SSE Airtricity Premier League. Thomond Park, Friday April 18th, 2014 Issue 3
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VERSUS ATHLONE TOWN
OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 2014
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Welcome to you all to tonight’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match, particularly our visitors from Athlone Town. We have similarities with Athlone in that they have just returned to the top flight after a long absence. Unfortunately, they have yet to register a point in the league but I’m sure that will turn soon – just hopefully not this evening! We put an excellent win on the board against Bohemians in Dublin last Friday and we will be looking to build on that now. Also last weekend, we made it through to the final of the Munster Senior Cup so hopefully we can put some silverware in the cabinet shortly. In that semi-final, a lot of our younger players featured and it was great to see 18-year-old Ross Mann score two goals to turn the tie around. Tonight, we are looking for our first win of the year at Thomond Park. Hopefully, we can get that and push on from here. Our opening match this year had an attendance of 1,307 people but we suffered a sizeable drop for the Drogheda United game, down to 855. That was hugely disappointing, particularly as it came on the back of the previous week’s televised game where we put in a very good performance
and earned an excellent point at the home of the reigning champions Saint Patrick’s Athletic. We are trying to build a club here but to do that we need your support. I hope to see a big crowd in for tonight’s game and I would plead with you to stick with us, bring your family and friends to games and really get behind us in this just our second season back in the Premier Division after 19 years in the wilderness. We are trying to do everything right off the pitch and we want to get this club back enjoying success on the pitch. With that note, I would like to extend sincere sympathies to the family and friends of both Seán Cusack and Joe Bourke, who recently passed away. It was with great sadness that we learned of Seán’s and Joe’s deaths. Seán was part of our 1953 Shield-winning team, which was our first major trophy in senior football, and he also represented the Republic of Ireland. Joe was a member of the 1971 FAI Cup-winning side. They are two big moments in our history. Away from first-team matters, recently our Under-16s won their league and our Special Olympics team won the Division Two Shield. They are great achievements for everybody involved and well done to all concerned.
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MANAGER’S NOTES Good evening and welcome to today’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match against Athlone Town. We welcome Mick Cooke, his players, backroom team, the officials and supporters of Athlone Town FC who have made the trip to Thomond Park. People will look at the league table but we know it’s going to be difficult for us tonight because Mick always has his teams well organised. They’ll be dogged and they’ll work hard. We’ve got to make sure that we get the ball down, pass it and work really hard again. It was a great win against Bohemians last weekend. To go to Dalymount Park and win shows the qualities and the characters that we’ve got. We’ve always said there are players out injured and we’ve been waiting for them to come back in. I think we showed our qualities, not just in terms of getting the ball down and moving it about, but we’re a lot more physical this season. But we need to keep it going. It’s fine and well to go there and get your result, but we need to realise how we got the result. It’s down to the basis of working hard and everybody fighting together for each other.
We’ve got a great squad here. We’ve got a very, very good dressing-room and that definitely saw us through in Dublin. I don’t think Bohs caused us any problems in the second half and we were comfortable in the game. It was our first win of the league season but there were never any panic stations here. We should have won the game the previous week against UCD. We got an offside goal which was clearly onside; I think there were four players keeping us onside. Those wee things weren’t going for us. We had players coming back from illnesses and injuries. There was never any panic. We’ve got a very good team. We’ve got a good squad of players. It was just a case of getting that rub of the green. I was absolutely over the moon with the win and delighted for the players. I think the character that we’ve got in the dressing-room, the will to win and the desire to go and win is second to none. It’s probably the best bunch of players that I’ve worked with and it’s probably the best dressing-room I’ve worked in as well. We’ll go and kick on from here. We got good news on all the injuries last week. We were
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delighted to have Samuel Oji back on board for the Bohs game. Big credit goes to him and Shaun Kelly because we didn’t think they had any possibility of playing. But they’re the same as everyone in the dressing-room – they want to go and play for the club and the jersey and they showed that. I thought they were superb.
outing for a couple of weeks; he trained once during the week and then played. You’ve got Rory’s finish and the work-rate he did defensively after his goal was second to none. It was great to have Craig Curran back; it was his first start of the season. We were absolutely delighted with the performance that he put in.
We always try to go and win games of football by passing the ball, moving it about and being pretty. I think we showed again another side of our qualities and our strengths by going and winning games ugly. I thought we battled away and we earned the three points. I was absolutely delighted for the players because it was a great performance and it was a fan-
Following on from that, it was great to see Michael Leahy get 90 minutes under his belt in the Munster Senior Cup against Rockmount in Cork last Sunday. That’s a huge boost for us. He had intended to only play 60 minutes but he felt good and with the injury to Colm Murphy towards the end we had to keep him on the park. He strolled through the game. There, I was dis-
“IT’S PROBABLY THE BEST BUNCH OF PLAYERS THAT I’VE WORKED WITH AND IT’S PROBABLY THE BEST DRESSING-ROOM I’VE WORKED IN AS WELL. WE’LL GO AND KICK ON FROM HERE” tastic goal by Rory Gaffney. The win had been coming for a while now. Against UCD, I thought the players were superb and we deserved the win there. We didn’t get it, with the offside goal that was never offside, but we showed a great mental strength by getting through both games with four points. I was over the moon with the players’ attitude and their will to win against Bohs – it was great. I thought the back five was superb. I thought they were solid, considering Sami had not done anything since the previous week – that was his first outing since UCD. It was probably Shaun’s second
appointed with our first-half performance but certainly in the second half we were by far the better team. Our fitness levels and sharpness showed and our quality came through in the end. James McGrath was captain for the game for a reason, because he’s got that leadership quality at a young age and he has done really well for the first team this season. It doesn’t matter what competition it is, it’s always nice to get into finals. But back to tonight and the league, hopefully we can get another three points. Your support will help us to achieve that goal, so get behind the team and make yourselves heard! Enjoy the game.
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SHANE TRACY VIEW FROM THE DRESSING-ROOM WITH HOMETOWN MIDFIELDER
Hello and welcome to tonight’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match against Athlone Town. We go into this game looking to make it two league wins in a row after a great result against Bohemians in Dublin last weekend. We were delighted with the three points at Dalymount Park. It was a great feeling after the game - you can’t beat that feeling after winning.
It was a great victory, especially away from home, but the most important thing now is to build on that. Last week was the first time that Craig Curran started a game this year. It had been hard for Rory Gaffney up until now playing up front on his own - it’s a hard job to do up there. He works his socks off all the time and I was delighted to see him get the winning goal last week - it was a great strike. With the two of them up there and boys pushing on, I think we’ll
Bohs had started the season well; Owen Heary has gone in there, he has them really organised, they’re a fit team, they’re “IT WAS A GREAT VICTORY, ESPECIALLY physical and they get about AWAY FROM HOME, BUT THE MOST you. That shows how good IMPORTANT THING NOW IS TO BUILD of a team we are as well to go there and get the three ON THAT” points. That first win had been coming. We have been getting players back as the weeks go by create a lot more chances and we’ll be a and we knew with that happening that bit of a bigger threat going forward in the we would strengthen. There was a great future. We have the second-best defensive buzz in the dressing-room afterwards and record in the league, so if we can continue hopefully we can push on from here. to be solid at the back then that should lay the base for us to push on in the coming I felt the win was deserved last week. We weeks. started sloppy in the first half but sometimes that happens, a bit of sluggishness. Looking at tonight, this will be a tough But in the second half we came out and game. Athlone have yet to pick up a point I thought we were the better team once but they weren’t far away in Derry last we got the goal. Of course, you’re going to week and they will get a result soon. We’ll take pressure from them coming towards approach the game as we do every other the end of the game, but I don’t think Barry one and hopefully get the three points. Ryan had any real saves to make. We were always going to protect our lead at 1-0 and Enjoy the match, not really go chasing the game. I thought Shane Tracy our back four were excellent throughout.
