Limerick footballers face trip to Down for Tailteann Cup opener

LIMERICK senior footballers open their Tailteann Cup campaign this weekend when travelling to Newry to face Down in their opening Group D group fixture. Jimmy Lee's side Down at Páirc Esler, Newry this Saturday, May 11 at 4pm.

This will be the first of three fixtures Limerick will play in Group 4 of the competition.

A week later, on the weekend of May 18-19, Limerick will host Offaly, before finally, on the weekend of June 1-2, the Shannonsiders face London in a neutral venue.

Limerick 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.

Limerick lost out 3-13 to 0-11 to the Rebels, but Lee's charges can take positives from a gritty display which saw them lead their rivals 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time.

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 competition.

Limerick's Josh Ryan, who has returned from a long-term injury, and has been lining out in goals for the side this year, said the Shannonsiders were looking to give the Tailteann Cup a 'good rattle'.

Speaking at the launch of the Limerick Leader's GAA coverage partnership with PPS Financial Planning, Ryan said: “Maybe we didn't get a 70-minute performance against Cork the last day, but we know we are good enough to compete and that we are good enough to give this Tailteann Cup a serious rattle.

“We've had a few weeks of a break. There were loads of positives to take from the Cork game as well as from the last few games in the league.

“Look, obviously we have to improve and that is important as well, but we will take learnings away from the Cork game.”
Ryan said the addition of new faces to the Limerick squad this year is exciting.

He added: “It is great to see new, fresh faces inside in the panel. That is exactly what you need.

“Look, it is good for us fellas who are more seasoned than the new guys. They bring something new to it as well every year. It is exciting.

Saturday's opponents Down reached the final of the Tailteann Cup in 2023 before losing out to Meath.