There is a huge gulf in class between Cork and Limerick (And Pats for that matter). Still nice to see players like Byrne still put on top class performancesQuote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
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There is a huge gulf in class between Cork and Limerick (And Pats for that matter). Still nice to see players like Byrne still put on top class performancesQuote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
I missed this match, was looking forward to seeing it on TV also, pity as it sounded a decent game. Congrats to Pats, decent achievement holding on to the trophy, and sounds like they were much stronger in the second half.
Great to hear the game was a sell out, but reality check needed when you hear comments from a Limerick fan talking about Europe next season, need to consolidate first guys, plus you might have two away trips to likes of Dundalk, Cork, Dublin etc to deal with. It's a big step up.
Yeah I thought it was a very good game ( even allowing for the fact that I would say that as we won)Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Lots of chances at both ends. Pats were fairly dominant in the second half, but Limerick were still in in right up to the third goal. Last two scores put a bit of a gloss on it and were arguably harsh on Limerick.
I'd be very wary about reading anything into the game as regards the semi final against Cork. They are obviously a different kettle of fish, and we haven't competed well against the top teams this year. Hoping against hope though. I'd love another day out at the Aviva. Pats v Derry again ? Has a symmetry to it - 2012-14-16. ?
In fairness the chairman of limerick in a interview before the game said limerick will be very active in the off season and on the hunt for quality players to help to club challenge top four that's why few posters mentioned it on here.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Also said be impossible to prize away players from the likes of dundalk cork would be very tough.
Don't disagree much with anyone here, a season playing the likes of Cabinteely four times doesn't do much when you're going up against top-table PD opposition. Very disappointing to see the fitness levels plummet after 70 or so minutes, if Limerick had stuck one of those two glaring chances away early in the second, you might have seen them turtle up and hold on, but everything just fell to pieces.
I'm in two minds on Russell. For sure, his primary job was accomplished this season, but I'd argue that anybody could have been brought in and managed this squad to a comfortable victory in this First Division. His son should have been hauled off at HT: I'm not one of those who has slagged him off constantly, and I can tell you it was rather pitiful watching him get caught out of position and for pace every two minutes. I was watching the manager after one of his son's mistakes, and he was looking at the ground and shuffling his feet like he didn't want to acknowledge what was happening. Seanie has no place in a PD-level team.
It sucks that we had another big crowd disaster, and I'm as wary as ever of what the return to the top flight will bring. Players like Lynch and Williams had great games last night, as did Hall, but others like Duggan, Greene and Mulhall just faded away so easily. It's still just basically what a lot of us have been saying all season: shore up the defence, get some regular games against the top-flight, and Limerick can be a solid mid-table outfit, at least. This season was atrophy for those players, a gap year in the history of the club.
As for the Europe talk, what strikes me is how Limerick are caught now in regards the more casual support, who've turned out in droves this season while we win nearly every game. They won't keep turning up as we consolidate somewhere between 9th and 6th next season. If they want to keep the crowds, they'll have to be up there. They'll either have to spend big to challenge for that, or accept being back where they were before 2015's muppet show.
Do Limerick even have a fitness coach? An assistant manager?
Martin Russell is frustrating. His team selection at times is baffling. Mainly due to how he will do whatever he can to start his little boy. It's wrong and you have to wonder if it bothers the other players. Then again what other managers are available? We've won a very poor first division. The two times we played a half decent premier team in pats we've been spanked. To the boys on about Europe. Slow down boys. Realistically unless we get some real top quality players. It will be 8-9th place again
Can we push on and start to challenge the top teams? Yes
Can we do it within one season? Not a bloody hope.
I also want to say, for someone who has been in the Market's Field maybe 6 times, the atmosphere the other night was really special, from both sets of fans, mostly. The smoke at the very beginning of the game was a bit dumb from the away stand, and it was amusing watching that one guy get tackled to the ground by the Garda after the equaliser, but it was good tempered.
That's it in a nutshell I think. Ran themselves into the ground to compete and then ran out of steam. I think we were almost too wound up for it, possibly playing at too high a pace for our own good, caused us to give possession away needlessly at times and definitely contributed to the lack of energy at the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Hall, Williams and Lynch were excellent for me. O'Conor and Duggan in the middle were both disappointing. Russell was quite poor (1-2 crosses aside and even allowing for Aaron Greene's lack of endeavour). Overall it was a positive day forward for the club. Plenty to be learned from it though.
Williams was decent for Limerick but he's put on an awful lot of weight since the play-off last year. Carrying at least two stone more than he should be.
Have to say it didn't really come across on tv. Before the goal there were large periods of silence. Thought last year was a better atmosphere. MF seems a bit too spread out.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter
Any highlights online?
Check the eirsport twitter feed. All the goals there. Will be on Soccer Republic too tonight (and online shortly after)Quote:
Originally Posted by pateen
I think in terms of Limerick fans nerves hit us at a few stages and it was tough to keep going with em but I don't think there were that many periods of silence tbhQuote:
Originally Posted by outspoken
He's always been that fat, a decent premier division player, that's it.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Highlights didn't include the Kenny header at 1-0 up, wtf?
I don't know about that, the man is increasingly inspired by BBCs Bake Off by the looks of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olander
Are you serious ? That's akin to missing out the bit about the iceberg when telling the story of Titanic.Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
I was saying after Pat's knocked Limerick out of the cup that it was probably a reality check. The league cup final has arguably backed that up. Limerick have improvements to make if they are to be challenging higher than 10th next season.
A lot seem to be saying its a reality check but pretty much every limerick fan I know knows we needed to improve the squad for next year. The team we have now is good enough to compete and stay up in the premier but that's about it. The team this season was built to get us promoted and it was done handy in the end. Now it's a case of improve the squad and push on or keep it the same and stand still.