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FEATURE
UNDER-19 FEATURE: SEÁN MCSWEENEY
One of the most promising young players at the club, 16-year-old attacking midfielder Seán McSweeney has enjoyed his start to life at Limerick FC, with his U19 debut, an Ireland U17 appearance and a first-team call-up already landing at his door in his first season. In February, having impressed senior manager Stuart Taylor, he was made part of the 24-man squad that travelled to Bilbao for a four-day camp in North Spain, where he was given game-time in both of their friendly matches, against Athletic Bilbao B and Amorebieta. Indeed, he was the youngest member of the panel, with central defender Paudie O’Connor three months older than him. “I was very happy with the call-up to the first team for the Spain trip and thankful to Stuart to give me the opportunity too,” Seán told our official club programme. “I really enjoyed it. To see Athletic Bilbao’s training grounds and set-up was probably the best part for me – it was amazing. The whole trip was great. “In training, I felt a bit more is expected
from you than with the Under-19s. For example, you’re expected to be able to pass it long and short with loads of pace and accuracy too. It’s tough but training with the first-team players will bring you on a lot. In the games, I thought everything was just ten times faster and you have to work really hard on and especially off the ball. It’s also a lot more physical than the Under-19s.” Asked how he felt he had performed in the games, the youngster added: “Well, I got about 10-15 minutes in each game and it’s what I was expecting, really. Both teams we played were really good and they moved the ball really quick, but I was happy with my performances.” The Foynes native was previously at Shannonside FC in the Desmond Schoolboys League for around eight years between the ages of seven and 15. Reflecting on his time there, Seán said: “I was getting good training from Eunan McDaid and Ger Danaher the whole way up and I was with the Desmond team too so I got good training with Ger Costelloe and Kevin Clifford from
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FEATURE “IN THE GAMES IN SPAIN, I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS JUST TEN TIMES FASTER AND YOU HAVE TO WORK REALLY HARD ON AND ESPECIALLY OFF THE BALL” to pace. Now, most of the older lads have joined the first team so the intensity has dropped a little. But it’s up to us to get the tempo back to where it was. I definitely feel I’ve improved as a player since coming in. Tommy Barrett and Declan when he was with us brought me on loads. They’ve got me working a lot harder and obviously playing with better players helps a lot too.”
11 to 14. That gave me a good chance to progress. It was coming to the end of my second season in the Emerging Talent Regional Centre in Limerick and Declan Farmer invited me and a few others in for a six-week trial so I was delighted obviously with that. I was 15 at the time.” Due to the Under-19 League rules, McSweeney was unable to make his competitive debut at that level until he turned 16 in October, with his bow coming away to Mervue United in December. Asked if he has enjoyed his time here, he stated: “I’ve loved it so far! At the start I found the training very tough, we had all of the older boys with us then so the intensity was very high and it took me a while to get up
In late December, McSweeney featured for Tom Mohan’s Ireland U17s in a friendly against Dundalk U19s in Dublin. Looking back on that experience, Seán said: “I was delighted when I got the call. I didn’t see it coming at all really! It went well. I played the second half and got a good bit of the ball which is what I was hoping for.” And what about his hopes for the coming months? The Under-19 season is at an end but that doesn’t mean the work stops, with Tommy Barrett’s side still hard at it on the training field. “The Under-19 season is finished up now but we’re still training,” Seán said. “I’ll be doing a lot of gym work in the off-season because I definitely need to get stronger. The Munster Schools trials are coming up soon and I’m hoping to make that squad, and I guess I’ll just take it from there.”
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FEATURE FROM THE TREATMENT TABLE: WITH MARTIN COONEY Limerick FC’s Physical Therapist; Martin Cooney gives us an insight into some of the injuries that the club’s players have suffered from so far this season, while also giving an overview of the year to date.. Overview “We picked up quite a number of injuries in the off-season and leading into this season. It has been slow progress. Some of the injuries were a bit more complicated than your normal injury, as they did not come from impact with other players. The number of players injured has been going down week-by-week. With regard to pre-season, the weather played a big part in some of our injuries. Having unstable ground, changing of surfaces, colder and wetter weather and having to condense our training sessions due to heavy rain showers have all had an effect on how we prepared for the new season. Flexibility to the training programmes and thus player preparation for trainings had to be altered to accommodate for this. The colder and wetter weather will mean that the players may not have been fully warmed-up and ready for the more strenuous part of the training sessions. Having said all that with regard to the injuries, it’s a challenge for us. There have been one or two injuries where we had to do quite a bit of research and had to find out a bit more about these injuries. They wouldn’t be your normal everyday injuries, and while there has been slow progress with them, we’ve eventual-
ly got there. These players are now back playing and you can’t ask for more than that.” Craig Curran “Craig came back into pre-season with a couple of injuries. They have just persisted. We would get one area of the injury painfree and full mobility and then another area would tighten or stiffen up. A lot of the work that we’ve had to do with him has been stretching; deep tissue massage and then he had his own rehabilitation work. With some injuries, what a player does in his off-time and how he uses it can determine how he improves. A player may not be getting enough rest and can sometimes be trying too hard to get back to fitness. It’s a fine line for someone like Craig because he’s so dedicated to what he does; it’s very hard for him to just switch off. Thankfully, he’s back and he has got some game-time recently. I think he should really push on from here, and all going well, we won’t be seeing any more injuries with him.” Tony Whitehead: “Tony returned to full training recently. He had picked up a hamstring injury. He didn’t actually pull anything. It was probably just from fatigue and overuse. He has been playing for probably two or two-anda-half years non-stop. It’s very similar for Colm Murphy, who also had a hamstring injury. The rest will do them good in the long-term. Tony was out for maybe 10-12 days while getting treatment. He has come back stronger than what he was before the injury and played the full 90 minutes in last week’s Munster Senior Cup game
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FEATURE against Rockmount.” Shane Costelloe “Shane picked up a lower back injury against Longford Town. He felt some tightness and it has just persisted. As it’s around the lower back/pelvic region, there are a lot of things that can be causing his discomfort. We’re trying to loosen out the muscles in the area, with him resting and monitoring his own pain levels. It’s one of the more complicated injuries that I mentioned above. Hopefully, it will ease soon. But with lower back injuries, it can just take a bit longer. You have to let things really rest and settle down before the player can start pushing on again.” The Team Around You “I’ve been very lucky this year in that a couple of people have come in both for experience and to help out. Hugh Moran has come onboard and has been brilliant; he has been at most training sessions and
has both a massage and Strength & Conditioning background which is advantageous as he can both treat the injury and monitor the player’s rehabilitation. We also have Amanda Greensmith from the IMST and also former IMST student Sarah Dinneen. Sarah has come back again this year after being with us last year. Their experience and knowledge has been really helpful. Personally, I have my own back-up in Martin Flannery from MD Sports Plus. He covers my back and has been a huge support whenever I have queries regarding all types of injuries. He has been a huge help to me. We also have had the new additions of our Strength & Conditioning, Derek McCarthy and Alana Frattaroli. We now have a good team in the background to aid the manager and playing squad; what comes with that are different views of how to rehabilitate players, approach to injuries and how to prevent them. It’s a good backroom.”
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FEATURE OUT OF AFRICA “WHEN WE GOT HERE FIRST, HE SAID WHATEVER WE WANT, JUST GO AND SEE HIM. HE IS LIKE A FATHER TO US. SO FAR, IT HAS BEEN VERY GOOD”
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Ali was just 11 when he first joined the RtD Academy and he has praised them for helping him to develop as both a player and a person. “I joined Right to Dream when I was 11 and I was with them for eight years,” he explained. “I developed massively as a player over that time. When everyone joins Right to Dream, they think it’s all about football. But it’s actually about educating yourself and improving yourself as a person and on the pitch. All I am today is down to Right to Dream.” Abass has also enjoyed working under Stuart Taylor. “When we got here first, he said whatever we want, just go and see him. He is like a father to us. So far, it has been very good. He is always making sure that we’re enjoying ourselves.”
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Recently, we spoke to Ali, who turned 19 last month, and asked him how he has settled into life in Limerick. “So far, it has been very good,” he said. “Everyone here is very helpful – the coaches and the lads in the dressing-room. It’s a great opportunity for us over here. The feeling when you sign your first contract is great – you want to impress, you want to do your best, and everything follows through. When I first got the contract, I was very happy to come over, help the club, try to win games and to do well for the club. It’s very helpful having Prince over here. Back in Ghana, we shared a room together. When I need help on the pitch, I always ask him. It’s like having a family member with me here so it makes me feel more at home. If I think he can help, I just ask him. Training at the start was tough but I’m getting used to the style of football. There is good coaching from Eddie (Hickey), and Barry and Shane have
been very helpful to me. Barry is somebody I look up to. Sometimes during training, maybe he sees something that isn’t a good habit. He always says to me ‘this is not a good habit, you have to stop catching the ball this way, handle the ball better’ and stuff like that. He is always there to advise me so he has been really good for me.”
C M ER H A ND
Limerick FC recently welcomed two players to the club from the ‘Right to Dream’ Academy in Ghana, goalkeeper Ali Abass and midfielder Prince Agyemang. Prince has already made his first-team debut and waiting in the wings for his bow is Ali, who has stiff competition in the shape of Barry Ryan and Shane Cusack for the No1 spot.
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ACADEMY DEVELOPMENT THE FOCUS FOR UNDER-AGE COACHES
Limerick FC Academy coaches Craig Madigan and Colin Scanlan say they take a “fearless” approach to developing young players, with the pair currently managing the Superblues Under-12s team. Recently, both Craig and Colin spoke about how the season has gone to date, the importance of coaching young kids and their football philosophy. “The importance we feel here at Limerick is it’s not just about winning,” Madigan said. “We’re looking at developing players – can players go out and make their own decisions where coaches aren’t shouting and roaring at them. We’re looking to develop them and make them
the best that they possibly can be.” Scanlan added: “That’s probably the main goal. It’s not just about winning leagues this year or winning games. We tell the lads to forget about results. We have a plan in our heads that we try to teach to the lads. So every game they go into, if they’re playing a local team, a League of Ireland team in the future or even some English teams hopefully down the road somewhere – play the way we want them to play and we try to develop them as much as we can.” The club recently announced the purchase of a former convent in Bruff where they will develop a training complex for all of
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ACADEMY their teams. And speaking on the development, Craig said: “It’s good for Limerick FC to have a home, where the kids can go, they can develop and they can be altogether. It’s really important for Limerick progressing that they have somewhere that they can call their home and look for development for the future.” Scanlan added: “To have a base you can call your home and to be
nentially all the time. It’s massive and it’s going to get bigger and better as a club.”
Asked what their football philosophy is, Scanlan said: “It’s great to be part of a club and to have so much contact with the players per week since the summer. For us, we’re always trying to develop as coaches and we always try to come out of our own comfort zone in terms of “THE IMPORTANCE WE FEEL HERE AT finding new ways to coach or trying LIMERICK IS IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT new ideas. I think WINNING. WE’RE LOOKING AT DEVEL- that’s important, especially for two OPING PLAYERS” coaches like ourselves – we’re fearable to run everything from one place un- less in terms of that. But more importantly der one hub brings everything together. It for the players, we try to make them betmakes it a lot easier for lads coming in at ter – not just better footballers but bet9, 10 or 11 and they can see the progres- ter people all-in-all. We try to teach them sion all the way up in the same place. They some life skills – how they are not only on can train two or three times a week, with the pitch but off the pitch. We have players the Under-19s and first team all training from many areas in Limerick and outside there. It makes it a lot more professional, of Limerick as well coming to the club.” it makes it easier for lads to see progression all the way up through the club. It will Craig added: “Our philosophy is we’re almake it a better club as a whole.” ways trying to play out from the back and keep the ball on the floor. It took us a Scanlan is a former Limerick player and while; at the start, we made a lot of mishe noted the vast change between those takes. Players were just getting used to days and the current state of the club. “It how we played and how our tactics were. has changed massively,” he said. “We were We play 4-3-3 and play out from the back. playing out of Jackman Park and to now It takes some time to develop and progbe playing out of Thomond Park is incred- ress the kids that they’re confident and ible for anybody involved with Limerick they actually have the ability to receive FC. It’s great to have the facilities in LIT as the ball, your centre-backs and your cenwell. Since we’ve come in, we’ve been on tral midfielders to drop in and receive the the pitches outside and now we’re on the ball. It did take time but when you work AstroTurf. In five or six years’ time, these hard and believe in the kids then they get players could be up playing in Thomond it and they believe in what you want to do. Park next to us or in the Markets Field They progress from that as well.” when it’s finished. It’s a massive change in terms of the development of the Acad- Craig and Colin spoke to LFCTV recently; emy. And then obviously the systems and check it out on our YouTube Channel: operations of the club are growing expo- youtube.com/user/OfficialLimerickFC
PROUDLY SPONSOR SHAUN KELLY TO SPONSOR A PLAYER CONTACT: JOHN O’SULLIVAN TODAY! FOR DETAILS EMAIL johnos@limerickfc.ie OR CALL 085 80 161 05
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THE BIG INTERVIEW: WITH JASON HUGHES “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”. The motto that Jason Hughes lives by. The local midfielder has reignited his League of Ireland career over the past nine months having stepped back up from junior football and this season he has nailed down a regular place in Stuart Taylor’s side. Hughes was with Limerick for two years between 2008 and 2010, with two separate spells after that coming at tonight’s opponents Athlone Town. It was during his first stint with the Midlanders that he fell out of love with senior football, with a trip to Derry City in September 2010 seeing him reach breaking point. Janesboro followed, and after a year back at Athlone, came Ballynanty Rovers. Jason takes up the story. “You have to make sacrifices playing League of Ireland football,” the 23-year-old told our official club programme. “I think
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there was too much travelling for me, because I had been doing it since a young age. Then with Athlone, I had to drive up to training myself. I think what really tipped me over the edge was we played Derry up there so I drove from Limerick to Athlone, got on the bus to Derry, played a match, got back to Athlone and then had to drive home by myself at all hours of the morning. I was wrecked and I think that was it. That was near the end of the season. I felt like I needed a break from League of Ireland. Physically, I was drained and I was sick of travelling. I needed a break. “But it’s great to be back now. I had only ever played First Division football so last year when Stuart gave me my chance to play top-flight football was great. I jumped at the chance. This season, I’m hoping to play as many games as I can and push on.” Hughes was on trial with Limerick along-
side a number of other junior players last summer. Asked how he had felt approaching that trial, he said: “Being honest, I didn’t think Stuart would want to sign me. When you’re coming from junior football into Premier League
happy to come back and play for Limerick. Last year, it was new to me. I remember playing in my first game against Cork, walking out and looking up and thinking ‘am I really playing in Thomond Park?’. The club is pushing on,
Asked if he felt his level of commitment is the reason he’s successful ahead of other junior players, Jay added: “I’ve always been committed. There are lads playing junior football in Limerick at the moment, I know a lot of them personally and I think they could have made the step“I DIDN’T THINK STUART WOULD SIGN up. But their commitment and attitude isn’t right. I’m not trying ANYONE. THAT WAS JUST MY OPINION. I to knock anyone – that’s just my THOUGHT THE STEP-UP WOULD BE TOO own personal opinion. You can’t go out drinking or on nights out HIGH” – HUGHES ON LAST SUMMER’S TRIAL before games. You can’t drink even a few days before games of Ireland football, that step-up they’re doing a lot off the pitch, because you won’t get away with is huge, even though you have and to be involved in this setup it – you’ll be found out. You can’t played at quite a high level with is unreal. In that first game, I was be late for training and you have international teams and been on warming up and very anxious to to eat the right food. You have to trials in the UK. I didn’t think Stu- come on. When Stuart called me be committed. I think other lads art would sign anyone. That was over to come on, I won’t lie – it are happy just to play every week just my opinion. I thought the was Goosebumps. The hairs on and be able to go for a few pints step-up would be too high. There my neck were standing up. I was on Sunday. They have the talent were some really good players nervous but at the same time try- but there’s a saying ‘hard work there as well. When I was offered ing to keep a cool head. It really is beats talent when talent doesn’t a contract, I was only more than great to be back.” work hard’, and I think they’ve
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missed out. It means an awful lot to me to play for Limerick. I work in Lifestyle in Childers Road and there are young kids coming in saying ‘oh you’re in FIFA, Mam he plays for Limerick’. That’s obviously great. Who’s not going to like that? It’s cute when kids come up and say that. Playing for your hometown in Thomond Park, the best stadium around, is unbelievable. I know a lot of the fans personally too. I have to give Darren Noonan and Aaron Looney a shout-out. They go to every game. There are loads more; I’d be here all day naming them. They make a lot of effort and go out of their way to support us.” Last September, Hughes netted his first top-flight goal with the opener in the win over Shamrock Rovers. “It was like a blur to me, to be honest,” he recalled. “I felt the game went so fast. Maybe it was because I scored and I had headloss. We call Patrick Nzuzi ‘El Toro Loco’, it means the Mad Bull. He’s crazy. I bring Patrick training. We said if I score then we’ll do a dance because we’re always messing. I remember scoring and I didn’t know what to do, I turned around and saw Patrick and started dancing. There’s a picture of the two of us dancing. It was great. I only remember bits of the game. After the game, when you win, the feeling is great, but when you score and win it’s pretty special. It was my first Premier Division goal so it meant a lot to me.” Hughes also has plenty of praise for Chairman Pat O’Sullivan who secured the club’s future when coming onboard in 2009. “I remember Jack McCarthy left and there was a time when I didn’t know if there was going to be a Limerick FC,” Jason said. “Pat O’Sullivan came in and everyone knows what he has done for Limerick FC. I don’t need to go on about it because it shows in volume what he has done for the club. Pat is great. Without Pat, I don’t think there would be a club
“I DON’T NEED TO GO ON ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT SHOWS IN VOLUME WHAT PAT HAS DONE FOR THE CLUB. WITHOUT PAT, I DON’T THINK THERE WOULD BE A CLUB HERE TODAY. I APPRECIATE WHAT PAT HAS DONE”
here today. I appreciate what Pat has done. As a kid, I supported Limerick and used to go to Hogan Park. I used to ask my Dad for pocket money every week to buy a ticket. Me and my Dad used to have a thing where if I scored so many goals I could have money for the match. My Dad’s mad; he’s like one of the boys. I used to go out and try to score, and to be fair when I was a kid, I used to score a lot. My Dad has cut-outs from papers and he has collages of headlines and that. I used to look up to Robbie Kelleher and then I got to eventually play with him which was cool.” Asked how big a help his father has been to him in his career, Jay added: “My Dad has been a massive influence on me. It’s funny how you look back on
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things, but when I was younger, I used to sit up way late with Dad watching football when everyone else would be in bed. My Dad went to every single one of my games when I was a child. He’d give me a lot of advice. Both of my parents have been great. My Mam used to play football as well. My Dad has a DVD or two of him playing in central midfield so I think I was always destined to be a central midfielder. My Dad played in a final at Jackman Park which was the first played under lights and they won the cup. The commentator says ‘Eamon Hughes, the Little Tiger, what a tiger’. That’s what they used to call my Dad. He has been a massive influence on me in my life.” On his positional change from striker to midfielder, Jason said:
