COURTESY of three teams, there will be boundless Limerick interest in this weekend’s last 32 fixtures of the FAI Junior Cup.
Robbie Williams-managed Pike Rovers are rated, by the bookmakers at least, as having the county’s best chance of advancement. Pike will bump into Lucan United in Dublin on Sunday (2pm).
Experienced pair Gary Neville and Shane Clarke, along with Pat Mullins and Conor Coughlan, will be key to Pike overcoming the Dublin outfit.
Pike were most recent finalists only in 2022, suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Villa FC (Waterford) at Cork’s Turners Cross.
In their latest Premier League outing, Pike breezed past Mungret Regional 6-0. Goals flowed through Shane Walsh, Colin Daly, Coughlan, Clarke, Colm Walsh-O’Loughlin, and in-form Dylan Murphy.
Regional United, managed by the astute Seán Russell, entertain Grattan United of Cork on Sunday (2pm). Kieran O’Connell, Oleg Vysochan, and the all-round sports talent Eoin Duff are important figures for the local side.
Last weekend, Regional enjoyed a splendid 4-0 Premier League win at Charleville. The goals came from O’Connell, Joe Lavin (2), and Vysochan.
Desmond League outfit, and 300/1 longshots, Askeaton-Kilcornan (AK) are the surprise packets but face a mammoth task away to outright favourites Cockhill Celtic (Buncranna, Donegal) later today (Saturday). Under the guidance of Pat Fitzgerald, AK have talent in the form of Sam Duggan, Ken O’Donoghue, and Patrick Ivess.
AK suffered an unexpected Division One league loss at St Ita’s on Sunday.
Meanwhile, nine-time FAI Cup winners Fairview Rangers met Carew Park in the semi-final of the Tuohy Cup at Jackman Park on Thursday. Paul O’Donnell’s side have been buoyed with the return of Jeffrey Judge. The ‘View were 4-0 league winners at Carew Park at the weekend.
On the mark were Shane Duggan, Cian McNamara, Adam Dore, and Jake Dillon.
On Sunday morning, there are two fixtures in the Premier League: Nenagh v Mungret Regional, and Geraldines v Ballynanty Rovers.
In the Desmond League, Seamus O’Carroll grabbed himself a sensational four goals as Rathkeale inflicted a bruising defeat on Abbeyfeale United, and with it moved close to Creeves Celtic at the top of the Premier League.
