Limerick FC 2017 season.

timesnewroman

I passed the MF at about 10am this morning and it didn't look like there were tickets on sale. They'll be on sale there before the game however - I'd advise arriving about 20mins before kick off to avoid queuing. Alternatively, the butchers on Athlunkard St is selling them also.

Jofspring

Tickets usually go on sale an hour before kick off. Definitely arrive at least 20 mins before kick off.

osarusan

Thibaut Molinatti not signed after all as there was a problem with paperwork and the deadline passed. That's a pity, the lad must be gutted.

Some alarming stories about Rodrigo Tosi being in the same boat, but it seems he is in the clear now.

7 hours and 47 minutes to kick off. It's back. About bloody time too.

chicorytip

Is Rory Gaffney still with Cambridge Utd?

osarusan

Limerick 5-1 Sligo

(Turner, Tosi x3, Lynch)

Limerick started their Premier division campaign in spectacular fashion with a comprehensive win over Sligo tonight. We started brightly and took the lead early on when Lynch had a shot from the edge of the area which the keeper couldn't hold on to and Turner was the first to react to shoot home from about 4 yards out.

For the next 20 minutes it was pretty even with neither team creating much but when a Sligo defender missed an interception on a cross, Tosi controlled and drilled home to make it 2-0. Soon after that, Turner floated over a cross for Tosi to head home for a three goal lead.

In the second half, Sligo came more into the game, and pulled one back when Freddy Hall spilled a long range shot, and a striker fired home. We looked a bit nervous and jittery for a while, but nerves were settled when Dean Clarke raced clear and crossed for Tosi. The keeper saved his header, but Tosi was first to the rebound to make it 4-1.

There was even time for a missed penalty by Ian Turner after Tosi was fouled in the area, before Lee J Lynch made it five when running on to a Freddie hall ball over the top and then lobbing the keeper.

Fantastic night, fantastic game.

Next game: away to Derry City, Friday March 4th.

Alonso77

chicorytip wrote: »

Is Rory Gaffney still with Cambridge Utd?

He's with Bristol Rovers these days

Brennans Row

Jofspring wrote: »

Tickets usually go on sale an hour before kick off. Definitely arrive at least 20 mins before kick off.

Yep, seems like a big crowd were queuing to get in before the kick-off.

Anyone know yesterdays attendance and any links for highlights of the match?

https://twitter.com/IsMiseDaniel/status/835210399679148032

sioda

2500 attendance according to 95fm

Jofspring

Att: 2,375 was official one announced. Highlights will most likely be up online after MNS on RTÉ.

Paddico

Here you go

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFTjaiponpg

osarusan

Derry City v Limerick: Match abandoned after 25 minutes

A floodlight failure was the reason for the game being abandoned at 1-1 after 25 minutes in the first game being held at Maginn Park, Derry's temporary home during the renovation of the Brandywell.

Limerick had taken the lead through Dean Clarke after just 6 minutes, but Derry equalised from a freekick on 20 minutes, before the lights went out.

Sickening for the fans who travelled for 5 or 6 hours to get there.

Harambe

Disaster

Brennans Row

Limerick FC players, management and supporters were left hugely frustrated by the developments as they faced a 460-mile, 10-hour round trip to attend the game in Buncrana.

It was later confirmed by Limerick FC that the abandoned fixture with Derry City has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 21 at Maginn Park, 7.45 pm (Limerick Leader)

Could not common sense prevail and continue the match tomorrow in broad daylight instead?

Brennans Row

Brennans Row wrote: »

Could not common sense prevail and continue the match tomorrow in broad daylight instead?

You're assuming the entire playing squad, management, coaching staff, physio, bus driver, whatever other traveling entourage goes with the team on the road, etc, plus referee, assistants, match officials, all have a) hotel rooms in the immediate vicinity of Buncrana for the night, and b) F all else to do with their time tomorrow.

Plus the owners of Maginn Park may well have plans of their own.

Jofspring

Game should have been pushed out until and available opportunity on maybe a Friday or Saturday arose to play the game.

There was a huge cost involved for Limerick FC travelling up Thursday, staying the night, getting ready for the game and having to leave with only 25 minutes played. Being told to come back in a few weeks on a Tuesday is salt in the wounds.

osarusan

Paudie O'Connor signed a two year deal with Leeds, so we won't be seeing him in a Limerick shirt for a while at least. Good luck to him. Brave and committed, but naive at times.

homingbird

Anyone not @ tonights match can listen online here:
http://dundalkfm.radio.net/

AlanOB

Or here:

http://mixlr.com/limerick-soccer-live/

osarusan

Dundalk 1-0 Limerick

We played well enough but couldn't make a dent in the reigning champions. We had a couple of early chances but Dundalk's domination gradually increased, and we spent most of the first half defending. We didn't give away too many chances but when Dean Clarke was dispossessed trying to break out of defence, McEleney took advantage to curl a superb shot into the top corner. We had a very good penalty shout turned down before the break too when Tosi went down when trying to get on the end of a cross.

