All roads lead to Croker for Limerick's Tailteann Cup final against Kildare

THE LIMERICK SENIOR FOOTBALLERS will aim to create history today in the Tailteann Cup final against Kildare. The action gets underway at 2:30pm in Croke Park and the decider will form part of a double header with the All-Ireland senior football championship semi-final between Kerry and Tyrone.

Limerick senior football manager Jimmy Lee has admitted that injury concerns remain within his squad ahead of this weekend's Tailteann Cup final against Kildare.James Naughton and Emmet Rigter were forced off through injury in the second half of Limerick's gritty Tailteann Cup semi-final victory over Wicklow. Cormac Woulfe, Colm McSweeney and Fiachra Cotter also remain sidelined through injury.

“We still have a few concerns and probably won't know the full extent of them until early this week. It's no different than any squad this time of year, there'll always be knocks,” said Limerick senior football manager Jimmy Lee at the TUS Gaelic Grounds speaking at a media event ahead of the Tailteann Cup final

After Limerick's victory over Wicklow in the semi-final, Jimmy Lee's side had three weeks to prepare for their clash with Kildare.

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This will be the Shannonsiders’ second time competing in a national final in Croke Park this year after their win in the Division 4 league final earlier this year.

“It's massively important for Limerick football to be in a national final, obviously we had one already this year, it's massive to be in two. On the pathway of the journey it's massive but it just doesn't stop there, it's beyond that.”

Limerick have recorded victories over London, Antrim, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow during the Tailteann Cup, while their opponents Kildare have gotten the better of Sligo, Tipperary, Leitrim, Offaly and Fermanagh on their route to the final.
Lee is expecting a big challenge from Leinster challengers Kildare.

“Kildare will be a step up, but that's where we want to be, if you were to look into the future that's where we want to be. We're going to test it and find out where we are at, we won't be long knowing the journey we have to go.

“It's not a surprise (that we are underdogs), it's actually a better challenge in terms of the direction we want to go in.”
Brian Flanagan has replaced Glenn Ryan as Kildare senior football manager this year and he guided ‘the Lilywhites’ back to Division Two League football this year.

The winners of Saturday afternoon's Tailteann Cup decider will be guaranteed Sam Maguire football for the 2026 season.

“It's a big prize to win a national final, not to mind playing in the Sam Maguire next year, we'll focus on our own principles of play, that's what we can control,” manager Jimmy Lee added