Two units of Limerick Fire Service fought the blaze at 11pm on Saturday night as club officials and local people watched on in dismay.

"It is a terrible pity for this to happen a soccer club because the club is being run by the community and it does a lot for the community," club treasurer, John Casey, said. "We don't have the resources to replace the cabin," he added.

The club caters for 250 young soccer players in Caherdavin, including nine schoolboy teams and it hosted matches at its pitch located beside the Greenhills Hotel.

No matches were scheduled to be played in Caherdavin on Sunday but two underage games were played on Saturday, hours before the blaze.

One of the cabins was a dressing room for players and had six electric showers.

The other held equipment including two sets of small goalposts, nets, training gear, grass seed, tables and chairs. "It was gutted by vandals and set alight," Mr Casey said. The loss of the small goalposts which were used by underage players means schedule home games will have to be played away.

"I'm not sure about the future fixture list but any scheduled underage matches will have to be played away from home," Mr Casey explained.

Cllr Kevin Kiely visited the club facilities early on Sunday morning to see the destruction for himself. The councillor, who is chairman of the Joint Policing Committee, was outraged by what he saw.

"I think it's a disgrace that a soccer club which is catering for youngsters in the area has been targeted and had property destroyed," he said. "A club like this has limited resources and they are at a complete loss because of what has happened," he said.

Gardai from Mayorstone are investigating the incident and anyone with information can contact them on 061 456980.