After tough league campaign, Limerick ladies footballers switch focus to Munster Championship

IT HAS been a difficult start to 2026 for the Limerick ladies football side.

Even before the side got back together for pre-season training, a number of players from last year’s squad made themselves unavailable for the upcoming campaign.

As if dealing with so many new players was tough enough they had a change in manager after just one game in the Lidl National League, John Lynch replacing Patrick O’Connor just weeks into his tenure.

What was already going to be a difficult Division 3 campaign - Limerick play at junior level in the championship whereas six of their seven opponents compete at intermediate level - turned out to be impossible.

Seven defeats and relegation back to Division 4 followed.

For Limerick and Lauren Ryan - one of the few experienced players in the squad - attention quickly turns to the Munster ‘B’ Championship and a chance to compete at a level which has seen them win the last two provincial titles. In fact, in the young history of the competition, Limerick have never failed to reach the final.

“We play Clare - that’s their first team - and Kerry, Cork and Tipp all have put in ‘B’ teams this year,” explained Ryan at the championship launch in Thurles.

“It’s a nice place to get more games especially with our pre-season and the way the league has gone.”

The Munster ‘B’ Championship, now in its fourth season, has been a great addition to the calendar for Limerick, bridging the gap between league and championship.

“In previous years, we maybe had a big gap when the Munster 'B' Championship didn’t exist.

“We would have 10 weeks off before the All-Ireland and that period was often tough to keep girls motivated, to keep training tough and keep on the go before the All-Ireland Championship so having those Munster Championship games are really important,” Ryan said.

Limerick open the campaign away to Tipperary, before hosting Clare in round 2. Lynch’s side then travel to Kerry before a home match with Cork as they bid to reach the May 24 final.

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