All-Limerick final the dream in FAI Junior Cup

THE chances of the first all-Limerick FAI Junior Cup final will decided this weekend when Carew Park and Pike Rvs make the journey to the Capital to take on Sheriff and Kilbarrack respectively.

The task facing the Limerick sides is a daunting one with the opposition making up the two best teams in the Dublin AUL.

Carew Park are first into action with a 2pm kick off on Saturday afternoon. Last weekend Carew Park had the perfect preparation when they hit Wembley Rvs for eight at Rathuard.

It was the League leaders best performance in a number of weeks and the return to action of Pat Boyle was an added bonus. Boyle has been superb this season and his absence over the last few weeks has hindered Carew’s creativity. Pat’s brother John has been equally important to Carew this season and this duo are crucial to Carew’s hopes.

Sheriff deservedly hold the tag as the best team in Dublin and are a class outfit. They are the current holders of the FAI Junior Cup and also lead the way in the AUL. However gone are the days when Limerick teams bowed to their Dublin brethren.

Thanks to Fairview’s success’ in the FAI Junior Cup, the fear factor of meeting Dublin teams has been largely diminished.

That said, Sheriff deserve the respect you would afford any of the top teams in the country.

On their day Carew can be a match for any side. They need to believe they are capable of turning over the home side and along with that will need some luck.

Led by captain Mark Keane, Carew have been averaging 3.7 goals per game this season and if they can keep the home side at bay you feel they will always score.

Pike Rvs are in action on Sunday when they meet the AUL’s second placed Kilbarrack with a 3pm kick off.

Pike go into the game in a different frame of mind than in previous seasons. Over the last few seasons Pike have been beating all before them with ease until they reach the latter stages of the bigger competitions but on Sunday they take the field on the back of a 4-1 hiding from Janesboro in the Lawson Cup last weekend.

Granted the Hoops were missing a number of key players but manager Declan Considine will be concerned with the manner of the defeat.

Others will say it could be a blessing in disguise and may put the Hoops on guard before Sunday’s tie.

Either way Pike will need a big improvement if they hope to make their second final in three years.

Injuries to John Tierney and Pat Mullins have hampered the Hoops preparations and if these two fail to make the field for Sunday they will need a few of their bigger names to lead by example.

As last season’s finalists Sheriff and Kilbarrack will be installed slight favourites at kick off, a fact that will not bother the Limerick sides.

Locally on Sunday the two remaining Lawson Cup Quarter finals are fixed with Hospital hosting Premier side Regional Utd and Moyross taking on Caherconlish for the one definite non Premier side in the last four.

Hospital have shown this season that they can mix it with the Premier sides and Sunday should be no different.

Regional Utd have been showing some good form of later and victory on Sunday will keep their season alive for another few weeks but they will be made earn their place in the last four.

In the Premier League Kilmallock need points in a hurry if they are to escape the drop and a home tie against a bang in form Geraldines will not be too appealing.