Limerick senior footballers turn attention to challenge match against Laois

THE LIMERICK senior footballers are continuing their preparations ahead of the start of their Division Four Allianz League campaign later this month.

Limerick begin their League campaign with an away fixture against Longford on January 26. Limerick will continue their build-up to the National football league this week. Lee's charges are due to face Laois in their second challenge game of the year in Mick Neville Park on Sunday at 1pm.

The Treaty county played a challenge match against Clare last Saturday in Askeaton. Clare defeated Limerick 2-14 to 1-10. This was the first time a large number of supporters from both counties saw the new rules in action.

Jimmy Lee fielded an experimental team on Saturday afternoon. Players who impressed throughout the club championship got their opportunity in a Limerick jersey.

“We're happy enough, to be fair we had two different teams out in the first half and second half. You're trying to mix and match. I'm happy with what we got today because we had to see where we're at,” said manager Jimmy Lee after his side's defeat to Clare.

Barry Coleman, Tony McCarthy and Iain Corbett made their returns from injury in the game.“I was happy to see that and I was happier to see them coming off with no knocks.

“When you're new into it, you're bouncing balls and the bounce didn't go. We started doing stuff that we need to get away from doing. Potentially the game will open up as you saw in the second half and towards the end of games. That's just way it is, we've just got to get our mindset right in terms of field conditions and stuff like that.”

Lee feels his side will need to work on all the new rules over the next few weeks.

“We've to work with all of them. If we can get it to face forward football that's really where we want to get it too. And build it from there, it's not all doom and gloom.”

There was plenty of new faces in action for the Limerick senior footballers on Saturday afternoon.

Na Piarsaigh's Ralph Leonard lined out at corner back after impressing for the Caherdavin outfit during the club championship.

Players from Fr Casey's county final squad Fiachra Cotter, Mark McCarthy and Diarmuid Buckley have all earned a call into the county panel. All three players stood out on Caseys’ march to the senior football final.

Adam Shanagher and Andrew Meade who were part of the Rathkeale team that won the Intermediate football championship featured for Limerick in Askeaton on Saturday afternoon.

Jason Hassett, Killian Ryan, Jack McCarthy and Darragh O'Hagan, of Mungret St Paul's, are all part of the Limerick senior football panel. All four players were central to the city club's breakthrough during the senior football championship in 2024.

Meanwhile, Cormac Woulfe of St Senans and Darragh O'Hagan of Mungret St Paul's are part of the UL Sigerson Cup team who take on ATU Galway on Friday at 5:30pm in Liam Mellows GAA club in Galway.