Developing players key says Limerick senior camogie manager Joe Quaid

LIMERICK camogie manager Joe Quaid believes the future of Limerick camogie is in a good place ahead of the 2025 season.
Developing players is key for his squad to start competing for silverware, according to the former Limerick goalkeeper.

“The freshness that the fifteen new players have brought this year has really shown us that the future of Limerick camogie is in a good place. It needs to be nurtured now and minded.

“Development is the big buzz word that we have to be using. These girls that are in have to be developed properly, so that down the road, we're in a better position to challenge for honours.”

Quaid said it's hard to know exactly where his team are at heading into the National League opener against Down.
“It's been a bit fractured, given we have so many girls involved in colleges’ camogie. It's been brilliant in another sense, we have fifteen new girls on the panel who have brought unbelievable energy to it. We honestly don't know where we are at the moment.”

The Limerick camogie manager feels it was great to have players representing the squad involved in the Ashbourne Cup final. Caoimhe Lyons, Shauna Cunningham and Stephaine Woulfe were all part of the UL Ashbourne Cup winning side.Lizanna Boylan and Orlaith Kelleher featured for the UCC team that were narrowly defeated by UL.

“Each one of them contributed handsomely to the win for UL. The girls from Cork then there was two of them on it. The more girls you have playing at a higher level, the better chance you have with the county. They bring a lot of experience from the colleges because it's such a high standard. It's all positive.”

Quaid is now entering into his second year in charge of Limerick and he feels that the championship structure needs to be looked at by the Camogie Association.

“We all know what happens in Championship, we ended up shipping quite a few beatings from the top senior teams.

“That's going to be the case going forward for next couple of years until the Camogie Association look at restructuring the championship. Last year, the top six teams played the bottom six teams in senior and I think the average beating was 25 points that's not good for anybody. We have hit the reset button.”

Fifteen players, who were part of last year's squad, have stepped away from the squad due to work and travelling commitments. Laura Fennelly, Marian Quaid and Niamh Ryan are some of the players that have stepped away from the squad.
Rebecca Delee has made the switch over the Limerick ladies football panel.

Adare's Caoimhe Costello has earned her spot as captain, according to Quaid.

“We were involved with Caoimhe back in 2013 and 2014. There's nobody more deserving of the honour of being captain of their county than Caoimhe. She's an unbelievable leader and probably will rank up there as one of the best alongside Niamh Mulcahy as some of the best camogie players Limerick has ever produced.”

Ailbhe Larkin of Mungret St Paul's vice-captains the side.

“Ailbhe is 23, she's been on the panel for a couple of years. The leadership she has shown this year at training shows that both appointments are very well deserved.”

On Sunday, February 22, Limerick host Antrim in their first home national league game of the year. The fixture will throw-in at 2pm.