Jimmy Lee focused on Wicklow clash as Limerick aim to boost promotion push

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE

WICKLOW V LIMERICK
Date: Sunday, March 16
Venue: Echelon Park, Aughrim
Throw-in: 2pm
Referee: Conor Dourneen

THE LIMERICK senior footballers will hope to go one step closer to promotion from Division 4 of the Allianz Football League this weekend. Jimmy Lee's side travel to Wicklow this Sunday at 2pm for Round Six of the National Football League. Limerick currently sit in second place on seven points with Wicklow just behind them on six points.

Limerick manager Jimmy Lee is expecting a tough battle this Sunday in Aughrim.

“It's a deciding game really in terms of the league position and stuff like that. That's just the reality of it and it's another game on the journey of where we want to be,” Jimmy Lee said.

“It always been a tough place to go, it's going to be no different this weekend. Oisin McConville is with Wicklow three years now, they know what they're about. Its' like everything, we'll focus on ourselves and we'll do work on ourselves to get us in the shape we need to be.”

The Newcastle West native expects his side's clash against Wicklow to go right down to the wire.

“There'll only be a kick of the ball in it. Hopefully we'll be on the right side of it. Division Four is competitive and hopefully we're coming down the road happy enough.”

Table toppers Wexford, who won their opening five games, secured promotion last weekend.Andrew Meade, Barry Coleman and team captain Cillian Fahy all missed Limerick's round five victory over Tipperary through injury.

“We had three games on the bounce and it was just hard going with the intensity of the new game. We picked up knocks going into the Tipperary game but were very content with how the lads that were brought in performed. It just adds to the whole thing really.”

Limerick attacker James Naughton has been in impressive form, scoring 1-26 in the Allianz Football League to date. Newcastle West's Emmett Rigter has been on target with 1-8, while goalkeeper Josh Ryan has made advantage of the new rules landing 0-5.

The FRC has made six amendments to the rules changes and those amendments will be in place this weekend.

“It just adds an extra ingredient, I think the biggest shift is you have to keep four back now. We will just need to adapt, it's kind of strange that they are brought in the middle of the league. It won't be an excuse,” said Lee.

Limerick could potentially be in action over the next four weekends. The Shannonsiders’ will earn promotion if they win their final two games against Wicklow and Wexford. That would also put Limerick into a Division 4 final on the weekend of March 29/30. Limerick begin their Munster SFC campaign against Cork on April 5.