Limerick Soccer - FAI Junior goes centre stage again
Janesboro beat Ballynanty Rovers 1-0 in the FAI Junior Cup last Sunday
Pat Sheehan looks forward to the Limerick District involvement in the FAI Junior Cup this weekend where the standout fixture is between Janesboro and Ballynanty Rovers.
The FAI Junior Cup gets down to serious business on Sunday when the fourth round throws up some fascinating contests.
There are five of the six fourth round ties scheduled for Sunday morning with the winners of the respective ties qualifying for the open draw.
Highlight of the weekend is the clash of Janesboro and Ballynanty Rvs at Pearse Stadium.
Janesboro will be licking their wounds following a bad result going down 4-2 at home to Geraldines last weekend.
A number of things went against Boro last time out and their fans will be hoping they get a better run of luck this weekend.
Shane Clarke is still finding the net with regularity and leads the way in the scoring charts. Boro still have to figure out their best front two with Conor Lynch, Christy Doyle and now Declan Nash also in the mix. All four are proven goalscorers but the mix has to be right for the team’s sake.
On Sunday they face a Balla side who have already inflicted a 3-0 defeat on them earlier in the season.
With the League now virtually out of their minds, the FAI and MFA cups give Boro a goal and they could well have an extended run in both.
First up however are Balla and they have improved as a team this season with a number of young lads starting to get a foothold. Jason Hughes’ performances have deservedly seen him drafted into the Oscar Traynor side while Shane Guerin and Dara Hughes are also having a fine campaign to date.
Sunday’s game has all the ingredients of a classic cup tie and don’t be surprised if penalties are needed to separate the sides.
Another game that is sure to draw the crowds in Premier League leaders Carew Park against Moyross in Carew Park.
Moyross already have a Premier scalp to their credit when they defeated Geraldines 3-2 in the previous round of the competition.
The return from injury of Keith Colbert should be a help to Philip Power’s men but whether they can match a Carew Park side that is unbeaten to date remains to be seen.
No doubt it will be a colourful occasion and rest assured the fans will get their money’s worth.
Shannon Hibs travel to Div 1A side Mungret Regional hoping to continue in their good cup form.
Without a win to date in the Premier League, Hibs seem to be saving their best form for cup fare and they will fancy their chances on Sunday.
Mungret started their season poorly but recovered to put in a fine run. However two defeats in their last three games may have instilled a little doubt. This is another one too tight to call
Lisnagry are looking forward to the visit of Regional Utd to Castleconnell on Sunday morning. The Div 2B side are motoring along nicely and are prone to throw up a cup shock every couple of years.
With just one defeat to date albeit a 6-0 MFA loss to Janesboro, Lisnagry have been in good form.
Regional have thrown a couple of good results together and the return of a few of the old stages has given the side a more robust look.
The Premier side have the players to progress but must guard against any complacency or Paudie Byrnes &Co will punish them.
Summerville did not have a particularly happy time in the top flight last season and their experience of Premier opposition this season resulted in a 10-0 defeat to Pike Rvs. So the visit of Fairview Rgs to Portland Park might be treated with trepidation by the home side but I feel Summerville will relish another chance to prove that Pike game was an aberration.
The Munster Champions Cup is at semi final stage where Pike Rvs host St Michaels in a repeat of the 2011 FAI Final.
Both sides continue to dominate in their respective leagues so Sunday’s game should be a good barometer of how they are faring nationally.
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Weather for Limerick
Monday 20 May 2013
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