The second half was the same as the first, with Dundalk doing more of the pressing, but we slowly cam into the game and were on the attack for the last 15 minutes. We didn't create much though - a couple of headers for Tosi was it really. Freddy Hall came up for our last attack of the game and got his head to the ball too, but not on goal.

Still, a decent performance against maybe the best LOI side in the last 25 years. Our games against Bohs and Harps are the ones we need to be taking points from.

Next game: Home to Bohemians, Monday 13th March, 7.45pm

osarusan

Limerick 0-1 Bohemians

A poor performance and poor result tonight against a well-drilled but fairly limited Bohs team.

It was an even enough first half, with both teams having chances. Bosh keeper and eventual man of the match Shane Supple made good saves to deny Ian Turner and later Shane Duggan, while Bohs missed decent chances created mostly by Limerick's pointless passing round the back 4.

Bohs took the lead early in the second half. A cross missed everybody and reached the far post, where it was quickly cut back for an onrushing Bohs player to smash home. Limerick rallied, but it was one of those nights when the final ball was a bit early, late, short, or long, and the players were making the wrong runs at the wrong time. We didn't create much, and when we did, Supple saved brilliantly from Duggan after a quick pass from substitute Mulhall put him in on goal. Apart from that, Tosi had a header he had to stretch for, and Dean Clarke had a fierce shot that went just over.

Quite a let down after the opening day goals and even the good performance in Dundalk.

Next game: Home to Finn Harps, Saturday March 18th, 2pm.

diusmr8a504cvk

Very disappointing. Bohs manhandled us every time we got inside their half and the officials did us no favours.
Thought Tommy Robson was poor and made some high risk passes across the box way too often.
Limerick essentially beat themselves, the goal came from a moment of confusion between two of our own and Bohs hardly made any chances themselves. Frustrating game considering we were the better side as well as the fact that Bohs ran down the clock from the 50th minute onwards.
Thought it was questionable to take off Ogbene when he was our biggest threat although Mulhall was good when he came on. Every time a long diagonal ball was played into him we looked like scoring.

johnnyryan89

Gotta feel sorry for Turner after the mistake by the fourth official in mixing up the subs making it look like the fans were cheering him going off.

Killergreene

Really disappointed by some of the supporters last night particularly the blue army loyalty club. The fans absolutely did clap the substitution of turner. He received nothing but vitriol all night with many shouting turncoat at him. He had a poor game but so did the whole team. The blue army loyalty club are not true fans at all, glorified thugs only there for a piss up and something to complain about. They only sing and bang their drum when they are beating the piss out of athlone.

johnnyryan89

Killergreene wrote: »

Really disappointed by some of the supporters last night particularly the blue army loyalty club. The fans absolutely did clap the substitution of turner. He received nothing but vitriol all night with many shouting turncoat at him. He had a poor game but so did the whole team. The blue army loyalty club are not true fans at all, glorified thugs only there for a piss up and something to complain about. They only sing and bang their drum when they are beating the piss out of athlone.

Yeah the lads who go to every game home and away, who'll probably be the only fans up in Derry and create a bit of atmosphere aren't true fans :rolleyes:

And everyone cheered Tosi not going off, could have been anyone going off and would have been the same reaction.

Killergreene

I like how you didn't even try and argue against the abuse and vitriol they flung from the stands all night. They only go to Derry and harps etc for the piss up. I've been on the away bus trip, it's nothing more than an excuse to get trollied and shout abuse

mastershake

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

And everyone cheered Tosi not going off, could have been anyone going off and would have been the same reaction.

And how does that make it any better? Thought the reaction from "SUPPORTERS'' was embarrassing as well. Worse than the performance of our own players on the night.

johnnyryan89

mastershake wrote: »

And how does that make it any better? Thought the reaction from "SUPPORTERS'' was embarrassing as well. Worse than the performance of our own players on the night.

When you're losing one nil with less then ten minutes left and you think the manager is about to replace a striker with another winger you're hardly gonna stand there, clap and think great sub Martin.

