'There will always be positives' - Limerick senior football manager looks ahead to Wexford clash

ALTHOUGH winless in their first two outings back in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League, there have been plenty of positives for Jimmy Lee and his side to take as they prepare for the visit of Wexford on Sunday week to Mick Neville Park.

READ MORE: Munster Rugby players added to Ireland XV squad ahead of England 'A' fixture at Thomond Park

Lee and his management team have been experimental in the opening two rounds of this year's league, fielding a mixture of youth and experience, with the Shannonsiders performing admirably against Laois and Down, who are among the favourites to win promotion from the division.

A late Eliah O'Riordan two-pointer ensured Limerick would leave O'Moore Park with a point two weeks ago.

The Treaty County looked to be on course to pick up their second point last weekend when level ate on with Down at Mick Neville Park but a late Shane Annett point in the 74th minute meant that Conor Laverty's side would be leaving Rathkelae with two points, maintaining their 100% start.

After the match, manager Jimmy Lee was disappointed that his side didn't take something from the tie with their Ulster opponents.

"We're disappointed, no points on the board which is the big thing for us, we were a bit up and down in the first half, we didn't do what we said we would and you get nothing for moral victories so I suppose it's hard at the moment to put it into words,” Lee said.

"The lads know it, we just have to dust ourselves off and go again against Wexford in two weeks’ time."

Despite his disappointment, Lee acknowledged that there were positives to take from his side's one-point defeat.

"There were positives to take away from it absolutely, there will always be positives, it's just that the initial reaction after the game is the disappointment factor.

"We’ll sit down and have a look at it, there were positives and negatives but at the end of the day, they're young fellas and they're trying their best, I think we finished the game with only six or seven players from the Tailteann Cup final so we have to put that into context too.

"We just have to dust ourselves off and go again, we are in the exact same position that we were in last year, the next match is very important and that's the reality of it."

Lee said that his side were much improved in the second half of Saturday's tie. The hosts were three points behind at the break, with the Limerick manager claiming his side made it ‘too easy’ for the visitors in the first half.

"We made it easy for Down to defend against us in the first half, but we improved after the break and had the chances to win, but it boiled down to wrong decision making at times which is something we've got to address."

Limerick sit fifth in the Division Three table after the opening two rounds, level on points with Laois, who they drew with a fortnight ago.