Limerick football manager Jimmy Lee relishing Tailteann Cup final against Kildare

LIMERICK senior football manager Jimmy Lee has emphasised that building a strong bond within the squad has been a key focus for both management and players this year.

“It's not the big things, it's the small things having the craic after training, sitting down together having a bite to eat whether you are with the U20's, Iain Corbett or Micheal Cahill. You're having that bit of fun and banter, that's what makes it so special,” said Jimmy Lee.

Lee felt it was important for players to get to know each other after training.

“It's one way of getting to know each other, last year you were going in grabbing your food and going out the door. This year, you're sitting down for a half hour with different people and for the lads to have bit of fun and banter. That goes for the management team, we get to know each other as well a bit more in-depth. There's massive positives in that regard.”

In his second year in charge of Limerick, Jimmy Lee believes the setbacks of his first season including relegation to Division 4 and a heavy Tailteann Cup quarter-final defeat to Sligo have stood to his squad.

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“It probably has, resilience is something you build within yourself, but the real challenge is instilling it across the group. These lads are playing for Limerick, and there’s resilience in them.

“If you're Iain, Cillian, Paul Maher and Danny Neville they have been through those peaks and troughs. They have an abundance of character, if you get on well with each other you know you're going to fight for each other. That's built into them and that's what they are doing for each other.”

2025 has seen Limerick win the Division 4 league title and reach this year's Tailteann Cup final. The Shannonsiders’ have won nine games across league and championship this year.

“We speak an awful lot about strength and depth, we would have said it prior to the injuries happening. All the injuries are proving ourselves right, we would love to have everyone. The lads that are beyond the 26 equally could have been there.

“I'd be very happy with each and every one of them depending on who you have to go into battle with, but it's those that are the fittest that are going to be there,” added Lee.

Limerick manager Jimmy Lee says his side are in a strong position ahead of the Tailteann Cup final against Kildare.

It's a great place to be at this time of the year, massive excitement.”

There is a great buzz around Limerick football at the minute. Captain Cillian Fahy, a teacher in Broadford, has witnessed first hand the positive impact Limerick football’s success has had on the younger generation.

“There's a good story about Cillian's school where they all wanted to be the next James Naughton. It's great for the boys, it's special for them.”