Killergreene wrote: »

I like how you didn't even try and argue against the abuse and vitriol they flung from the stands all night. They only go to Derry and harps etc for the piss up. I've been on the away bus trip, it's nothing more than an excuse to get trollied and shout abuse

Yeah I'm sure lads only go to Derry or Harps to drink when its alot easier and cheaper to just get trollied as you put it in Limerick. If you've got a problem with them all well and good but to say they aint true fans is a joke. They organise buses to games to get fans who might not have there own way of going to games, even trying to get family friendly buses organised for people with kids (something the official supporters club couldn't be arsed doing, think Galway October 2015 is the last time they organised a bus to a league game) and without them the markets field would be like a library.

I wasnt in the stands so couldnt tell you what was said, I was over on the hill and can tell you he also got abused from that side too as did Duggie, Hery, Lee J and Tosi.

mastershake

I admit the Blue army club really do add to the occasion and create a decent atmosphere in the ground. During the relegation season when they were banned from Jackman Park the team fell apart on the pitch. However I really disliked the booing of our own players and from where I was siting is was directed at Turner from those in the Blue army. Ian Turner was brilliant against sligo (apart from the penalty) and there was no way he deserved the humiliation he got last night. Its looking like it will be one hell of a scrap this year and negativity from the stands wont help us.

johnnyryan89

mastershake wrote: »

I admit the Blue army club really do add to the occasion and create a decent atmosphere in the ground. During the relegation season when they were banned from Jackman Park the team fell apart on the pitch. However I really disliked the booing of our own players and from where I was siting is was directed at Turner from those in the Blue army. Ian Turner was brilliant against sligo (apart from the penalty) and there was no way he deserved the humiliation he got last night. Its looking like it will be one hell of a scrap this year and negativity from the stands wont help us.

Yeah them couple of months up in Jackman two years ago were grim.

The booing was directed at the thought we were taking a striker off for a winger when chasing the game. Unfortunately for Turner he was on the end of a boo boo from the linesman mixing up the subs, could have been anyone else even Duggie and would have been the same reaction. Now I wasn't up in the stands so don't know if some lads bood Turner as he left the field but there was a lot of 'about f'ing time' from the popular side as he left.

Visaquestion

I was at the game and the fans in the stand were definitely cheering the fact that Turner was being taken off. I thought it was bad form really

johnnyryan89

Visaquestion wrote: »

I was at the game and the fans in the stand were definitely cheering the fact that Turner was being taken off. I thought it was bad form really

Or cheering that the fact that a striker wasn't being replaced by a winger while we were a goal down and chasing the game. As I said before Turner was just unfortunate that it was him going off and that the fourth official made the mistake of mixing the subs up.

AlanOB

There was no mix-up.

The number '10' was correctly raised for Bohemians' Keith Ward.

A certain section of the Limerick support understandably booed this, thinking that Rodrigo Tosi was being called ashore.

As it happened, both teams were actually making changes simultaneously, with Limerick's swap of Kenny for Turner announced second.

The cheer was almost certainly in recognition of that fact, rather than in joy at Turner's removal.

Now having said that, Turner WAS getting significant stick from some quarters in the second-half, prior to his removal.

But to say his removal was cheered is probably wrong, to be fair.

johnnyryan89

AlanOB wrote: »

There was no mix-up.

The number '10' was correctly raised for Bohemians' Keith Ward.

A certain section of the Limerick support understandably booed this, thinking that Rodrigo Tosi was being called ashore.

As it happened, both teams were actually making changes simultaneously, with Limerick's swap of Kenny for Turner announced second.

The cheer was almost certainly in recognition of that fact, rather than in joy at Turner's removal.

Now having said that, Turner WAS getting significant stick from some quarters in the second-half, prior to his removal.

But to say his removal was cheered is probably wrong, to be fair.

Looking at the fourth official as he made the subs and it's something I've never noticed before but will make sure to look out for it at Saturday's game but I think they use different colours on the board for each team. Cause I'm 90% sure the first time number ten went up it was a dark yellow and Tosi was coming off but when he put it up a second time for Bohs it was more dark orange.

Everyone was getting stick though, Turner and Clarke will get it over leaving when we got relegated but Duggie got some amount of stick from people over his performance on Monday night.

AlanOB

You could be right.

Either way I'm supporting your contention that Turner's removal wasn't -- necessarily -- cheered.

osarusan

Plenty of players were getting stick, and rightly so.

Initially I also thought that people were cheering Turner being substituted, especially given the criticism he was getting in the second half, but the explanation that what was being cheered was the fact that the number raised was not Tosi's number, is fair enough.

Moving on, it was a really poor performance. I'd say that the trip to Dundalk took a lot out of them, as the way we play involves a lot of movement and energy.

