Limerick senior football vice-captain Barry Coleman excited by big Cork challenge

LIMERICK senior football vice-captain Barry Coleman says it has been difficult watching his teammates from the sidelines in recent weeks.Coleman has been sidelined with a quad injury throughout the Allianz Football League.

The Rathkeale clubman made his return from injury last weekend. Coleman was included in Limerick's 26-man squad that won their Division 4 league title.

“It's disappointing (not playing) and it's hard to watch on from the sidelines. It was extremely difficult when it happened. I can't say enough about our phsyios they are trying to keep me positive.

“Even the lads around me, Jimmy (Lee) and Micheal (Cahill), it is mentally tough. At the end of the day you feel sorry for yourself a few days after the injury.

“There's a lot of things you can work on when you are injured as well that can stand to you going forward,” said Limerick senior football vice-captain Barry Coleman at the launch of the Munster senior football championship in Killarney.

Coleman sees this weekend's Munster senior football championship clash with Cork as a scalp that Limerick can take.

“I think it's definitely a scalp that we can take. I think the way we are going at the minute, if we play the way we have been playing and cut out a few mistakes, there's teams that we should be beating up in Division 2.

“I know that's very optimistic, but that's the way it feels at the moment. Cork at home, I don't see why we shouldn't be thinking it's just a game that we are going to go out and get beaten.

“Everyone within the camp think it's a game that we can absolutely go on and put up a result. I know we are underdogs but that's something that we thrive on. When we play Cork, our thoughts will be on getting the victory and getting a performance in.”

Coleman is in his fourth year on the Limerick senior football panel. Andrew Meade and Adam Shanagher, of Rathkeale, are also on the Limerick senior football panel.

“Then to have Adam brought in this year and to have Andrew getting regular minutes, it's massive. And the same for anyone else going back to their clubs, you're bringing back professionalism, level of fitness and football ability that you're getting with Limerick.”

Rathkeale are back in senior football after they won the Intermediate Football Championship in 2024.

“At the end of the day, that's going to bring on your teammates around you, having myself, Adam and Andrew in, it's only going to mean better things for Rathkeale this year.”

Coleman threw his hand into coaching this year when he was involved with the Cappagh-Rathkeale U20 footballers that won ‘A’ championship title.

“When I was their age, I was coached by the likes of Paul Whyte, and and Sean Sheahan that you look up to at that age. I think it's very important that if you're playing and winning Intermediate and then go and coach the younger lads, I think it's very important that you do that.

“At the end of the day, if we don't coach them, potentially there isn't people that will be able to get away from their families to coach them,” said Coleman.