'Limerick football is in a good place' says Cillian Fahy

LIMERICK senior football captain Cillian Fahy has admitted that 2025 was the most enjoyable year he had in the green and white jersey.This year saw Limerick win the Division Four league title and reach the Tailteann Cup final.

“Over the last couple of weeks before we came back, I watched a couple of games. It really was a great year, it was definitely the best year and the most enjoyable year of my playing career so far. And just being able to look back on some of those bits over last couple of weeks has been nice aswell,” Cillian Fahy told Leader Sport.

Fahy said the focus has now switched to 2026 for the Limerick senior footballers and they are now hoping to build on this year's season.

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“Having such a positive year in 2025, we really want to repeat that and see how far you can push it on. There is a great buzz around the place at the moment and there is a real want for fella's to emulate what we did in 2025 and it's seeing how far we can bring this now and what we can improve on.”

The Dromcollogher-Broadford native said it is a different feeling not having Iain Corbett in the dressing room.

“You are not going t replace Iain with any one player or you're not going to replace what he was as a footballer or who he is as a person. He's a big loss, there's no other way other way of saying that. It gives other fella's an opportunity now to step up and try fill the void that he is leaving.”

Turnover has been a big issue in the Limerick senior football squad in the past but this year the turnover is very little and that shows signs of progression according to Fahy.

“There is a good few fresh faces, there is a couple up from the U20's and there ia a few brought in from the club season. It's great to have those lads involved and it's a massive sign of progress that there is a lot of fella's that want to be involved this year.

“The turnover rate over the last couple of years was quite high and to keep the turnover rate relatively low this year and to add fresh faces is great for the competiveness of the panel and shows that Limerick football is in a good place.”

Limerick begin their McGrath Cup campaign against Tipperary on Friday at 7pm in Mick Neville Park.

“It gives a focus and a structure for the players, it didn't really bother me one way or not if the McGrath Cup came back or not. It led to an earlier return to training date which is good in a way, we are looking forward to the games butfrom a players point of view we would have had games in those days either way. It's good from the outisde that people can come and see these games, it doesn't really put us out. “

Limerick's first aim will be to retain their Division 3 status in 2026 says Fahy. 

“It's a very strong Division 3, we haven't sat down and talked about our goals for the season. That's the obvious goal to consolidate our Division 3 status, and accumualate as many points as possible in our first five games. We'd hoping that after that we are in a good enough place but the main goal is definitely to stay up,” added Fahy.