NEWLY crowned National Football League (Division Four) winners Limerick host Cork in the opening round of the Munster Senior Football Championship at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday (6pm).
In the wake of the memorable weekend final victory over Wexford at Croke Park, Jimmy Lee’s commendable side are deserving of huge home support at local HQ.
Limerick are now unbeaten in six starts, which is remarkable given the side had until the recent turnaround in fortunes lost a whopping 16 fixtures on the trot.
“Winning silverware builds character,” commented Lee at GAA Headquarters following the gripping 3-11 to 0-18 defeat of The Model County.
“Winning is a habit and we had the losing habit long enough so let’s keep this winning habit.”
Aside from Rathkeale’s Barry Coleman, Limerick report a clean bill of health ahead of the commencement of Championship 2025.
Lee is fortunate to have serious depth in his squad, headed-up by fine captain Cillian Fahy of Dromcollogher Broadford.
Fahy admitted in Dublin that his team face “a difficult challenge” against a Division Two outfit at the weekend, but it is one which is not unsurmountable with such grounded players as the skipper, goalkeeper Josh Ryan (Oola), lively Fr Casey’s pair Fiachra Cotter and Mark McCarthy, Iain Corbett (Newcastle West), Tommie Childs (Galtee Gaels), Paul Maher (Adare), Emmet Rigter (Newcastle West), James Naughton (St Senan’s) and the ever-green Peter Nash of Kildimo Pallaskenry.
John Cleary-managed Cork, only just back from a warm-weather training camp in Portugal, have plenty of quality too in the likes of full-back Daniel O’Mahony, centre-back Rory Maguire, defender Mattie Taylor, midfielder Colm O’Callaghan, and forwards Tommy Walsh and Chris Óg Jones.
Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary) will referee.
The winners will be at home to holders and recent Division One champions Kerry in the semi-final on April 19.
