PROMOTED Limerick will begin life in Division Three of the National Football League with a tricky away outing against Laois at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, this Saturday (6pm).
Further stern tests will follow against Down (home, h), Wexford (h), Sligo (away, a), Clare (h), Westmeath (a) and Fermanagh (h).
The leading two teams after the weekend ending March 22 will contest the Croke Park final at the start of April.
The bottom two sides will be relegated.
An obvious loss for the Shannonsiders this season is long-term leader Iain Corbett, who retired after a distinguished 14-year spell. Other veterans, however, still very much around include forward sensations Danny Neville, James Naughton, and Peter Nash.
Other key figures for manager Jimmy Lee are the likes of Jason Hassett, Mark McCarthy, Darren O’Doherty, Tony McCarthy, Tommie Childs, Cillian Fahy, Paul Maher, Emmet Rigter, and Barry Coleman.
Among the new entrants are Jamie Dolan, OisÃn Moss and Brendan Carr, a former minor/under 20 with Galway.
A new addition to the backroom is Limerick and St Senan’s legend Ian Ryan, who famously scored an incredible 3-7 against Meath in an All-Ireland Football qualifier. He was involved with Munster Junior finalists Buttevant (Cork) last year.
Armagh’s Justin McNulty remains at the helm with the O’Moore County, for whom valuable players include returnees Evan O’Carroll and Paul Kingston, along with Ronan Coffey – Player of the Year Laois 2025 – Paddy O’Sullivan and young Colin Dunne.
Laois, incidentally, were the inaugural winners of the League way back in 1926.
In the eye of the bookies, it’s a 50/50 call, exactly.
In Ladies’ Football, Limerick open their League campaign away to Roscommon at the weekend.
It’s a side minus recently retired greats Cathy Mee (Ballylanders) and Deborah Murphy (Monagea).
RóisÃn Ambrose (Old Mill) and Lauren Ryan (Adare) have been unveiled as joint captains by manager Patrick O’Connor.