Three visits to Croker in 2025.
That is one more than in the previous 12 years combined for Limerick’s senior footballers.
The glory days enjoyed by the hurling team have not been replicated, but for a sport that is regarded fourth in the Limerick food chain, there is a buzz around Gaelic football here again in the Treaty County.
Senior manager Jimmy Lee is not getting carried away, however. This is not a time to cherish what was done, but to capitalise on what 2025 represented for him and Limerick football.
2025 was the first summer in 14 years that the Limerick footballers’ summer outlasted their hurling counterparts. In what was a remarkable year, the side claimed a Division 4 league title in March, before undertaking a fairytale run to the Tailteann Cup Final, falling just short to Kildare.
“That’s one thing we’re trying to resolve. Stop the peaks and troughs and stabilise it.”
All of these are important steps for what felt like a turning point for football in the county.
“We always were a football county”, joked local journalist Tom Clancy on X following the Tailteann Cup semi-final win. Lee laughs off the competitive talk: “Hurling remains at the top of the ladder; they’ve given great joy to us. From a resurgence point, it is good. That’s one thing we’re trying to resolve. Stop the peaks and troughs and stabilise it.”
The confirmation that Lee would enter a third year with the management back in December ensured that Limerick knew who must lead this charge.
Something is brewing, and it would be easy for him to get lost in the excitement. Yet he remains as cool as ever as we meet in Fr Casey’s GAA Club, an Americano in each hand, which he kindly offers one.
With a 30-year career in HR, Lee is a people person, a trait he clearly brings to Limerick football, and particularly 2025.
“When you put the full year into perspective, a turnaround of 19 players two years ago, and 18 last year, and then we go on that journey. That’s what made it special, the lads really knuckled down and got going.”
The turning of the year came with the end of a 17-game losing streak in the league, defeating London. While the league remains the lesser competition, the monkey off the back was lifted, allowing Lee’s men to express themselves for the remainder of the season.
“It became nearly like an anchor around their necks, and you could see the relief in London, especially with the older lads.”
“A lot of people talk about moral victories; those days are over.”
Considering the progress made last year, Lee is confident that this group can push for more in 2026.
“That’s where you want to be. You want to be competitive, that’s what you try to achieve in a stable environment.”
That ethos is instilled amongst this current Limerick panel. The recent debacle regarding seeding the Munster Football Championship on league position hurt deeply, with his feelings remaining the same despite a delay to 2027.
“We articulated an argument to the county board, and they chose to go their own way.”
Clare, Tipperary and Waterford voted against the change, yet the Limerick county board voted for it, alongside Cork and Kerry.
“There was a fair bit of hurt at the time, you were after a decent year. We articulated an argument to the county board, and they chose to go their own way, rejecting both the players’ and the management’s views.”
“We had honest conversations with them after. They knew where we stood. I am kind of glad it is delayed, but my biggest fear is that I don’t see it improving it [the Munster championship].”
“It’s easy to seed Cork and Kerry. But, for them to improve, they need the four others to raise their game.”
Lee, in typical fashion, plays down the idea that their opening Munster championship tie against Cork is a chance to prove themselves following the seeding debacle. Yet April 12 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh is certainly a date marked on many calendars.
The group is depleted by the absence of goalkeeper Josh Ryan, who tore his cruciate knee ligament in club action. Lee has so far deployed Jeffrey Alfred between the sticks and does not see a miracle return for Ryan this season.
“I’d never stop a lad from trying, and he will have his own targets. He has had horrendous injuries, the leg break in 2022. He remains involved on gamedays; he will be around the place.”
That shows the overall ambition from this year’s panel, and Limerick may just be that team to watch again this summer.