TO MARK the significant milestone that is the 50th anniversary of its opening, Jackman Park on Carey’s Road will host an attractive fixture this Friday night (February 10).
The commemorative match will involve Tommy Barrett’s Treaty United and a Limerick District League XI, under the management of Declan Considine, Keith Kerley, and Dáithí Ó’Donoghue, with kick-off timed for 7.15pm.
In an admirable gesture by the LDL (Limerick District League), admission is free.
At half-time, Pike Rovers’ under-12 SFAI Cup winning side will meet an LDSL selection.
Pike stunned five-in-a-row seeking St Kevin’s Boys to capture the national title last summer, with goals coming courtesy of Maddison McGuane and Tristian O’Driscoll.
Proceedings at Jackman Park will commence with some guest speakers from 6.30pm, and the post-game follow-up at Janesboro FC.
Jackman (previously known as Priory Park) is an admirable centrepiece of local LDL soccer activity, with the fine venue undergoing many upgrades since 1973 – the most recent of which have been the installation of new floodlighting and an electronic scoreboard last year.
The official opening 50 years ago was marked by the playing of that season’s Lawson Cup Final between Geraldines and Caledonians. The game’s only goal arrived from the penalty spot from a still sprightly Martin O’Donnell of ‘dines.
Famous visiting clubs over the years to the venue have included Celtic and West Ham.
ON THE competitive front, Ballynanty Rovers and Fairview Rangers are both involved in FAI Junior Cup action this coming weekend.
On Saturday, Rovers are in Dublin to meet Old County (1pm). The following afternoon Rangers make the long trip to meet Gorey in Wexford (2pm).
At the weekend, both teams played out a dull 90 minutes in their Lawson Cup engagement at Limerick IT. The tie went straight to a penalty shoot-out in which Rangers’ goalkeeper Josh McCarthy produced two remarkable saves to settle the issue.
The Lawson Cup continues Sunday morning, with four fixtures listed.
Elsewhere, in the upper echelons of the Premier League, leaders Pike Rovers entertain Nenagh. The sides also clashed on Sunday last in the Lawson Cup, a contest that failed to produce a goal in normal-time and was decided by the expert shot-stopper Gary Neville of Pike in the subsequent penalty shoot-out.
RUGBY:
HOLDERS Young Munster are through to the Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Cup Final.
It follows a 19-13 defeat of fancied Cork Constitution at Tom Clifford Park.
Tries from Stephen Lyons and Bailey Faloon, along with an Evan Cusack penalty, gave the Cookies a 13-6 half-time lead.
Cusack widened the margin after the restart before the visitors closed the gap through a Billy Crowley five-pointer, which Aidan Moynihan converted.
Munsters held firm in the closing stages and another Cusack penalty saw the in-form side to a fourth consecutive cup final appearance, where Nenagh Ormond (comfortable semi-final winners against Highfield) will provide stern opposition.
In the Women’s All-Ireland Cup series, UL Bohemian defeated Cooke 29-12 at home. The winners led 19-5 at the interval and had tries from Fiona Reidy, Niamh Kavanagh, Rachel Allen, Eilis Cahill, and Lily Brady. Kate Flannery landed two conversions.
GAELIC GAMES:
DIARMUID Buckley of Fr Casey’s has been unveiled as the Limerick Under-20 football captain for the coming season.
His vice-captain is Paul O’Shaughnessy, Ballysteen.
The Shane Kelly (Newcastle West) managed Limerick will meet Waterford in the opening round of the Munster Championship in April, the winners of which will tackle Cork.
Limerick will also participate in the pre-season Liam O’Connor Cup, which begins with a visit from Tipperary to Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale, on Saturday (1pm).
