17.00 8 Jun 2013 -
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
St Patrick's Athletic -v- Limerick FC
- Macdara Ferris
- Fri, Jun 07 2013
SAINT PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
League leaders St. Pat’s will be looking for a win over Limerick on Saturday evening when the two sides clash at Richmond Park (kick-off 5pm). Pat’s boss Liam Buckley reckons his team is facing a difficult game against Stuart Taylor’s side, a team they beat 1-0 earlier in the season. “Stuart has a really good squad of players who have got some really good results to date, and they’re looking to climb the table,” said Buckley speaking to stpatsfc.com.
“We’d a really tough game in Thomond Park earlier in the season and to be honest, I’m expecting the same this weekend. They really pressed us and played good football that night. It was our hard work and good spirit that night that got us the win so we’ll have to repeat on Saturday. They’ll be a challenge for us, but it’s one we are really looking forward to.”
Unlike Limerick who will bring a depleted squad to Inchicore, Buckley can call on virtually a full strength squad with Shane McFaul available this week following his recent absence due to injury. The Saints’ only injury concern is John Russell who has an ankle injury that makes him a major doubt. He will undergo a fitness test ahead of the game. Since the Saints last played in the league, they progressed passed UCD 4-0 in the FAI Cup and eliminated Longford Town 2-0 from the Leinster Senior Cup.
Conor Kenna, the St. Pat’s captain, is looking for his team to keep up their excellent recent run of results. The Saints are seeking their 10th win from their last 15 league games and will be looking to keep up their great goalscoring form that has seen them bag 19 goals in their last six competitive matches.
“Limerick have some really good backing behind them at the moment, having brought in some good players from Scotland and England; so we know they’re a decent side,” the skipper told stpatsfc.com. “Brendan Clarke had to make some great saves down there the last time we played so we know they’ll be tough. But at the same time we know we’re capable of getting a result against anyone when we perform, so we’ll concentrate on ourselves and look to continue what we’ve been doing.”
LIMERICK FC
Limerick return to league action this weekend following their 3-0 win over Glenville in the FAI Cup last Saturday. Having held league champions Sligo Rovers to a 0-0 draw in their last Airtricity League game, they travel to Inchicore on Saturday to take on St. Pat’s who went top after Sligo could only get a draw in Thomond Park.
Stuart Taylor’s side is up against it as they take on the current league leaders especially as Limerick are missing a host of players for a myriad of reasons. There is one suspension (Alex Bossekota), six injuries (Shaun Kelly, Brian O’Callaghan, Pat Purcell, Robbie Williams, Steven McGann and Craig Curran) while four players (Shane Costelloe, Barry Sheedy, Darragh Rainsford and James McGrath) are not able to travel to Dublin as they are sitting their leaving certificate examinations! With all these absences, Patrick Nzuzi may be called into action even though he has only just returned from playing four games in eight days at the recent Toulon Tournament in France for DR Congo.
The Limerick boss has been impressed with the Saints so far this season and feels that they are “completely justified in their position at the top of the table. They go about their business really well, play a great brand of attacking football and they’ve gotten goals from all over the field. Added to this they’re very consistent at the back and concede very little. They’re the pace setters at the moment. I’m full of admiration for what Liam Buckley is doing at the club and that’s the level we have to aspire to”.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
MATCH STATS
It is 19 years since Limerick last came to Inchicore to play Pat’s in the league. The Saints won that game, played in January 1994, 1-0.
Pat’s come into the game unbeaten in 15 competitive matches dating back to the start of April when they lost 2-1 in the league home to Dundalk. In the league they have nine wins and three draws since that last defeat.
When the teams met in Thomond Park back in March this year, it was 1-0 victory for St. Pat’s. Killian Brennan’s penalty was the difference between the teams that night.
BETTING
St. Pat’s 8/15; Draw 13/5; Limerick 11/2.
PREDICTION
3-1 Home win.
Saint Patrick’s Athletic
Injured: None.
Doubtful: John Russell
Suspended: None.
Limerick FC
Injured: Shaun Kelly, Brian O’Callaghan, Pat Purcell, Robbie Williams, Steven McGann and Craig Curran.
Unavailable due to the Leaving Cert: Shane Costelloe, Barry Sheedy, Darragh Rainsford and James McGrath.
Doubtful: Patrick Nzuzi.
Suspended: Alex Bossekota.
About Macdara Ferris
Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl …