U19 Programme: Limerick v Saint Patrick's Athletic, 19 April 2015

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Limerick v Saint Patrick’s Athletic Under-19 Champions Knockout Phase Semi-Final Hogan Park, Sunday 19 April 2015, 2pm Under-19 Programme 2014-15 Collection Issue 10

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LIMERICK FC vrs ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

SATURDAY NIGHT

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LIMERICK FC VRS SHAMROCK ROVERS S TA N D : € 1 5 A D U LT €12 THIRD-LEVEL STUDENT €7 SECOND-LEVEL STUDENT € 7 O A P, € 5 U 1 2

G R O U N D : € 1 2 A D U LT €10 THIRD-LEVEL STUDENT €7 SECOND-LEVEL STUDENT € 7 O A P, € 5 U 1 2

25TH APRIL 2015, 6.30pm, Jackman Park

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U19: BARRETT PRAISES “SHOW OF CHARACTER” Boss delighted with never-say-die attitude imerick Under-19 manager Tommy Barrett heaped praise on his players after they again “showed a lot of character” to battle back from the brink to overcome Shelbourne at Hogan Park last Sunday.

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The young Shannonsiders recovered from four body blows, losing midfielder Jack Lynch to a first-half red card, falling behind twice in the game and then again in the penalty shootout.

Eventually – after Shane Lowth’s extra-time injury-time equaliser had made it 2-2 – they progressed to the Champions Knockout Phase semi-finals thanks to Ross Mann’s decisive spot-kick, leaving Barrett understandably delighted.

“I’m very happy, particularly down to ten men for the whole of the second half and then extra-time,” Tommy said. “It was great to get the win; coming from behind twice, the lads showed a lot of character. That’s what this squad has. They have got a lot of belief in themselves and they keep going to the end, so it’s fantastic for them. In fairness, I thought we were the better team in the first half – in the first ten minutes we were a bit ropey. I thought we were turning the screw. Jack Brady, in fairness to him, pulled off some very good saves and kept them in it. They cleared a few off the line in the first half.

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“Then we went down to ten. I was disappointed with the goal we gave away. I still wouldn’t be happy with the goal we gave away from a set-piece. We have been very good all year from set-pieces. It doesn’t usually happen us, so I was disappointed in that. But we showed great character – that’s the main thing. We came back. It’s the first time we’ve conceded two goals in a long time but I suppose that might be down to ten men as well. But it was great.”

Having been reduced to ten men just before halftime, Barrett’s team-talk was one of positivity, with the boss believing fortune favours the “brave”. “We went 4-3-2 and we stayed positive,” he said, asked what the message was at the break. “I thought we were going to be the better team. I said we were going to win the game. I was still confident of winning the game, because we practice sometimes with ten men – you have to legislate for that even though our discipline has been very good all year. We’ve done very well. We always stay positive as a group and it’s a great win.

We went 3-2-4 for the last few minutes. You’ve got to be brave and you’ve got to take a chance, and it paid off. They sat back. That suited us; we have very quick lads and again the lads that came off the bench did a job for us.”

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MATCHDAY SQUADS

LIMERICK FC MANAGER: TOMMY BARRETT

Tommy Holland (Gk)

S T. P A T R I C K ’ S A T H MANAGER: CYRIL WALSH

Lee Doyle

Arek Mamala (Gk)

Tom Callaghan

Stephen Nolan

Curtis Murphy

Paudie O’connor

Mikey Hannigan

Conor Maguire

Paul Rooney

Killian Brouder

Jordan Delamere

Eoin Whelan

Stephen Ball

Clyde O’connell

Craig Hanlon

Val Feeney

Darragh Markey

Alan Murphy

Jack Bayly

Mark Hoban

Jamie McGrath

Shane Lowth

Rory Feely

Ross Fitzgerald

Paul Bracken

Killian Hayes

Evan Gaffney

Ross Mann Seán Mcsweeney

Ian O’Brien Fuad Sule

Declan Cusack

Ryan Ennis

James Duggan

Stephen Hogan

Oisin Kelly

Tommy Ilunga

Evan Cusack Liam Mccartan Jack Lynch

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U19: LOWTH DELIVERS LATE IN EPIC CUP CLASH Limerick eventually see off Shels challenge ubstitute Shane Lowth struck a last-gasp equaliser in extra-time to salvage a 2-2 draw for ten-man Limerick against Shelbourne and they went on to win in a penalty shootout, in an epic Under-19 Champions Knockout Phase quarter-final at Hogan Park last Sunday.

leaving the young Shannonsiders with an uphill task.

And just three minutes into the second half, that became even more so when Shels broke the deadlock as Darragh Gannon forced the ball in after a corner fell to him in the six-yard box. But Limerick were level on 74 minutes when they were awarded a penalty and up stood Mark Hoban whose powerful strike found the net despite Brady getting a hand to it.

