Tailteann Cup final ‘a real spotlight for Limerick football’ says Declan Brouder

NEWCASTLE West clubman Declan Brouder believes Limerick's victory over London in Division Four of the Allianz Football League has been the turning point in the season for Jimmy Lee's side. After 17 games without a win between 2023 and 2025 in the league. Limerick ended their winless run on February 16 against London.

“Limerick got a win in London in round three of the league and for me it was probably the turning point of their season. If you look at it from there, they haven't really looked back at any stage,” said Declan Brouder.

After that Lee's side went on an unbeaten run which saw them lift the Division Four league title. Cork defeated Limerick in the Munster SFC quarter-final which confirmed the Shannonsiders place in the Tailteann Cup.

The Division Four league champions recorded victories over London, Antrim and Westmeath in their group in the Tailteann Cup.
Limerick then got the better of Wexford in the Tailteann Cup quarter-final and they went on to produce a dramatic second half comeback to get past Wicklow in the semi-final.

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Mark McCarthy, Jason Hassett and Darragh O'Hagan are some of the younger players to break onto the Limerick starting XV this year.

“There's always been new players in the squad every year, that was evident again from the start of this season. In particular, Mark McCarthy has really stood out. Emmet Rigter is in his second year, he's grabbing a lot of headlines and he has a big future ahead of him.”

Brouder believes that there is a great balance between youth and experience on the Limerick senior football squad. Cillian Fahy, Iain Corbett, Paul Maher, Tony McCarthy, Tommie Childs, James Naughton, Killian Ryan, Josh Ryan, Peter Nash and Danny Neville are just some of the players who have experienced the highs and lows of Limerick football.

The UL Sigerson Cup manager has enjoyed watching the style of football Limerick have implemented this year.

“I think Limerick are playing a beautiful style of football this year. One player in particular that has gone from strength to strength is James Naughton.

“James is clocking up big scores, he's getting a lot of headlines. He is just playing with a freedom and almost with a smile on his face this year that I haven't seen in other years.”

The former Limerick U21 manager said the prize is huge for Limerick against Kildare in the Tailteann Cup final. Lee's side face Kildare on Saturday July 12 in Croke Park at 2:30pm

“It's absolutely huge, it's a real spotlight for Limerick football. There is huge reward in getting to a Tailteann Cup final and even going one step further and winning it.”