David Deady aims to bring Limerick camogie to a new level

NEW Limerick camogie manager David Deady says he wants his team to challenge the top sides. Deady admitted that he wants to see Limerick break into the top six camogie teams in the country.Deady now steps into the senior role and will also assume the role of U23 manager for the upcoming season.

In an exclusive interview with Leader Sport, David Deady said: “As a management team we are looking to bring everything to a new level standards wise and to try and push the boundaries and close the gaps to those counties that are currently ahead of us. We want to re-establish ourselves as a top six county when it comes to camogie.

“We are operating at a level where we will be very competitive, where we have to set our goals and to try and to get to the top of the barometer first and then build the blocks from there.

“In the next year or two, with the minors coming through and with the work being done at underage level, there is a real foundation for Limerick camogie for us to really establish ourselves as a real force in camogie.

“We have 45 players on the training squad, 32 of those 45 players are under the age of 23. It’s a very young group that we have and we have nowhere near our ceiling in terms of development, it’s a really exciting time to get involved. That was part of the reason why I did get involved, there is an opportunity there to progress the set-up as a whole, that’s the main aim for us.”

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Former inter-county hurler Joe Quaid stepped down after two years as camogie manager in September. Limerick have retained their Division 1B status and All-Ireland senior camogie championship status in the last two seasons. The Shannonsiders narrowly missed out on a place in the All-Ireland quarter final in 2025.

The Limerick camogie manager said they hope to hit the ground running in the National League.

“We will be looking to have a very positive league in the coming weeks and our particular focus is to try and get results early on and try to build that momentum.

“It’s extremely satisfying on a personal level, obviously I have been involved before at junior level. It was always an ambition of my own to go on and maybe take the reins at senior level.

“Did I think it would come this soon? Maybe not, but I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead and I’m really excited to get going.”

The Limerick senior camogie team will get their Division 1B National League campaign underway against Down on February 14-15 at home. A week later, Limerick travel to Offaly in round two on February 21-22.

Deady’s side then host their neighbours Clare in a local derby on February 28-March 1. Limerick will finish off their Division 1B league campaign with a home clash against Wexford on March 14-15, followed by an away fixture against Dublin on March 21/22.

The Bruree clubman has reported minimal turnover from the 2025 Limerick senior camogie panel onto this year’s panel.

“I spent the first couple of weeks on the phone to the squad that was there in 2025 and girls that weren’t in the squad that you were trying to get involved, it’s been a really positive response so far. We have a training squad of 45 players at the moment between the senior and U23’s group, in terms of the squad from last year there is minimal turnover which is also a positive when you are coming into a set-up.

“It’s all going really well, we have a busy block of work to get done in January. We have two or three challenge games lined up over the next two or three weekends.

“We are training four nights a week, we are managing the girls who are playing for their colleges as well. The focus over the next few weeks is managing the load of those players,” added Deady.

His management team will include lead coach Brian Leahy, along with coaches Alan Kelly and Caitrín de Bhal.

Limerick senior champions Newcastle West pushed St Finbarr’s all the way in the Munster semi-final. The Cork champions prevailed after extra-time and went on to reach the All-Ireland final where they were narrowly defeated by Athenry after a replay.

Last year, there were no Newcastle West players involved on the Limerick senior camogie team. Deady is delighted to have players from the county champions involved this season.

“We have three or four girls from Newcastle West on the training squad at the moment. We are open to getting one or two more players from Newcastle West involved and there are a couple of conversations to be had, but in general it has been a positive response.

“Newcastle West have been the mainstay of Limerick camogie at club level for the last number of years and they were very unlucky against St Finbarr’s not to go on and win it.

“That was probably the first job that I had to make those approaches and see if we could turn a few heads. Thankfully, it looks like we have but as I said work done but more to do.”

There has been restructure to this All-Ireland senior camogie championship for 2026 which will see Limerick face Wexford, Clare, Offaly, Dublin and Kilkenny in Group Two.

Limerick are guaranteed five group games and the top two teams at the end round-robin series will advance into the All-Ireland quarter-finals.