Jimmy Lee looking forward to 'tough assignment' as Tailteann Cup opponents revealed
Jimmy Lee's Limerick footballers are back in action on the weekend of May 9/10
LIMERICK will face familiar foes as they get set to commence their Tailteann Cup campaign next month.
After the draw on Monday afternoon, Jimmy Lee's side were drawn to face Wexford away from home.
The sides have had plenty of battles in the last 18 months with Limerick defeating the Slaneysiders in the Tailteann Cup quarter-final last year en route to the final.
This win came less than three months after getting the better of the Leinster county in the Allianz Football League Division 4 final in Croke Park.
When the sides met in Mick Neville Park Rathkeale, earlier this year, Lee's men once again came out on top, 1-15 to 1-14.
However, since then both sides have seen contrasting fortunes in the rest of the spring with Limerick being relegated and Wexford earning promotion to Division 2 for the 2027 league.
“It’s a tough draw, a tough assignment to be fair about it,” said Limerick manager Lee.
“You have to venture down there.
“We know a lot about Wexford and they know a lot about us. We’ve met three times in the last 18 months so it’s a tough draw but, look, that’s the hand of cards that we have. It’s about knuckling down and getting on with it.”
Two weeks after the Munster Senior Football Championship defeat to Cork, Limerick’s preparation can go up a notch now that they know their next opponents.
“You can specifically train with a focus on the game,” Lee said.
“Training has been decent enough over the last few weeks, we’re happy enough with where it’s at.
“Now we know the hand of cards we’re dealt so it’s a case of moving on with it for the first round and seeing where the journey will take us.”
Limerick come into the Tailteann Cup after putting forth an “encouraging” second half performance at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh after conceding four goals in the opening period.
Playing against the elements in the second half, the Shannonsiders outscored the hosts 1-9 to 0-6 to ensure they enter the second-tier competition with some degree of confidence.
“I suppose disappointed in the first half and happy with the second half would be the assessment of it,” reflected Lee on the trip to Cork.
“We were extremely competitive in the second half but we were disappointed with the first. It’s all about putting 70 minutes of a performance and see where the result takes us at that stage.”
Wexford enter the Tailteann Cup on the back of a heavy 1-25 to 0-11 defeat to Louth.
The match will take place on the weekend of May 9/10.
Tailteann Cup draw: Fermanagh v Longford, Laois v Wicklow, Clare v Offaly, Carlow v Antrim, Wexford v Limerick, Cavan/Westmeath/Down v Leitrim, Sligo v Tipperary, Waterford v London.