After a turbulent few weeks off the field, Limerick FC gave their hopes of avoiding relegation a shot in the arm thanks to a 2-1 win over Europe chasing Waterford at the Markets Field. It took a stunning strike from Limerick captain Shane Duggan to
After a turbulent few weeks off the field, Limerick FC gave their hopes of avoiding relegation a shot in the arm thanks to a 2-1 win over Europe chasing Waterford at the Markets Field. It took a stunning strike from Limerick captain Shane Duggan to break the deadlock and the win moves Limerick to within two points of exiting the relegation playoff position. Barrett has claimed that his side are well capable of staying up despite the financial difficulties and the exit of some star names that he has had to cope with in recent weeks and post-game he echoed the same thoughts once more. “There are nine games left and we have to keep going. I have said it all along. We went to Derry and went to St Pat’s last week. “We should be putting teams away. We’re just not doing that and that’s disappointing part for me. We are not going a couple of goals ahead but of course we still believe that we can catch one of the teams above us.” Barrett also paid tribute to his captain and fellow midfielders but also put to bed any talk of a rift between the two. The pair clashed last week when Duggan was substituted late on in the 2-1 defeat to St Pat’s. “Duggy is a really good player but from my point of view I want to make him a better player,” said Barrett. "You can still get better. It’s the defensive side of things and he did that. “He was really good and when he concentrates on that stuff, he has everything else. He is really good on the ball, really brave footballer, he is always looking for the ball and that’s the type of player we want.” Limerick have now won their last two home games and Barrett credited the improvements to the pitch at the Markets Field as another reason for the recent run of positive results. The playing surface at the ground came in for plenty of criticism early in the season from opposition players and managers alike. “The pitch makes a huge difference. The pitch has been very good in the last couple of months. We play good football. “We try to play. Ok, we were pinned back for a while in the second-half but you would expect that. They (Waterford) can make changes that I could only dream of. “That’s not discrediting our squad, we are just very young. Same with St Pat’s last week. They can bring Conan Byrne off the bench. “We don’t have that luxury but I have said it for years now, we have to back our young players. We have done that this year and they are really doing well.”
