Jimmy Lee focused on guiding Limerick senior footballers back to Croke Park

THE LIMERICK senior footballers begin their Tailteann Cup group campaign this weekend. Limerick host London this Saturday in the Newcastle West GAA grounds at 1pm.Manager Jimmy Lee said the priority for his side is to get back to Croke Park.

“The main target is to get back to the Croke Park. That's the target, the task is to take one game at a time and see where the journey takes us. It's all part and parcel of the bigger picture which is improving Limerick football,” Jimmy Lee said.

Limerick have been drawn alongside London, Antrim and Westmeath in group three of the Tailteann Cup.The Tailteann Cup consists of teams from Division 3 and 4 of the Allianz Football League as well as Westmeath who were relegated from Division 2 and teams who didn't reach their provincial finals. 

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Teams that finish top of their groups will advance directly into the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup. The four teams that finish second along with  the three third-placed teams with the best record along with New York compete in the preliminary quarter-finals. 

Limerick manager Lee feels it's a tough group that his side have been drawn in.

“It's tough enough group, at he same time it gives us an opportunity to see where we are at. That's the draw and now we know what it is so at least we can focus on it now.”

The Shannonsiders place in the Tailteann Cup was confirmed when they suffered 0-24 to 0-13 defeat to Cork in the Munster SFC quarter-final.

Lee's side will be looking to build on their impressive form during the Allianz Football League. Limerick were crowned Division 4 champions earlier this year.

“We took a week off after the Cork game and we allowed fellas to let the hair down for a while. Obviously, we've been back since and we've been working on things with a view to next year aswell. It's been good, we are decent enough place.”

Lee's side are carrying a couple of injuries into this weekend's clash against London. Darragh Siochrú suffered a shoulder injury and the Monaleen attacker is likely to face surgery in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Tony McCarthy, Cormac Woulfe and Adam Shanagher are progressing well from their respective injuries.

Limerick defeated London last year in the Tailteann Cup and in Division 4 of the Allianz Football League this year. In the past two seasons, Limerick have reached the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals.