AT THE outset of the season, only the eternal optimist would have placed Limerick in the reckoning for a serious tilt in the Tailteann Cup.
The side came into 2025 after relegation to Division Four.
However, once up and running, Jimmy Lee’s heroes have been hugely impressive, winning out, and with it promotion, the pennant competition and are now in the last four in the second-tier of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the winners of which will earn direct entry into group stages of the 2026 Sam Maguire Cup.
Next up is a manageable semi-final engagement with Wicklow at Croke Park this Sunday, 2pm (referee: David Murnane, Cork).
In the weekend’s quarter-final, a pair of goals each from class performers Cillian Fahy and Danny Neville propelled Limerick to a cracking 4-21 to 2-19 victory over Wexford at the Gaelic Grounds.
There was also a customary haul of points from James Naughton.
“We’re putting scores on the board, and those scores are coming from a range of players,” acknowledged Lee afterwards on Limerick’s Live 95 radio station. “They’re coming from different places on the field too, and all of that is very positive for us.”
Lee was exceptionally pleased that the two targets set by his team have been achieved, namely League promotion and qualification for Croke Park, the reward for teams reaching the last four of the Tailteann Cup.
“Those goals are in the bag now, but when you’re in the zone you always want more. Sure anything can happen from now on in. We’ll just regroup after this win and drive on, and let’s see where that leads us next weekend.”
Limerick’s progression has pushed back the start of the club championships by a week, and much more if our great adventure continues on until the final at GAA Headqurters on July 12.
A minute’s silence was observed ahead of Limerick/Wexford in memory of Siobhán Clancy of Kilbehenny, mother of panellist Seán, who passed away peacefully and was laid to rest in the local church grounds on Thursday.
