Shelbourne -v- Limerick

• Niall Farrell
• Fri, Sep 18 2009


League leaders Shelbourne will seek to extend their lead at the top of the First Division when they welcome 6th placed Limerick FC to Tolka Park tomorrow night.

Limerick have won their last two matches after losing 2-1 away to UCD on August 28 and confidence will be high after their 6-1 drubbing of Athlone Town, the biggest home win for Limerick in a decade. Boss Pat Scully has just signed a new two-year deal with Limerick and the ex-Shels player will be looking to upset the hosts.

Shels are coming off the back of their own impressive victory, with their last match being the 3-0 win over Monaghan in Kingspan Park two weeks ago. Shelbourne did not play last week as their match with Waterford United was called off due to United’s involvement in the FAI Cup.

The Reds have lost only two of their last twelve competitive fixtures, although their last home match was the 2-1 loss to Wexford Youths.

Limerick will be without Shane Waters, who is out with ankle ligament injury for another week, Paul Cummins, out with an ankle injury for up to five weeks and Pat Purcell, who will be out for another two weeks with a knee injury.

Shelbourne must play without a number of first team players; Kevin Doherty (calf), David Cassidy (knee) and Richie Baker who picked up a hamstring injury while playing against Monaghan United two weeks ago.

Extratime.ie Prediction: Limerick have only beaten Shelbourne once in their last five meetings, and it is hard to see the Shannonsiders coming away from Drumcondra with three points. A draw isn’t beyond the realms of possibility but Shelbourne victory seems likely. Our prediction: 1-0 to Shels.