Limerick FC lost for the first time at home this season’s as Graham Burke’s second half penalty saw Shamrock Rovers move into second place in the table. The game looked destined to be heading for a 0-0 draw when Burke stepped up after Ronan Finn was
Limerick FC lost for the first time at home this season’s as Graham Burke’s second half penalty saw Shamrock Rovers move into second place in the table.
The game looked destined to be heading for a 0-0 draw when Burke stepped up after Ronan Finn was fouled by Shaun Kelly with 15 minutes.
Despite missing eight players from his squad due to injury, Limerick FC boss Tommy Barrett still felt that his side should have come away with something from the game.
“Disappointed and proud,” was Barrett’s initial thought after the game. “There’s only Shaun Kelly, Billy Dennehy, Shane Duggan and Brendan Clarke over the age of 22/23. The rest of the lads tonight are very young.
“We had the best chance of the game when Billy (Dennehy) sent the free kick across the goal but proud of the effort. I think we could have played a bit better.
“We looked a bit leggy at times from Friday night but we were missing eight players. That many players out of our squad is a lot and five or six against Cork the other night as well. Even with all of that it shows how difficult we are to beat at home.”
Limerick FC were among the favourites to be in relegation trouble this season but sit midtable after seven games and up against Cork and Rovers in their last two games, the general consensus was that Barrett’s men would come away with nothing. He saw it a different way.
“I was expecting more from the two games to be honest. I thought we could get a draw against Cork and then expected us to beat Rovers tonight.
“With the players that we had, I would have taken a draw tonight. With that many players out and six of the eight might have started, it’s very difficult against a Shamrock Rovers team with the budget they have and the squad they have.”
Limerick make the trip to Richmond Park on Friday knowing their away form will have to improve. Having conceded 13 goals from their previous games away from the Markets Field, captain Shane Duggan believes that they have what it takes to improve on their travels.
“We just have to keep going,” Duggan said about their away woes. “We have a very young squad at the moment and are down some bodies.
“They are still bedding into the league but they are doing very well. It’s going to be an excellent game on Friday night against St Pat’s.
“I think the way they play and they way we shape up might open the door for catching them on the counter attack and that’s what we will be looking to do.”