Both teams looked to find their feet early on but chances began to fall past the quarter-hour. The first came the way of Shels as Andy Gorman’s low cross was met by Dylan Grimes in the centre but he diverted the ball over the bar from close in. Then home midfielder Val Feeney drove a low shot from distance that Jack Brady got down well to turn around the post. From Feeney’s resulting corner, the ball came out to James Duggan who drove over.

Into extra-time, Mann’s cross was headed over by Oisín Kelly and then Shels should have taken the lead through Gorman at the back post but he hit the side-netting. The Dubliners, though, were in front again on 103 minutes through a terrific strike from Aaron Robinson who found the corner of the net from 25-yards. Five minutes from time, Shels were also reduced to ten men when Conor Keeley was shown a second caution. And there was still time for more drama as Limerick netted an injury-time leveller, Lowth tapping in to make certain of Kelly’s goalbound shot beyond the ‘keeper. Into the shootout, Limerick again fell behind as Killian Brouder saw his spot-kick brilliantly pushed away by Brady. But as Shels blazed over with their deciding one, Limerick remained cool and eventually won through as Tommy Holland saved and then Mann struck the winner as it ended 6-5.

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Clyde O’Connell saw his effort from range drift wide soon after, and then Ross Mann tested the ‘keeper before Feeney’s follow-up was deflected behind with strong claims for handball from the hosts. On the half-hour, Feeney got to a through-ball ahead of Brady but the covering Shels defence cleared the danger as Limerick began to dominate. But they were almost caught four minutes before the break when Grimes turned creator for Gorman but he blazed over when well placed in the box.

The game turned against Tommy Barrett’s side moments before the half-time whistle when Jack Lynch was shown a second yellow card for a midfield tackle,

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LIMERICK: Tommy Holland, Liam McCartan (Evan Cusack 112), Conor Maguire © (Stephen Nolan 57), Mark Hoban, Killian Brouder, Ross Mann, Jack Lynch, Clyde O’Connell (Shane Lowth 102), Val Feeney, Seán McSweeney (Declan Cusack 67), James Duggan (Oisín Kelly 52). Unused Subs: Arkadiusz Mamala (GK), Killian Hayes.

SHELBOURNE: Jack Brady, Darragh Gannon, Conor Keeley, Gavin Kearney, Dylan Grimes, Andy Gorman, David Pakenham, Armstrong Bekombo ©, Luke Doyle, Aaron Robinson (96), Ahu Obhakhan. Subs: Eric Donnelly (GK), Andrew Ward, Aaron Robinson (97), George Mukete, Ronan O’Flynn, Aaron Ralph, Glen Carragher.

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Player view

PLAYER VIEW: SHANE LOWTH “We showed great passion & desire” imerick forward Shane Lowth praised the “great passion and desire” displayed by his team as they edged past Shelbourne in an epic Under-19 Champions Knockout Phase quarter-final that went all the way at Hogan Park last Sunday.

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The young Shannonsiders created almost all of the first-half opportunities but the game turned against them just before the break when Jack Lynch was red-carded for a second bookable offence. Shels then took the lead through Darragh Gannon three minutes into the second half but Limerick battled back and forced extra-time thanks to Mark Hoban’s 74th-minute spot-kick. The visitors restored their advantage in the first period through Aaron Robinson’s fine strike. But, after they were also reduced to ten men when Conor Keeley was sent off late on, Limerick grabbed a dramatic equaliser in injury-time through Lowth’s close-range finish.

Limerick also fell behind in the shootout but they levelled it up when Shels blazed over and, after ‘keeper Tommy Holland saved, Ross Mann stood up to fire Tommy Barrett’s side into a semi-final showdown with Saint Patrick’s Athletic today. And former Tralee Dynamos youngster Lowth was thrilled with the character shown by his team. “Coming back twice, to score the goal to get us to penalties and then to win on penalties, I’m de-

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lighted,” Lowth said. “Getting a man sent-off so early on; to be honest, I didn’t think it was a sending-off. It was a bit harsh. Then it didn’t look like we were going to score. Shelbourne were very good defensively. I just saw Killian (Brouder) knock a great ball in, Oisín (Kelly) knocked it down and I was just following in to knock it in. I knew I had to follow in. Oisín did very well. He got in and he hit it – I don’t know if it was going in or not but I took a touch and scored. Even going behind on penalties, we didn’t look like we were going to win but we showed great passion and desire to give it our everything. Everyone kept working, even though there were fellas going down with cramp. Clyde O’Connell made some unbelievable runs. All the boys really put in the hard work and we deserved it in the end with our work-rate to get our win.”

The 17-year-old says he has really enjoyed his time at the club, stating: “It has been a great experience, League of Ireland football. It’s a lot different than when I was playing all the way up. To get here now, the standard, the intensity, everything has got a lot higher. Training has been top-class all year round and you just have to take your chances when you come into the starting 11 and try to hold onto your place then, because everyone is trying to get on the pitch.

Everyone wants the same dream – being a professional footballer.”

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