“I find you see an awful lot more of the ball. Everyone thinks I have ADHD because I’m so hyper. I’ve never been diagnosed but I’m always happy. I wake up and I’m buzzing, in training all the lads might be tired but I’m still hopping off the walls! I think you need to be like that if you’re playing central midfield because you need to be hyper and energetic. I think it suits me down to the ground. As a kid when I was playing centre-forward, I’d always drop deep to get the ball anyway. Playing central midfield, you’re always involved in the action a lot more.” Hughes is a native of Southill but moved to Garryowen aged ten, before moving again to Rhebogue at 14. At ten, he signed for local club Geraldines but he revealed
that he was close to signing for a different side. He explained: “I started playing football with my mates when I was five or six, but it was ten when I signed for my first club. It’s a funny enough story because my Dad was telling me to sign for Fairview Rangers. I went up to a house to sign a form to join them because he said they were a decent club, but when I went to the guy’s house he wasn’t there. I lived in Garryowen and I found out that Geraldines were training so I just turned up there. I did well and signed for them that night. I stayed there until I was about 16. Then I went to Hull on trial and when I came home I found out that Geraldines were knocked out of the FAI Cup in the first round. I had won every league and cup up through the years; I had played two or three years older than me the whole time. I thought it was time for a change and I went to Lourdes Celtic in Dublin for a season. I thought I did well there. I had played with Crumlin in a tournament or two including the Milk Cup. We got to the final; I played with Richie Towell and Andy Boyle who are with Dundalk. Conor Clifford was there too. They had the best team in the country. They wanted me to sign for them but one of my mates signed for Lourdes so
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I decided to go there as well. It was good up there; the standard of coaching was very good. From there, I came home and signed for Limerick when I was 17.” Among the clubs he was on trial with, Hughes counts Hull City, Plymouth Argyle, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Swansea City and Birmingham City, and it was the latter where he almost sealed a deal in 2009. “Many people probably won’t believe me but I was actually on trial at Birmingham for the first team,” Jason smiled. “It was crazy. I was playing with Limerick at the time and doing well. I got a phonecall off this guy. I don’t know how he got my number. I was chatting to him and I thought it was a hoax and that he was messing. I was so used to just being a number when going on trial because there are so many that go over every week. But it was different this time because when I went to the airport I got picked up in a big fancy car and I was like ‘hold on, what’s happening here!’. I was only 17. Séamus Coleman was on trial at Birmingham as well. I was chatting to him and Keith Fahey. Myself and Séamus played for the reserves the following day; he was right-back and I was rightwing. We both did really well. The Gaffer at the time was Alex McLeish. I was talking to him after the game, and then the guy who had phoned me first called me again and said there’s a 90 percent chance you’re going to sign. It was just so rushed. I flew back there at 6.30am from Dublin and I got there and played a game. For three days straight, I didn’t train. My legs were dead. I was completely drained and physically wrecked. In the reserves match, I didn’t do myself any justice at all. I was poor in that game just because of tiredness. I couldn’t run. The guy said ‘we’ll keep an eye on you’. That was it.” The full version of this interview with Jason will appear on LimerickFC.ie in the coming weeks!
SQUADS ATHLONE TOWN
MICK COOKE MANAGER
STUART TAYLOR MANAGER SHANE CUSACK SHAUN KELLY ROBBIE WILLIAMS RETIRED STEPHEN FOLAN DANNY GALBRAITH © SHANE DUGGAN RORY GAFFNEY (vc) CRAIG CURRAN SHANE TRACY PATRICK NZUZI BARRY RYAN MICHAEL LEAHY PRINCE AGYEMANG SHANE COSTELLOE TAM MCMANUS BARRY SHEEDY DARRAGH RAINSFORD VAL FEENEY JAMES MCGRATH COLM MURPHY SAMUEL OJI TONY WHITEHEAD KIERAN HANLON SEÁN MCSWEENEY JASON HUGHES ROSS MANN NATHAN MURRAY SHANE WALSH PAUDIE O’CONNOR ALI ABASS
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 23 24
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PAUL SKINNER (GK) CONOR MCMAHON SEÁN BYRNE DEREK PRENDERGAST AIDAN COLLINS © ALAN BYRNE KEALAN DILLON MARK HUGHES PHILIP GORMAN SEÁN BRENNAN IAN SWEENEY NEIL HARNEY BARRY CLANCY GRAHAM RUSK JAMES O’BRIEN DAVID BROOKES DECLAN BRENNAN CRAIG SEXTON (GK) JASON MARKS STEPHEN QUIGLEY
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10 TAKE TEN: JAMES McGRATH Short Bio: James McGrath (born: 9 February 1995) is a 19-year-old midfielder who is now in his third season as part of the first-team squad at Limerick FC. James was previously at Nenagh AFC where he became North Tipperary’s first Schoolboy International, captaining Ireland in the annual Under-15 Tri-Nation Tournament. In September 2012, McGrath penned a professional deal with Limerick, who played Nenagh in a friendly as part of the agreement. Shortly after, James clinched a First Division winners’ medal and last month he scored his first top-flight goal with the equaliser against reigning champions Saint Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park.
1) What do you eat for breakfast? Poached eggs and toast
it? A pug called Sneezy
2) What was your favourite cartoon as a child? The Simpsons 3) When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up (apart from a footballer!)? A Fireman 4) If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Teleportation 5) Which one of your teammates spends the most time in front of the mirror? Jason Hughes!! 6) If you could have any pet in the world what would it be and what would you call
7) Which one of your teammates would you least like to be stuck in a lift with? Darragh Rainsford – never stops letting off gas! 8) If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to play you? Jonah Hill for sure! 9) If you had to do karaoke, what one song would you sing? You’ll Never Walk Alone 10) If you could have dinner with three people – real or fictional – who would you invite? Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart and Jonah Hill – funny dinner that!
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PROFILES SHANE CUSACK
SHAUN KELLY
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
STEPHEN FOLAN
DARRAGH RAINSFORD
VAL FEENEY
JAMES MCGRATH
COLM MURPHY
Born: 9 March 1989 / Ireland
Born: 2 October 1984 / Eng-
Born: 14 January 1992 / Ire-
Born: 24 June 1992 / Ireland
Ex-Clubs:
land. Ex-Clubs: Huddersfield
land. Ex-Clubs: Mervue United,
Born: 15 November 1994 /
Born: 12 January 1996 /
Born: 9 February 1995 /
Born: 28 October 1995 /
Ex-Clubs: Newmarket Celtic,
Hearts, Dundalk, Galway
Town, Stockport County,
Galway Hibernians, Salthill
Ireland.
Ireland. Ex-Clubs: Birr Town,
Ireland.
Ireland.
Colchester United
United
Rochdale, Plymouth Argyle
Devon, Newcastle United
Ex-Clubs: Fairview Rangers
Athlone Town
Ex-Clubs: Nenagh
Ex-Clubs: Castleisland
St.
Catherine’s,
1
2
DANNY GALBRAITH
3
SHANE DUGGAN
5
RORY GAFFNEY
Born: 11 March 1989 / Ireland
20
CRAIG CURRAN
SAMUEL OJI
Born: 23 August 1989 /
Born: 9 October 1985 /
Born: 19 August 1990 /
Ex-Clubs: Fairview Rangers,
Born: 23 October 1989 /
England. Ex-Clubs: Tranmere
England.
Scotland. Ex-Clubs: Hearts,
Plymouth Argyle, UCD, Cork
Ireland
Rovers, Carlisle United, More-
Orient,
Manchester United, Hibernian
City
Ex-Clubs: Mervue United
cambe, Rochdale, Chester
Ljungskile SK, Tamworth
7
8
SHANE TRACY
9
PATRICK NZUZI
Ex-Clubs: Hereford
22
TONY WHITEHEAD
GARBHAN COUGHLAN
KIERAN HANLON
Born: 24 January 1993 /
Born: 11 April 1995 /
Born: 22 December 1995 /
Ireland.
