Tailteann Cup final is 'biggest day of my career' says Limerick vice-captain Barry Coleman

2025 has been a difficult year for Limerick senior football vice-captain Barry Coleman. Coleman had difficult injuries to deal with this year.

“Throughout the league, I tore my quad and then I tore my hamstring when I came back twice nearly in the space of two weeks.

“I just needed to take a bit of time to get it right, it's hard when the lads are going so well, I'm just happy to be on the other side of it,” admits Limerick senior footballer Barry Coleman.

Coleman said there has been challenges physically and mentally this year posed by the injuries.

“For me personally, it's been an extremely difficult year both physically and mentally. It's extremely frustrating and difficult to put into words, injuries are part of the game. That's something that you have to come to the realisation with. I hope that it's last of my injuries for a long time.”

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Coleman made a significant impact off the bench in Limerick's victory over Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup semi-final scoring two points.

“When I was called upon, the heart starts racing 90 miles an hour. You're getting to play on a field that you always wanted to play on all your life. All I wanted to do is whatever I could do for the team, whether that be get on a ball to try and bring a bit of pace into the game or whatever it might be. I suppose, I got two scores but at the end of the day, I was just in the right position, it was the lads that worked it up and I happened to be there to kick them over the bar.”

The West Limerick native is looking forward to Saturday's Tailteann Cup decider back at GAA HQ.

“It's the biggest day of my career, an All-Ireland medal would mean the world to me to be honest. You win that with the group that we have at the moment and share memories with them is what is going to stick with you for the rest of your life.”

There is huge excitement around the county and within the squad, said Coleman. Supporters were able to meet the players in an open training session ahead of the final.

“Last week was probably the start of it for fellas to realise how big it is, with the open night and seeing how many people turned out. I suppose chatting to parents and children and just hearing how they can't wait to go and play football.

“We are really excited, three times in a year in Croke Park it's the stuff of dreams. There's buzz around the camp and everybody is hopping off each other fighting for positions. We are really looking forward to it.”

Coleman is hopeful that he can inspire the next generation of footballers from Rathkeale. His clubmates Adam Shanagher and Andrew Meade are also part of the Limerick panel.Rathkeale won the intermediate football championship last year.

“All I can is hope that it encourages people in Rathkeale to play football. At the same time, I get down to the field whenever I can whenever I'm asked. All I want to do is help Rathkeale.

“Last year was a massive step for us getting up from intermediate and even the crowd at the intermediate final and the children there."

The tough days have stood to Limerick, according to Coleman.

“To get to these good days, you have bad days, last year was difficult throughout the league. It probably finished on a low last year but we had games in there, you look at us beating Offaly by eight points, Offaly now are promoted to Division two.

“You have to have bad days to have good days, having those bad days make the good days ten times better. That feeling when the final whistle goes in the Allianz League final, that feeling when we won against Wicklow after being seven points down.

“That team last year would have given up being seven points down, I think that just emphasizes what we have this year.”

The Rathkeale clubman is expecting a big challenge from Kildare in Saturday's Tailteann Cup final.

“Kildare are rightly so favourites, they have extremely good players Daniel Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, they are top quality forwards. They are a division ahead of us, they got promoted to Division 2 this year, but at the end of the day we have players on our team that are just as good as their players.”