Limerick football manager Jimmy Lee: 'We're hoping to build something'

LIMERICK senior football manager Jimmy Lee paid tribute to his side's performance in Saturday's Tailteann Cup final defeat to Kildare.

“These lads, they're special, they're mad about the jersey. They have fierce pride and passion in what they do. And sometimes it's not easy to walk tall.”

Jimmy Lee admitted that gaelic football is down the pecking order in Limerick but the Newcastle West native is proud of the effort his team put in this year.

“I saw an interview with Cillian [Fahy] before the game, and, unfortunately, football is the fourth sport, probably, in Limerick. But they still walk tall. They still put in the effort.”

Limerick supporters have plenty of reasons to be optimistic heading into the 2026 Division 3 campaign. The Shannonsiders earned promotion to Division 3 this year after winning the Division 4 league title. Lee's charges recorded five consecutive victories during the Tailteann Cup.

READ NEXT: WATCH: Limerick manager Jimmy Lee reacts to his side's Tailteann Cup final defeat

“We were in a shop during the week and people were asking for their autographs. I was talking to a girl yesterday, her young fella plays with Claughan, but this young fella wants to play football again. That's what they have done.

“Coming off the field there and seeing people looking to meet them, that's very special for the boys. Sometimes you don't have that happen, but that's the journey they're on, and that's the journey we'd hope they'd stay on because Division 3 is next year. It's a phenomenally competitive division on paper. But we're hoping to build something, and it has to be sustainable," added Lee. 

Limerick football has been through it's up and downs over the last number but their performances in 2025 has given this team something to build on.

“Limerick football has been through peaks and troughs, peaks and troughs. Even if we could get to a flat line and say, you're sustaining it year on year. Whatever we build, it's got to be progressive, looking forward all the time, and sustainable.”

It is set to be a quick turnaround for the Limerick senior footballers with the club championship getting underway this week.
Each team is guaranteed five group games. The sides that top each group will progress directly to the SFC semi-finals. The second-placed team in each group will meet the third-placed side from the opposite group in the quarter-finals.

Oola face Na Piarsaigh in Caherconlish on Thursday evening at 7pm. 2023 county champions Newcastle West take on Mungret St Paul's in Adare on Friday at 7pm.

Adare and Fr Casey's meet in a repeat of last year's county final on Saturday evening at 4pm in Newcastle West. Intermediate county champions Rathkeale make their return to senior football on Saturday evening at 5pm in Croom against Monaleen.
In the final game of the weekend, Kildimo-Pallaskenry face Ballylanders at 7pm in Kilmallock.Galtee Gaels and St Kieran's will face off in round one on Tuesday August 12 at 7pm in Ballyagran.

In Group One, Rathkeale, Monaleen, Adare, Fr Casey’s, Na Piarsaigh, and Oola will battle for a place in the knockout stages. Group Two features Newcastle West, Mungret St Paul’s, Kildimo-Pallaskenry, Ballylanders, Galtee Gaels, and St Kieran’s.