Limerick’s Tailteann Cup semi-final hopes rest on crucial encounter with Wexford

THE LIMERICK senior footballers will aim to reach their first ever Tailteann Cup semi-final this weekend. Limerick and Wexford will battle it out on Sunday afternnon at 3.45pm in TUS Gaelic Grounds for a place in the last four of the Tailteann Cup.

This is the second time this year Limerick have played in the TUS Gaelic Grounds. The sides met twice this year in Division 4 of the Allianz Football League.

Limerick defeated Wexford in Division four League final by two points in Croke Park while the Slaneysiders got the better of Limerick by four points in round two of the league.

Jimmy Lee's side come into this clash on the back of winning all three of their group games against London, Antrim and Westmeath. Limerick advanced directly into the quarter-finals of the competition after finishing top of group three.

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Wexford finished in second place in the group four of the Tailteann Cup after defeating Longford, earning a draw with Carlow and losing out to Fermanagh.

The Leinster side then got their Tailteann Cup campaign back on track with a 5-23 to 2-21 victory over Antrim in the preliminary quarter-final last weekend.

Limerick sharpshooter James Naughton has been in impressive form scoring 0-18, while Emmet Rigter has chipped with 0-7 during the competition to date.

The Division Four league champions had a break last weekend and manager Jimmy Lee felt it was important time for the players to get a break.

“It gave us a chance to get those few niggles right, they are nothing major but at the same time they are hindering lads from training. It's like everything you have to dig deep into the panel and in fairness we are beginning to show we have that depth,” said Limerick senior football manager Jimmy Lee.

Lee said Limerick were always looking for the shortest route to the quarter-final.

“We were always looking for the shortest route, that's what it's all about. We've gone the shortest route, it's minimum target you have to set for Limerick football is a quarter-final, we'd have more ambitions.”

Kildare face Offaly, Fermanagh meet Sligo and Wicklow take on Westmeath in the other three quarter-finals in the Tailteann Cup.

A win for Limerick this weekend will see them advance into the semi-finals of the competiton on Sunday June 22 in Croke Park.
The final of the Tailteann Cup takes place on Saturday July 12.

The Shannonsiders have been defeated by Laois and Sligo at the quarter-final stage in both 2023 and 2024. The Wexford full forward line of Ben Brosnan, Sean Nolan and Jack Higgins were on target with 3-8 in their side's victory over Antrim.

Limerick's full back line of Jason Hassett, Darren O'Doherty and Mark McCarthy will be looking to limit the Wexford full forward line this weekend.