League Preview: Cabinteely -v- Limerick

CABINTEELY

Cabinteely will be looking to copper-fasten their Playoff position when they host Limerick at Stradbrook on Friday evening (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Green and Whites will be pleased with how they have performed in recent weeks despite falling further behind top of the table Shelbourne.

Draws away to Shelbourne and Drogheda United have been strengthened by a solid home win over fellow promotion chasers Longford Town.

Cabo, in the midst of a record breaking eight-game unbeaten run welcome the Blues to Stradbrook who have never been beaten by the Green and Whites.

Speaking ahead of the game with his club’s media team, Pat Devlin admits that his side will not take their eye off the prize when they welcome Limerick to Dublin’s Southside.

“It’s going to be a very tough game. We haven’t beaten Limerick this year.

“We’re not going to underestimate them. They are good side. But we’re looking forward to the game.”

“At this stage of the season, any team is capable of beating another club. We take every game in our stride.

“We’re coming into the last furlong of the season so, we’re hopeful of a good result. We’re in good position. But there’s still work to do.”

Eoin Massey and Jack Watson both return from recent suspensions served while the defensive duo of Conor Keeley and Jack Hudson will also both miss out due to suspension.

Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters also misses out as he continues his recovery from a recent injury. 

LIMERICK

With hopes of a Playoff position all but evaporating last week following their defeat at home to Cobh Ramblers, Limerick will surely be looking to build towards next season when they make the trip to face Cabinteely at Stradbrook.

The Blues, who have been dogged by off-field problems throughout the season have seen themselves fall 11 points behind fourth, with only five games left to play.

Manager Tommy Barrett, when speaking to Sporting Limerick after his side’s 4-3 defeat at home to Cobh, admits that the club are arguably better off building for another year in the First Division.

“Are we really in a position to go up? Of course we want to do our best and get to a playoff, but we have to build it.

“All things being equal this year, if we had kept the same squad from the start of the season, which was probably lower mid table budget, a younger squad than Galway and maybe Cobh, I think we have done really well.

“Hopefully we can kick on from here next year if things are done right. Whether we have money or whether we don’t have money.

“As long as we have our structures right within the club and that we set the budget at the start. If it’s no budget, fine, for whoever is manager, the budget can’t be cut.

“We lost six or seven players again. The same as last year and they are very hard to replace during the season, especially when it’s your better players that you are losing. That’s not an excuse, it’s just the reality and they are the facts.

“It’s very difficult to keep going like that. You also have to have everything else right. You have to have professional players in this country. If you are going back to amateur, which we have done, it’s a step backwards.”

Limerick have not released any team news ahead of their trip to Stradbrook.

Referee: Garvin Taggart.

MATCH STATS

Limerick have never fallen to defeat against Cabinteely in any of their previous encounters, with the Blues winning all of their previous meetings against the South Dubliners.

Tommy Barrett’s side have lost four of their previous five games, with the win over Longford Town at the Markets Field being their only victory.

Cabinteely are unbeaten at home since May, where they fell to heavy defeat at home to Drogheda United. Since then, Pat Devlin’s side have beaten Longford, Bray Wanderers and Wexford.

BETTING

Cabinteely 4/7; Draw 13/5; Limerick 4/1.

PREDICTION

Cabinteely 2 - 0 Limerick

Cabinteely

Injured: Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Conor Keeley, Jack Hudson.

Limerick

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: None.