Limerick FC v Cork City, 5.15pm kick-off (RTE 2)
AFTER A 19-year absence, Limerick FC are back in the big leagues.
Last season’s First Division champions return to the top flight in the fixture of the weekend – a Munster derby with Cork City.
The newcomers have secured Thomond Park for the season and will be hoping to replicate some of the electric atmosphere which Munster rugby fans have created over the years.
Scot Stuart Taylor arrived during the close-season and has been keen to put his stamp on club as swiftly as possible.
He has signed six new players – Belgian striker Axel Bossekota, Congo DR native Patrick Nzuzi, Rochdale’s Craig Curran (on loan), Robbie Williams from Plymouth Argyle, former Ireland youth international Stephen Folan and ex-Manchester United schoolboy Danny Galbraith – and with the help of assistant Malky Thompson, has promised fans attacking football during his maiden voyage in Irish football.
Taylor told TheScore.ie: “There’s a lot of expectation but there’s nothing you can do about that. What you got to do is field a squad of players that is going to go and compete by giving everything they’ve got. It’s about putting a team on the park that supporters will be proud of.
We’re representing Limerick as a city and we’re hoping that they will be proud of us at the end of the season. The city has a fantastic spirit for sport It’s proven with Munster rugby and the GAA. I’m quite sure it will be the same for the football.
“I’m sure they’ll be up for it for the first game of the season. It’s up to us to go and put a display on that will make them come back and watch us in their droves.”
Listen to Chairman Pat O’Sullivan and a number of other Limerick employees preview the season in a Today FM feature:
And to get you in the mood, why not watch some footage of the last time Limerick won the league – back in 1980:
YouTube credit: retroloi