Ireland.
United,
Ireland.
Ex-Clubs: Mungret Regional,
Ex-Clubs: Hyde Rangers, Pike
Ex-Clubs: Charleville
Ballincollig, Athlone Town
Rovers
24
MICHAEL LEAHY
23
Leyton
10
BARRY RYAN
21
25 JASON HUGHES
SEAN McSWEENEY
Born: 29 August 1978 / Ireland
26
27
ROSS MANN
SHANE WALSH
Born: 9 April 1991 / Ireland
Born: 14 September 1988 /
Born: 24 October 1992 /
Ex-Clubs: UCD, Shamrock Rov-
Born: 30 April 1989 /
Born: 8 October 1997 /
Ex-Clubs: Geraldines, Lourdes
Born: 9 January 1996 /
Born: 6 October 1996 /
Ireland. Ex-Clubs: Wembley
DR Congo. Ex-Clubs: Wallsend
ers, Dublin City, Saint Patrick’s
Ireland
Ireland.
Celtic, Athlone Town, Janes-
Ireland.
Ireland.
Rovers, Arsenal, Galway United
Boys Club, Newcastle United
Athletic, Galway United
Ex-Clubs: Belvedere, UCD
Ex-Clubs: Shannonside
boro, Ballynanty Rovers
Ex-Clubs: Kilcornan
Ex-Clubs: Pike Rovers
11
12
14
PRINCE AGYEMANG
SHANE COSTELLOE
TAM MCMANUS
15
28
BARRY SHEEDY
29
PAUDIE O’CONNOR
ALI ABASS
30 STUART TAYLOR
Born: 28 February 1981 /
32 ANTHONY FENNELLY
Born: 26 November 1974 /
Born: 12 August 1978 / Ire-
Born: 25 December 1994 /
Born: 3 August 1995 /
Scotland. Ex-Clubs: Colorado
Born: 1 January 1994 /
Born: 14 July 1997 /
Born: 22 March 1995 / Ghana
Scotland. Ex-Clubs As Player:
land. Ex-Clubs As Player: Dun-
Ghana. Ex-Clubs: Right to
Ireland
Rapids, Derry City, Ayr United,
Ireland
Ireland.
Ex-Clubs: Right to Dream
Ross County, Airdrie United,
dalk, Athlone Town,
Dream Academy
Ex-Clubs: Kilcornan
Rochester Rhinos
Ex-Clubs: Kilmallock United
Ex-Clubs: Regional United
Academy
Hamilton Academical
Kilkenny City, Longford Town
16
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18
19
33
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m
c
FIXTURES AIRTRICITY LEAGUE DATE
FIXTURE
RESULT
1
Fri 7th March 7.45
Limerick FC - v - Bray Wanderers
0-0
2
Fri 14th March 7.45
Dundalk - v - Limerick FC
2-1
3
Sat 22nd March 3.15
St. Patrick’s Athletic - v - Limerick FC
1-1
4
Fri 28th March 7.45
Limerick FC - v - Drogheda Utd
0-1
5
Fri 4th April 7.45
U.C.D - v - Limerick FC
1-1
6
Fri 11th April 7.45
Bohemians - v - Limerick FC
0-1
7
Fri 18th April 7.45
Limerick FC - v - Athlone Town
8
Mon 21st April 7.45
Derry City - v - Limerick FC
9
Fri 25th April 7.45
Limerick FC - v - Sligo Rovers
10
Fri 2nd May 8.00
Shamrock Rovers - v - Limerick FC
11
Fri 9th May 7.45
Bray Wanderers - v - Limerick FC
12
Fri 16th May 7.45
Limerick FC - v - Dundalk
13
Tues 20th May 7.45
Limerick FC - v - Cork City (rescheduled)
14
Fri 23rd May 7.45
Limerick FC - v - St. Patrick’s Athletic
15
Fri 30th May 7.45
Drogheda Utd - v - Limerick FC
full fixtures @ limerickfc.ie
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MEMORIES LIMERICK FC SADDENED BY PASSING OF CUSACK & BOURKE KEY FIGURES IN 1953 SHIELD & 1971 FAI CUP SUCCESSES SADLY PASS AWAY Limerick Football Club were left saddened recently after the passing of two of our former players, Seán Cusack and Joe Bourke. Both were key figures in two of the club’s most important successes, Seán being part of our first national trophy success through the Shield in 1953 while Joe was a member of our very first FAI Cup triumph in 1971. Cusack played with Limerick in the 1940s and 50s. A native of Thomondgate, he was part of the Shannonsiders’ first ever national title success when he scored the crucial first goal from the penalty spot in their 3-2 win over Dundalk at Oriel Park in the Shield in November 1953. That moment came a year after he had been capped by the national team in a friendly against France which ended 1-1 at Dalymount Park in Dublin. A one-club man, Cusack played his entire senior career with his hometown team, during which time
he represented the League of Ireland on four occasions. As well as the Shield, that was an era which saw Limerick collect two Munster Senior Cup titles. The Shield success came against Dundalk as Limerick secured their first major trophy after 17 years in the League, under manager Willie Keane. In the game, the Munster men trailed 2-0 with 25 minutes remaining but Cusack’s penalty reduced the deficit, and in an amazing recovery, within three minutes, Limerick led 3-2 thanks to goals from Georgie Lynam and Paddy ‘Beaver’ Cronin. That was a lead that they held onto and it saw them claim the Shield championship by a single point from Drumcondra and Shamrock Rovers. A year earlier, Cusack was among three Limerick-born players to feature against France, alongside Bud Aherne of Luton Town and Johnny Gavin of Norwich City. The Limerick Leader report of the game noted: “Seán Cusack
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JOE IS THE SIXTH MEMBER OF THE 1971 CUP-WINNING SQUAD TO PASS AWAY, AFTER RITCHIE HALL, ANDY MCEVOY, PADDY SHORTT, TONY MEANEY AND JOE O’MAHONY, ALONG WITH MANAGER EWAN FENTON. - 36 -
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John on 085 8501000 Graham on 087 2432738
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Several other select second-hand cars in stock to clear at bargain prices including:
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Limerick FC sends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Seán and Joe. May they rest in peace.
Contact: John on 087 2617095
Bourke was the right-back in the 1971 Cup success, which came after a replay against Drogheda to secure the club’s first ever FAI Cup. After a scoreless first game against the
Boynesiders, Limerick eased to a 3-0 win in the replay, with Hughie Hamilton netting two goals after coming on as a substitute. But as the Limerick Leader report noted: “It was no one-man show.” Unfortunately for Bourke, he was forced off with injury at half-time. Six minutes into the second half, Davie Barrett fired Limerick on the road to success, with Hamilton ensuring the Cup travelled back to the Treaty City with two late goals. Joe is the sixth member of the squad to pass away, after Ritchie Hall, Andy McEvoy, Paddy Shortt, Tony Meaney and Joe O’Mahony – who the club’s No4 jersey was retired in honour of in January – along with manager Ewan Fenton. Joe was also a keen rugby player and played as out-half for St. Munchin’s College in 1968 when they won the Cup for the first time. He then joined Bohemian RFC and wore the No10 shirt for close on ten years, being top scorer in the Munster League for most of that period. The three goals from the 1971 FAI Cup final can be viewed on YouTube.
