Tomorrow's Terryland Park Airtricity League first division encounter features a clash involving basement boys SD Galway and table toppers Limerick FC with both clubs keen to earn points for different reasons.
SD Galway still feel they can avoid a last-placed finish, while an expensively assembled Limerick outfit want to secure promotion. That means there should be an edge to proceedings at the Dyke Road venue with Limerick seeking to stay ahead of Longford Town who are waiting to pounce on any Treaty setbacks.
at Scully's Limerick squad is packed with experienced footballers and their last game a fortnight ago was an emphatic four goal success over Mervue United. In that match Limerick were quickly out of the blocks as Shane Tracy and David O'Leary bagged first-half goals.
After the restart Tuam native Rory Gaffney and Denis Behan sealed the deal with neat strikes for a Limerick team that will be confident of claiming the full complement of spoils in the west.
Barry Ryan, Corie Treacy, Pat Purcell, Shaun Kelly, Derek O'Brien, Joe Gamble, Behan, and Dominic Foley are proven performers at this level so Limerick should be able to finally return to the top flight by winning this division.
Despite a burst of improvement a month ago, SD Galway have lost two matches on the spin against Wexford Youths and Waterford United.
James Keane, Cian Fadden, Nicky Curran, Mixie Harty, Ronan Conlon, and Enda Curran showed glimpses of their ability in those losses and SD Galway will hope they can disturb Limerick.
Mervue United, thumped 7-1 in last Friday's FAI Cup quarter-final by Derry City at the Brandywell, will hope to restore some pride when making the short journey to Lissywoolen for a contest with Athlone Town.
The midlanders, who had enjoyed an adequate opening to the campaign, have struggled for consistency since the mid season break. Mike Kerley is no longer in charge with former striker Padraig Moran now the manager, so Mervue will be eager to take advantage of Athlone's slump in form.
Pat Jennings, Kevin Williamson, Eric Molloy, Niall Scullion, and Noel McGee are capable when in the mood and Mervue must commence brightly.
A failure to do that ensured it was a disaster in the northwest as the Candystripes crushed Mervue. Conor Gleeson, Mike Elwood, Michael McSweeney, Tom King, Jason Molloy, and Pat Hoban have enough skill to make Mervue competitive against Athlone.
