get money in to spend on offering contracts to players.