Limerick target Cork upset in Munster SFC opener

THE Limerick senior footballers will be getting their championship season underway on Sunday when they travel to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh to face Cork in the Munster SFC quarter-final.

Jimmy Lee's side will be looking to make a statement on Leeside after a disappointing Allianz League campaign which saw the Shannonsiders relegated to Division 4.

The 2025 Tailteann Cup runners-up finished their league campaign on five points, boasting a record of two wins, one draw and four losses which wasn't enough to avoid the drop back to Division 4 for 2027.

They will be facing a Cork side who enjoyed a positive league campaign, topping Division 2 on 12 points.

Despite topping the table, John Cleary's charges were beaten in a highly entertaining league final in Croke Park last month, where they were edged by Meath on scoreline of 1-22 to 2-17.

Limerick's Barry Coleman admits his side are disappointed with how their league campaign played out.

“I think when we look back on the whole league campaign, you take the start like the draw against Laois and the one point lost to Down, but the Sligo game is probably was the main one, losing by three points up there kind of seemed to be turning point.

“We were beaten by eight against Clare and then by 15 against Westmeath which is never nice but look as a whole, the league campaign was extremely disappointing considering where we had hoped to be at this time of the year.”

Coleman says there is a different feel in the camp now that the league campaign is behind the team as his side prepare for their Munster Championship quarter-final.

“There's a completely different feel around the place when it comes to championship.

“The league is extremely important as well but championship is where special victories can take place.

“With the Tailteann Cup run last year, that was probably our most enjoyable year with Limerick in a long, long time and it just has that different feel about it.

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The Rathkeale native is under no illusions as to how tough the challenge of 'The Rebels' will be but stressed that there is belief within the camp that a 'scalp' can be taken when the Shannonsiders take to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

“Cork are gone up to Division 1 and we're Division 4 so it's the maximum between us.

“They're definitely going to be massive favourites as well, and rightfully so.

“There's still a massive season there. There's a scalp to be taken in the Munster Championship.

“I think everyone in the camp believes that we can take that scalp as well.

“The mood in the camp is really high so that's what we're aiming towards at the minute,” Coleman concluded.