LIMERICK FC’S Freddy Hall says it is a “good group of goalkeepers” to be a part of at Limerick, with new ideas from coach Eddie Hickey while he believes “the sky is the limit” for young stopper Tommy Holland.
Hall, 30, joined the Shannonsiders during last month’s transfer window, having left Telford United where he played with former League of Ireland stars Ben McLaughlin – grandson of the legendary Jim – and Danny Ventre.
Hall says that Limerick’s position at the foot of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table did not discourage him from joining, in his bid to “experience something different”.
And part of an “easy transition” to life in the club and city has been a “good relationship” which has been built up already between himself, Hickey, Holland and Ali Abass.
“I’m really enjoying working with Eddie,” Freddy – a Bermudan International – told LimerickFC.ie. “He’s doing drills and stuff that I haven’t done before and I’m really enjoying it a lot. It’s really pushing me and I think we have a good relationship.
“I really think Tommy has got a tonne of potential and is capable of improving every day. Even in today’s training session, things that he was doing I was very impressed with.
“I think the sky is the limit if he just keeps on working with Eddie especially. Eddie can iron out little details and make him into a great goalkeeper.
“The one thing about it is we all enjoy training together and pushing each other and encouraging each other. I think that’s good having a competitive nature among the goalkeepers but also being able to push each other to that limit and being encouraging. I think it’s a good group of goalkeepers that are part of the team and it works well.”
Talking about settling into Limerick, Hall added: “I’ve felt good. The guys are real welcoming and it has been an easy transition, I guess you could say. I’ve felt good about it all.
“I was actually on summer break from England. I was playing a few World Cup qualifiers in the summer. After I finished that, I took a few weeks off and my agent just told me of an opportunity to come and see a team in Ireland.
“I came straight over from vacation, liked what I saw and here I am. I had a few options in England that I could have pursued, but I wanted to experience something different. I saw the opportunity here and just took it.
“I wouldn’t say (being bottom) put me off but it made me look at things and evaluate certain options as well that were presented. But coming to the team, you wouldn’t have noticed that they were bottom of the table because the spirit was so high.
“Speaking to the manager and the Chairman, they had a future plan and you could see it slowly getting better and better.”
Hall claimed a clean-sheet on his competitive debut at Derry City – Limerick’s first of the campaign – and while he has conceded five goals in the recent back-to-back wins over Sligo Rovers and Bohemians, he knows points are the most valuable thing.
“I never like to concede goals, but I think the main thing right now is getting victories and getting points on the board,” Freddy said, “so that we can get out of the predicament that we’re in.
“It was nice getting a shutout in the first game against Derry. The drive alone was a killer, so it was definitely a pleasure getting that.
“Overall, I know there are things I need to tighten up and improve, but I’m glad with certain performances. I definitely don’t like giving up goals so I want to minimise that to the full.”
Hall was delighted with the “fighting spirit” which his team displayed in their thrilling 4-3 win over Bohs, and he is targeting more points this weekend against Cork City (away, Friday) and Longford Town (home, Monday, both 7.45pm).
“I’ve been in some crazy games but the passion from the guys, after going a man down, you don’t really see that too often,” Freddy said.
“It was something that I am really proud to be a part of because we showed a fighting spirit and if we can keep on doing that then I think we’ll be out of this predicament.
“I think even prior to me coming, the group had that belief. They were just unlucky with a lot of the results. But I think it has been the same. With getting that victory, our confidence is just on a high and hopefully we can just roll with it.
“It is a big weekend. I think every game we go into, our mindset is to get a result and I don’t think it’s any different no matter the name of the team or the position they’re in.
“I think we’re more than capable of playing against any team no matter what. It should be a good encounter on Friday and we’re going there with the mindset of we need three points, and that’s what we’re going to push for.”