But also, when we come up against teams who defend deep and wide, giving our wingers little space, we will struggle to create. And as teams work this out (not difficult, it was the same 2 seasons ago) we will face that tactic more and more.

johnnyryan89

osarusan wrote: »

Plenty of players were getting stick, and rightly so.

But also, when we come up against teams who defend deep and wide, giving our wingers little space, we will struggle to create. And as teams work this out (not difficult, it was the same 2 seasons ago) we will face that tactic more and more.

Saturday will be the exact same as the Bohs match. Harps will come to defend and play for a draw hoping to maybe nick a win.

brianregan09

Where's the best (and safest) place to park near enough the markets field ?

timesnewroman

I usually park on Lelia St, which is just off Clare St (near Griffins funeral home). I've never had any issues there.

Jofspring

Ya whatever you do don't park around the Markets Field. One lad I know had his wing mirror knocked off on Monday night and last season another lad I know had his tyres slashed.

I usually park around John's square or top of William Street.

osarusan

Limerick 1-1 Finn Harps

(Tosi)

After an hour of truly diabolical football, Limerick mounted a comeback but couldn't manage to grab all three points.
That aimless, pointless passing across the back 4 was present for all of the first half, and it cost us a goal when a mis-hit pass meant Freddy Hall rushed a clearance straight to a Harps player who just kicked it past him into the net. A pathetic goal to give away, but always a possibility the way we play. Harps sat deep and we were completely unable to break them down, with just a few shots from distance to report.

It was much the same in the second half, but we gradually pressed them a bit deeper, and when we finally, finally, finally got a decent delivery into the box, from substitute Turner, Tosi powered home a header. We nearly nicked it at the end when Robbie Williams headed against the post.

The referee's terrible management of Harps' time-wasting made him the pantomime villian at the end, but we played really poorly and we still have no idea how to break down a team defending deep in front of us.

Next game: away to Derry (postponed game), Tuesday March 21st.

Next weekend: away to Bray, Saturday March 25th.

johnnyryan89

What odds is Russell with the bookies to be the first manager sacked, could do with winning some easy money.

AlanOB

In-depth analysis of the game here, for those who fancy a read: http://bit.ly/2mfjkxn

Killergreene

Really disgraceful performance and again shocking display of vitriol from the blue army.

Firstly the team were rubbish. Only hery looked like he was making any sort of effort in the first half. Mulhall and Stephen kenny aren't up to the standard of premier.

Goal was despicable. Response from the fans equally so. The leader of the group rained torrential abuse down on his own team and opposition all night. He continually mocked paddy mccourt calling him the ugliest man in the Loi and scarecrow face head man.

This is a man who has played champions league and whose wife has a brain tumour and vitriol fired at him by a fat lump in the crowd. O Sullivan should ban these scummbags.

Team again rubbish in second half. Bizarre sub taking off hery for another player poc who isn't up to the standard. Turner came on and immediately made something, we were crying out for Ogbene and the transfer seems more bizarre with Russel refusing to use him. Dean Clarke was off the pace. Russel is a dead man walking at this stage.

johnnyryan89

Killergreene wrote: »

He continually mocked paddy mccourt calling him the ugliest man in the Loi and scarecrow face head man.

I believe the scarecrow face head man you refer to is this man https://www.google.ie/search?q=ollie+horgan&prmd=inv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwilq-vjruHSAhVsD8AKHatUBdcQ_AUIBygB&biw=360&bih=512 and yes Ollie Horgan is the ugliest man in league of Ireland football so he wasn't telling no lies but at least that scarecrow knows how to organise his team even if they are a bunch of diving ****.

A_Sober_Paddy

Killergreene wrote: »

Really disgraceful performance and again shocking display of vitriol from the blue army.

Firstly the team were rubbish. Only hery looked like he was making any sort of effort in the first half. Mulhall and Stephen kenny aren't up to the standard of premier.

Goal was despicable. Response from the fans equally so. The leader of the group rained torrential abuse down on his own team and opposition all night. He continually mocked paddy mccourt calling him the ugliest man in the Loi and scarecrow face head man.

This is a man who has played champions league and whose wife has a brain tumour and vitriol fired at him by a fat lump in the crowd. O Sullivan should ban these scummbags.

Team again rubbish in second half. Bizarre sub taking off hery for another player poc who isn't up to the standard. Turner came on and immediately made something, we were crying out for Ogbene and the transfer seems more bizarre with Russel refusing to use him. Dean Clarke was off the pace. Russel is a dead man walking at this stage.

Have to disagree with you on a few things.

Hery looked ordinary yesterday, got caught in possession too often, lost the ball and was so slow getting the ball forward.

Mulhall looked lively and threat, was the only player looking for the ball and trying to get us forward in the first half.