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It added: “He actually started the movement that brought Ireland’s goal. He took the ball in his stride in defence. He next flicked it to Ryan, who continued a movement that ended in Johnny Gavin securing a corner kick. Following the clearance of the corner kick taken by Gavin, the ball went to Fitzsimons. He in turn dispatched it back to Gavin whose perfect centre reached the head of centre-forward Fallon. The Celtic man nodded the ball goalwards and it was helped on its flight by Jonquet’s mis-kick. It must be remembered that Cusack was faced against the most brilliant footballer on the field. He was (Joseph) Ujlaki, a wizard in slipping a tackle and having a graceful swerve that was difficult to combat.”
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“IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT CUSACK WAS FACED AGAINST THE MOST BRILLIANT FOOTBALLER ON THE FIELD. HE WAS (JOSEPH) UJLAKI, A WIZARD IN SLIPPING A TACKLE AND HAVING A GRACEFUL SWERVE THAT WAS DIFFICULT TO COMBAT”
y un ed, H 2 201 lly load roof, fu amic iles r o n m pa incl 19,000 Only
started as if in a nervous tension. He just could not adapt himself to the swing of things for most of the first half. Having regained his old confidence he stepped up considerably in the second half and did so in a way that suggested his selection as the only League of Ireland player was justified.”
F O R CA EEK , 5 W THE dai IX3
MEMORIES
GARY SPAIN RIP SEÁN CUSACK Gary Spain remembers Limerick’s one-time Irish International
Powering Live Football
We lost another great recently. Seán Cu- oval ball as he won six Junior Cups with sack was an integral part of the team that Thomond. He was also an accomplished brought the first national trophy to Shan- footballer, winning the Munster Junior Cup nonside. Indeed, he scored the penalty in with Ballynanty and being capped at JuOriel Park that began the fightback from nior level alongside Tony Morris against 2-0 down with 25 minutes remaining. Scotland. Georgie Lynam and Paddy ‘Beaver’ Cronin Seán will be sadly missed. We were his completed the comeback. Hundreds made only senior club and he served us with disthe trip on special trains and for many, including my father, it was the first time ‘SEÁN WILL BE SADLY MISSED. WE they had ever left LimerWERE HIS ONLY SENIOR CLUB AND HE ick. Thousands more met SERVED US WITH DISTINCTION SPANthe train late on the Sunday night as the St. Mary’s NING THE LATE 1940s AND 50s’ Fife & Drum band played a selection of music as the heroes were carried shoulder high upon tinction spanning the late 1940s and 50s. returning home. He was capped for the Republic of Ireland It wasn’t even the only 3-2 win of the cam- against France in November 1952. He was paign or even the only comeback from 2-0 also selected on four occasions for the down or even the only special train. Both League of Ireland. His debut in April 1951 Cork clubs were on the wrong end of 3-2 saw him face the might of the English scorelines. A last-minute winner by Tom League. Seán played at left-half beside O’Loughlin against Evergreen opened the Cork Athletic’s Florrie Burke and WaterShield campaign in the Markets Field. The ford-born Paddy Coad of Shamrock Rovers. trip to Cork on 4 October to face mighty His direct opponent was Middlesbrough Cork Athletic in the Mardyke captured the legend Wilf Mannion and just outside him imagination of the football public and a was Tom Finney, who also sadly recently special train had to be laid on. The FAI departed this world. Paddy and his brothCup holders had beaten Limerick in the er Dave Noonan from Cork Athletic were semi-final en-route to winning the trophy the full-backs in an all-Munster back five. less than six months earlier. The hundreds Tim ‘Togsie’ Cunneen at inside-right was of visiting fans feared the worst when the our other player on the team. The English hosts led 2-0 at the break. Mick Hayes League, who also contained the likes of Alf pulled one back before a brace from Cro- Ramsey and Billy Wright, won 1-0. I hope nin secured a famous win. Seán and Tom are upstairs looking down Seán’s son, Declan graced the Thomond on all of us. Park turf on many occasions albeit with the RIP Seán.
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#lovelivefootball -39 -
FEATURE
SPORTS SCIENCE: FOCUS ON ALANA FRATTAROLI
LIMERICK FC SPECIAL OLYMPICS SEAL DIVISION TWO SHIELD Limerick FC’s Special Olympics side sealed the Division Two Shield on Saturday 5 April when they overcame title rivals Cork City on a 3-1 scoreline at UL. In their penultimate game of the Shield last month, Limerick had travelled to Bray Lakers for a tough away fixture. There, they started with a high tempo and had a number of early chances to take the lead. The breakthrough eventually came just before the break when Mick Neville struck from close range. The Superblues doubled their lead early in the second half with another Neville goal, and then Brian O’Neill added a third with a wonderful solo run from the halfway line. Neville completed his hat-trick when making it 4-0 with a powerful shot from the edge of the box, as Limerick set up a ‘winner takes all’ decider with Cork. Against Cork, both teams had early opportunities in an open and free-flowing encounter, with the visitors having a number of strikes on home ‘keeper Joe Ryan. But as the half wore on, the central midfield partnership of Brian Purcell and O’Neill began to exert a level of control on the game. And the deadlock was broken soon after when Neville again was on target from close in.
That joy, however, was short-lived as Neville soon received his marching orders following an altercation with one of the Cork players. Cork took advantage of their extra man and began to create some chances, but Limerick held firm until half-time to keep their 1-0 lead intact. Following some tactical changes at the break, Limerick emerged for the second half with a renewed sense of purpose and made it 2-0 following a wonderful run and cross from O’Neill, with Paul Hollywood applying the finish. Despite having ten men, Limerick were playing the much better football and JP Clohessy and Mark Tyrell were providing a solid base at the back. O’Neill then polished off a great performance with a goal of his own to make it 3-0 to Limerick. Cork scored a late consolation when Brian O’Sullivan diverted the ball into his own net under pressure from the Cork forwards. But Limerick had their job done by that stage and they were crowned Division Two Shield winners for 2014. Everyone at the club send their congratulations to the whole management team and playing squad on a great success!
