Limerick senior footballers learn their Tailteann Cup group opponents

THE Limerick senior footballers will play Down, Offaly and London in Group four of the Tailteann Cup after the draw was made for the competition this Tuesday afternoon. 

The Shannonsiders are third seeds in the group after being relegated from Division 3 of the Allianz Football League and being knocked out of the Munster championship at the quarter-final stage at the hands of Cork. 

Jimmy Lee's Limerick side will begin their Tailteann Cup campaign with an away trip to Down on the weekend of May 11/12. A week later Limerick will host Offaly on May 18/19. Finally, on the weekend of June 1/2, Limerick will play London in a neutral venue. 

Down will be a difficult assignment for Limerick in the opening round of Tailteann Cup after the Mourne men were narrowly beaten by Armagh in the Ulster semi-final and will be one of the favourites to win the Tailteann Cup. 

There was nothing between Offaly and Limerick when the sides played earlier this year in Division 3 where the Faithful county won by a point. Both counties will see second spot as a realistic target. 

There are 16 teams competiting in the group stages of the Tailteann Cup with the four groups consisting of four teams in each group.

The top four teams will advance to the quarter-finals. All of the teams that finish second, along with the three best third-placed teams and New York, will advance to preliminary quarter-finals. The winners will face the top four teams in the quarter-finals. 

Full fixture details will be confirmed by the C.C.C.C in due course.