Jofspring

Ya I thought Hery was very poor yesterday. He lost the ball on numerous occasions and didn't like pressure being applied. It was only when Paul O Connor came on and actually started getting stuck in a bit more that we started getting some bit of midfield dominance. Paddy McCourt barely ran yesterday but also hadn't much to do.

They defended really wide cutting off our wide men and it worked as we offered nothing else. Tosi' touch was septic yesterday which stopped any bit of hold up play.

osarusan

I think we lose possession a bit easily in midfield as we are trying to find space between their midfield and defence.

So Duggan or Hery will drop to pick it up from the back 4, but they still have a midfield 4 in front of them, and they resort to something risky to try and break that line. A quick one two or a sudden change of direction...but if they lose possession, we're suddenly in trouble.

I honestly think we should just Clarke and Ogbene on the wings, get them to play centrally to create space out wide, and then make runs towards the sideline, and have the fullbacks play balls down the line.

And the fullbacks should both be swinging the ball into the box when they get the chance, rather than desperately trying to set the wingers up for a cross.

It's all really simple stuff, but we'd have more attacking presence than we do now.

johnnyryan89

osarusan wrote: »

I think we lose possession a bit easily in midfield as we are trying to find space between their midfield and defence.

So Duggan or Hery will drop to pick it up from the back 4, but they still have a midfield 4 in front of them, and they resort to something risky to try and break that line. A quick one two or a sudden change of direction...but if they lose possession, we're suddenly in trouble.

I honestly think we should just Clarke and Ogbene on the wings, get them to play centrally to create space out wide, and then make runs towards the sideline, and have the fullbacks play balls down the line.

And the fullbacks should both be swinging the ball into the box when they get the chance, rather than desperately trying to set the wingers up for a cross.

It's all really simple stuff, but we'd have more attacking presence than we do now.

The one way you could do that and it would accommodate the four midfielders we have is to play something like

---

Tosi
Ogbene/Clarke - Hery - Lee J

---

Duggan - POC

Lee J done well yesterday and often drifted out right to link up with Turner and Kelly, think it was Lee J who slipped Turner through to cross for Tosi. Lee J wouldnt be your traditional winger who'd hug the touchline and will come in central to create that over lap for Kelly.

As Alan O'Brien mentioned Hery is more suited to that 10 role instead of playing deeper and I think he's played okay in the last two games with his two main pluses being able to hold the ball up and little through balls to slip players into space which is what you want him to do but in the final third for players like Ogbene, Clarke, Tosi and Lee J instead of doing it as your holding midfielder when the opposition have nearly the whole team behind the ball.

Paul O'Connor will be your box to box midfielder coming back to break up play and then busting a gut to make them late runs into the box something which you don't get with Hery and Duggan playing as your midfield two and Duggan will be your holding midfielder whose there to defend and start up attacks.

Back four picks itself at the moment unfortunately and at this stage I think it's time Brendan Clarke is given a start at this stage.

A_Sober_Paddy

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

The one way you could do that and it would accommodate the four midfielders we have is to play something like

---

Tosi
Ogbene/Clarke - Hery - Lee J

---

Duggan - POC

Lee J done well yesterday and often drifted out right to link up with Turner and Kelly, think it was Lee J who slipped Turner through to cross for Tosi. Lee J wouldnt be your traditional winger who'd hug the touchline and will come in central to create that over lap for Kelly.

As Alan O'Brien mentioned Hery is more suited to that 10 role instead of playing deeper and I think he's played okay in the last two games with his two main pluses being able to hold the ball up and little through balls to slip players into space which is what you want him to do but in the final third for players like Ogbene, Clarke, Tosi and Lee J instead of doing it as your holding midfielder when the opposition have nearly the whole team behind the ball.

Paul O'Connor will be your box to box midfielder coming back to break up play and then busting a gut to make them late runs into the box something which you don't get with Hery and Duggan playing as your midfield two and Duggan will be your holding midfielder whose there to defend and start up attacks.

Back four picks itself at the moment unfortunately and at this stage I think it's time Brendan Clarke is given a start at this stage.

With the lack of pace we have in Robbie and Tony, I think we need a sweeper like Freddy. He cost us the goal yesterday but his pace is needed to compensate for the lack of legs in the middle of us defence

osarusan

Unlikely that anybody thinking of making the trip wouldn't already know this, but Limerick's away match with Derry tomorrow night has been cancelled after the sudden death of their captain Ryan McBride.

Also, even though we beat them a while back, Cobh Ramblers have been reinstated to the Munster Senior Cup at Limerick's expense after we were found to have fielded an ineligible player in that game (Tosi).

Not too bothered about it to be honest.