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Alana Frattaroli is a new face around Limerick FC this year and is currently assisting our former striker Derek McCarthy in the Sports Science department at the club. Recently, we spoke to Alana about her role at the club and how it came about. “I’m currently in third year Sport and Exercise Science in UL,” she explained to our official club programme. “As a requirement of this year’s curriculum we have to take part in Cooperative Education and I was lucky enough to get a place with Limerick FC. My role with the club is assistant sport and exercise scientist. The main aims of the role are to monitor players’ physiological performance through the use of heart-rate monitors, general monitoring of players’ performance and strength and conditioning training sessions which involve a mixture of weights sessions, circuits, prehab work and speed sessions. “I’ve been here since January and so far I really like it. From the beginning, the players were a nice group and I got on well with them. They’ve listened to my instructions during gym sessions and for the individuals that I have worked with on a oneto-one basis they are always enthusiastic for my sessions.” Asked if she found the role challenging, Frattaroli added: “There’s a lot of monitoring to do for the players and sometimes it can be challenging to make sure players are progressing from their last session and if they haven’t pro-
gressed we need to find the reason why. Strength training is used as assistance to performance and some may not realise the importance of it, especially after a tough session on the pitch, so it can be hard to do these sessions. “Derek has given me a lot of experience in my role so far. At the minute, I help by setting up the gym for prehab work, sorting out player monitoring sheets and helping out with the gym sessions. Derek also gives me the opportunity to give my own opinions on the work the players are doing and to take the players that are unable to train on the pitch for a gym session. This type of work has given me the chance to gain valuable experience and confidence.” Away from Limerick FC, Alana is also involved in Shot Put. “I’ve followed in my father’s footsteps and started shot put five years ago,” she revealed. “So far my best achievements have been second place in the World Indoor Throws Challenge in Växjö, Sweden 2013 and winning the National Under-23 indoors in 2013. This year my indoor season went very well and I increased my average and personal best from last year’s indoors by 50cm.”
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GROUND REGULATIONS
SUPPORTERS
ALL PERSONS ENTERING THIS STADIUM ARE ADMITTED ONLY SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING GROUND REGULATIONS AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CLUB. ENTRY TO THE STADIUM SHALL BE DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE UNQUALIFIED ACCEPTANCE OF ALL THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS. All personnel entering this stadium are admitted only subject to the fol-
The climbing of floodlight pylons, stands or other buildings in the stadi-
lowing Stadium Regulations and to the Rules and Regulations of the Irish
um is forbidden. CCTV equipment is in use at the stadium and Thomond
Rugby Football Union. Entry to the stadium shall constituteunqualified ac-
Park Stadium Company may itself use, or pass to An Garda Síochána or any
ceptance of all these Rules and Regulations.
event organiser or other relevant authority, any recordings for use in any
Thomond Park Stadium Company Ltd. reserves the right to reschedule the
proceedings. Unnecessary noise such as that from the use of radio sets and
event without notice and without any liability whatsoever.
behaviours likely to cause confusion or nuisance of any kind,
Thomond Park Stadium Company. Excludes to the maximum extent per-
including foul or abusive language, is NOT permitted in any part of the
mitted by law any liability for loss, injury or damage to persons/property in
stadium. Thomond Park Stadium may impose a ban from the ground as a
or around the stadium.
result.
In the event of a postponement or abandonment of the Event,refunds (if
The following acts are offences: Racial, homophobic or discriminatory
any) should be claimed in accordance with the relevant ticket terms and
abuse. Throwing of any object within the ground without lawful authority
conditions. Thomond Park Stadium will have NOother liability whatsoever,
or excuse. The chanting of anything of an indecent, discriminatory or ra-
including (but NOT limited to) any indirect or consequential loss or dam-
cialist nature. The entry onto the playing area or any other area to which
age, such as (but NOT limited to) loss of enjoyment or travel costs. All
spectators are NOT generally admitted without lawful authority or excuse.
persons seeking entrance to the event acknowledge ThomondParks Stadi-
Any person who fails to comply with the instructions from a steward, an of-
um’s right to search any person whether outside or inside the stadium and
ficer of Thomond Park Stadium Company or a member of An Garda Síochá-
refuse entry to or eject from the stadium any person refusing to submit to
na may be ejected from the stadium.
such a search.
Any person who has entered any part of the stadium designated for the use
All persons entering the event may only occupy the seat allocated to them
of any group of supporters to which they do NOT belong may be ejected
by their ticket and must not move from one part of the stadium to anoth-
from the stadium for the purposes of their own safety or any other reason.
er without the express permission or instruction of any steward, office of
In general the right of admission is reserved to the Stadium
Thomond Park Stadium Company. and /or any Garda Officer.
Management. The Stadium Management reserves the right to refuse ad-
Tickets are NOT transferable and may NOT be offered for sale without the
mission or eject any person who refuses to be searched by a member of
prior written permission of Thomond Park Stadium. Any tickets offered for
an Garda Siochana. Any person who remains in a gangway may be ejected
sale may be confiscated by any steward, officer of Thomond Park Stadium
from the stadium. Smoking in NON smoking areas is strictly forbidden.
or any Garda.
NO person (other than those who hold an appropriate licence) may bring
Fireworks, smoke canisters, bottles, glasses, cans, flags, banners, poles and
into the ground or use within the ground any equipment which iscapable
other similar articles or containers, including anything which could or
of recording or transmitting (by digital or other means) any audio, visu-
might be used as a weapon, are NOT permitted within the stadium, and any
al, or audio-visual material or any other information or data in relation
person in possession of such an article or container may be refused entry
to the event or the stadium. Copyright in any unauthorised recording or
or ejected from the stadium.
transmission is assigned (by way of present assignment of future copyright
The consumption of intoxicating liquors is permitted only in authorized
pursuant of the Copyright and Related Rights Act2000) to Thomond Park
areas and spectators are NOT permitted to bring alcohol into the arena.
Stadium Company.
Plastic glasses will be used in all but the hospitality area in the East Stand.
Thomond Park Stadium Company/event promoters reserve the right for its
Persons may be required to show identification in order to prevent under-
servants or agents to remove from the stadium any person who
age drinking. All bars are to be operated in accordance with the provisions
does NOT comply with the Stadium Regulations or whose presence on the
of the liquor licensing act.zz
stadium could reasonably be construed as constituting a source of danger,
NO goods (including literature) of any nature may be offered either free
nuisance or annoyance to other spectators. This could lead to further ac-
or for sale by any person within the stadium without the express written
tion including , but NOT limited to, a ban from the stadium or proceedings
permission of Thomond Park Stadium Company.
being taken.
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BE PART OF LIMERICK FC AND JOIN THE LIMERICK FC OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS’ CLUB Man of the Match Award vs. Drogheda United: Shane Duggan Presented By Jack Purcell
Membership Available Now Adults €10, Family €20, Under-16s & Students €5. Many Benefits include: • • • • • • • • •
Membership Card and Car Sticker Discount on Selected Merchandise From Club Shop (€5 off New Home Shirt when available) Competitions/Ezines/Social Events Corporate Membership Rates for Energize Health Club at The Strand Hotel, Limerick Vote for Player of the Month/Player of the Year. Win Chance to Present Trophy Organised Trips to Selected Away Matches (Subject To Interest) Q&A Sessions With The Players 10% Discount on Concert/Sporting Events etc Booked Through Kelly Travel, kellytravel.ie (T&C Apply) Entry Into Free Draw To Win Two Tickets To Republic Of Ireland Home Games Contact the OSC on 087-1862678 or email: supportersclub@limerickfc.ie OSC Polo Shirts Available. Only €20 Happy Birthday To The Following Members: Tristan Kiely, Siobhan McKenna and Jason Kiely
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