Focus is on Limerick football’s future says Jimmy Lee

LIMERICK senior football manager Jimmy Lee said building for the future is a crucial aspect of his side's performances this year. The Tailteann Cup finalists have now won their last five championship games for the first time ever in the county's history.

“It's extremely big on the journey we are trying to go on, this is not about this year, it is about the future. You're trying to build a pathway and this is a stepping stone on it. We'll keep going after those steps, it's a journey and that's just the reality of it,” Jimmy Lee added.

The Limerick senior footballers are now switching their focus to a Saturday, July 12 Tailteann Cup final appearance at Croke Park following their thrilling come-from-behind semi-final win over Wicklow at GAA HQ on last Sunday. The Jimmy Lee-managed Limerick side will face Kildare in their first Tailteann Cup final appearance. The July 12 showdown will have a 2.30pm throw-in and will be the first part of a double header with an All-Ireland senior football championship semi-final.

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Lee was proud of side's efforts in the Tailteann Cup semi-final against Wicklow at Croke Park on last Sunday.

“Basically at that stage all we wanted was to get on the ball, calm things down. We knew there was more in them, and there was. They showed real leadership out there. It's well known, the cliches, that semi-finals are just there to be won and to be fair, those young lads out there showed real leadership and character. Hats off to them.”

Lee was pleased with how younger players stepped up in Croke Park. Fiachra Cotter, Colm McSweeney, Cormac Woulfe and Darragh O'Siochru all remain sidelined through injury.

James Naughton, Emmet Rigter and and Iain Corbett limped off through injury in the second half.Lee's side got a huge impact off the bench, with Barry Coleman, Bob Childs and Darragh Murray scoring 1-3 between them.

During an analysis session before the Tailteann Cup semi-final, Lee pointed that Wicklow goalkeeper Mark Jackson could be vulnerable in possession and praised Bob Childs for dispossessing him.

“He (Childs) must have been the only one that listened,” smiled Lee. “He listened and he got his reward!”

The Newcastle West native was delighted for the experienced players to get reward for their efforts.

“I'm delighted for the older cohort as well, that's no disrespect to the younger lads. It's special, for them lads Iain (Corbett), Danny (Neville), Cillian (Fahy), Killian (Ryan), Paul (Maher and, James (Naughton), they have put their shoulders to the wheel for a long time.”

Lee and his side now a have break until the Tailteann Cup decider. A win for Limerick in the final would guarantee their place in Sam Maguire football for the 2026 season.

“We've three weeks to get the bodies right, put a plan in place and go to the next hurdle,” Lee said.

Their opponents Kildare defeated Fermanagh 1-13 to 0-9 in the semi-final of the Tailteann Cup on last Sunday afternoon.