This will be the first time the Irish will play outside of Dublin for nearly 30 years. They last played in Cork when former Limerick player and manager Eoin Hand was in charge.

It will also present another occasion to showcase Thomond Park to many from around the country who do not support rugby.

And it could be many, many, more years before the Irish team play outside Dublin as the Aviva Lansdowne Road is due to open early next year.

Tickets for to-night's game were slow to sell initially but by kick-off time I imagine that there will be a crowd in excess of 20,000 present.

For those who could not afford the price of tickets or were unable to purchase same the game is being show live on Sky Sports 2.

It will be a big night for eleven boys and one girl from the Geraldines club who will act as ballboys/girl.

Many years ago the old Thomond Park was packed when Limerick played Young Boys Of Berne in a European cup tie on a night when Willie Clinton had a marvelous game at right back for Limerick who had regular fullback Joe Casey on the wing!

Limerick FC manager, Pat Scully, was delighted with the performance of his players in Ballybofey on Saturday. Never an easy place to pick up points Limerick garnered all three to bounce back from the poor display against Sporting Fingal a week earlier.

Conor Molan returned to the side and was used as a central defender rather than his customary left full back.

He made a huge difference and the defence was vastly improved from the previous week with Brian O'Callaghan also shining.

Manager Scully who had expressed his disappointment with the display against Fingal was upbeat after this 2-1 win and it could have been a much bigger scoreline such was the performance.

“We played some great football and I hope that this will be the turning point of the season for us even if we cannot make the promotion play-offs” Scully said and he extended his appreciation to the board, and particularly new director, Pat O'Sullivan, for making money available to sign new players in recent weeks while the transfer window was open.

Another big bonus has been the return of Stephen O'Flynn to the club. He has played two games and scored in both and he, Shane Treacy and John Tierney, now form a major attacking threat.

Treacy had Limerick's opening goal when he shot low to the net and O'Flynn had the second.

Limerick went close on three more occasions though they conceded a soft goal after 69 minutes.

Limerick do not have a league game this week-end but will play Fairview Rangers on Saturday as the junior side prepares for the new season which is now only a week away.

The next league game will be against Longford Town on Friday week.

Limerick lined-out against Finn Harps as follows, Ryan, Boyle, Deady, O'Callaghan, Molan, Colbert, Kavanagh, Treacy, O'Flynn, Tierney, Hughes.

Subs, Dave Ryan for Tierney, 50 mins, Kelleher for O'Flynn and Roche for Hughes, both 73 minutes.

 

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