Jimmy Lee adds former Limerick footballer to his backroom team for 2026 season

FORMER Limerick footballer Ian Ryan will be part of the Limerick senior footballers backroom team for the 2026 season. Ryan will take up role the role as forwards coach as part of Jimmy Lee's management team. 

The St Senan's clubman made his debut for the Shannonsiders in 2008 and was a crucial player for next decade for his county. In his first championship season Limerick pushed Cork close in the Munster SFC semi-final. Ryan then grabbed all the headlines when he kicked 3-7 in Limerick's 4-12 to 4-3 victory over Meath in the All-Ireland qualifiers. He finished with an impressive tally of 3-20 across four championship matches in 2008. 

This year, Ryan has been involved with Cork Junior football champions Buttevant in a coaching capacity. Buttevant defeated Limerick champions Ahane 2-15 to 0-11 in the Munster JFC semi-final. The Cork champions face Kerry champions Ballymacelligott in the Munster Junior Football Championship final on Saturday December 6. 

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The former Limerick forward will join Micheal Cahill, Evan Talty, Pa Ranahan, Eoin O'Hagan and Dylan Kenny on Jimmy Lee's backroom team. Lee's side returned to training last week and they will begin competitive action in the McGrath Cup at home on Friday January 2 against Tipperary at 7pm and they will then travel to Cork on Sunday January 11 at 2pm. 

After a strong 2025 campaign that saw Limerick win the Division 4 league title and reach the Tailteann Cup final, they will aim to build on that momentum. The Tailteann Cup finalists face Wicklow, Clare, Laois, Sligo, Down, Westmeath and Fermanagh in Division 3 of the Allianz League in 2026. 

Limerick will learn their Munster Senior Football Championship opponents on Thursday evening. Cork or Tipperary or Waterford will be their opponents in the Munster SFC quarter-final on April 10. Kerry and Clare will await the winners in the provincial semi-finals. 

Limerick will be without Iain Corbett in 2026 as the Newcastle West clubman has decided to retire from inter-county football.Goalkeeper Josh Ryan looks set for a spell on the sidelines after he suffered an ACL injury in the Limerick SFC relegation semi-final in action for his club Oola in action against Ballylanders. Darragh O'Hagan will also be out of action for a period after undergoing shoulder surgery last week.

A number of the Limerick senior football backroom team have enjoyed succesful club campaigns. Pa Ranahan and Eoin O'Hagan were part of the Mungret St Paul's backroom team that won their first ever Limerick Senior Football Championship this year. Meanwhile, Evan Talty has also been coaching St Brigid's of Roscommon in 2025 and the Roscommon SFC winners face Moycullen in the Connacht final this weekend.