Shelbourne -v- Limerick

• Niall Farrell
• Thu, Mar 31 2011


Limerick welcome star striker Stephen O'Flynn back into their side for their visit to top-of-the-table Shelbourne tomorrow (kick-off 8pm). Lims have had an indifferent start to the season, drawing on the opening day with Finn Harps and losing in Cork, but currently sit in fourth spot after four matches.

Manager Pat Scully feels that the return of Stephen O'Flynn will spur his side on tomorrow night, even though his side are still missing four players trough injury. "Having Steve O’Flynn back will be a great boost" said the former Shels player. "He is a top player and in my view one of the best goal scorers in the country."

Scully had to acknowledge the fine form of Shels though- with the Reds the only side with a 100% record left in either division- “Shels have yet to drop any points, they have a lot of experienced players and are a very physical team, so it will be vital that we compete against them."

The home side come into this match off the back of a 4-0 win over FC Carlow on Monday, but were lucky to come away from Galway with a win the previous Friday- only beating Mervue United 2-1. Manager Alan Mathews says that despite their winning start to the season, Shels "haven’t found a rhythm or consistency that we’d be happy with, certain aspects of our performances have been very satisfying but a lot of work has yet to be done”.

Indeed, Mathews told ShelsTV.com that the good early-season form shown by his side "doesn’t really count for anything, it just gets us off the mark." Shels boast a clean bill of health and no suspensions for Friday's match and Mathews adds: "We need to go again and build on it for the next game [against Limerick]."

Shelbourne
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None

Limerick
Injured: Dave Ryan (broken foot), Gary Sheahan (broken leg), Thomas Lyons (ankle ligaments). James O'Brien (hernia)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald

Paddypower.com Odds: Shels 5/6 Draw 12/5 Lims 14/5

Extratime.ie Prediction: 1-0 to Shels.