At the post-season review meeting between the Limerick footballers, the County Board and County Football board a routine debrief threatened to turn sour. One side expressed their opposition to seeding the Munster SFC on League standings, the others weren’t certain.
Typically, these annual meetings deal with general issues that affect intercounty football. Coaches, gym, nutrition; that sort of thing. Given the undeniable triumph that was 2025, the team felt entitled to ask for more.
They won the Division 4 league title and made a Tailteann Cup final this year. Now is the time to push forward again.
Part of that includes ensuring the current platform is sustainable. The Limerick footballers are used to a revolving cast of training locations. For 2026, they sought a proper base.
Most of this season was spent at the University of Limerick facility. Management were more than happy with this agreement.
The group invests heavily in their athletic profile. They run internal competitions and publish a digital podium in their WhatsApp group ranking top speeds and specific personal bests. A quality surface ensures sprint mechanics can consistently improve.
UL was their true home. The first time they trained in their home venue that is the Gaelic Grounds was the week of the Munster SFC quarter-final against Cork.
All of this formed part of the discussion. Then attention turned to the proposed changes by the Munster Council. Certain officials indicated they felt differently to the squad. The other side of the table struggled to understand their rationale.
Eventually, chair Seamus McNamara defused the standoff. The group left believing their position would now be taken into consideration.
Throughout this campaign, Limerick have been steered by their own internal mission statement.
It is referenced repeatedly and displayed during pre-game meetings. Sometimes they had to go out and win over the crowd. After players were affected by personal tragedies, they spoke internally about the need to do it for their families.
By July, they were in a rare spot. The senior hurlers were already knocked out which afforded them full access to the Gaelic Grounds and complete interest from the county’s supporters.
Jimmy Lee’s outfit were the only show in town. They had won all hearts over. The message before they took to Croke Park and went down by two points was simple: Do it for yourselves.
The fact that all that effort has now been undermined by last week’s vote is deeply regrettable. Clare, Tipperary and Waterford voted against seeding but Limerick did not, siding with Cork, Kerry and the Munster top-brass.
Lee told the last week he felt that his players had been “knifed in the back” and is seeking an explanation for Limerick’s vote.
The lack of public clarity can partly be explained as key members of the football board are currently on vacation and not due back until next week.
They will meet with the footballers then but in the meantime, players and management are due to convene this Wednesday to discuss their options.
The GPA had already been consulted in relation to a gear allowance grievance in the aftermath of the Tailteann Cup decider. Players felt an entitlement to extras had not been met.
Since last Thursday’s vote, a meeting with Player Welfare & Engagement Manager Colm Begley has been arranged and fellow reps in other counties have been contacted.
All of this is unfolding with an obvious risk. There is a complete understanding among Lee and his team that publicly outlining their feeling is a gamble. The unfortunate reality is that this a pivotal moment for Limerick football. They’ve walked this road before.
In 2018, Billy Lee, Jimmy’s brother, was the manager who almost stopped his team from fielding in the Munster SFC quarter-final after an administration error forced him to omit a player from his plans.
The County Board subsequently issued a statement to clarify several matters, including the arrangement of team meals.
On the administration issue, they explained an email received by the secretary on the Wednesday night could not be accessed until after the team deadline on Thursday morning.
At the time, Lee revealed that 53 players had declined his invitation to join the panel that season, a striking number that underscored how deep the wounds ran. It was crucial, not just for the current generation but for those to come, that they strive for a higher standard.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. In 2013, the Munster Council’s decision to introduce seeding for the 2014 competition proved deeply unpopular. Limerick were one of the counties that originally voted in favour of the move.
Eight players met to discuss their options.
Clare trio Gary Brennan, Gordon Kelly and Joe Hayes, Limerick’s Stephen Kelly and Seanie Buckley, Tipperary pair George Hannigan and Brian Fox, and Waterford’s Shane Briggs elected to send letters to their respective county boards seeking an emergency meeting.
At the Munster GAA headquarters, a motion to return to an open draw was ruled out of order. Limerick stalwart Pa Ranahan took to social media to suggest they would consider a ‘nuclear’ option and boycott the 2014 competition.
Ranahan is now a member of the current management team. He knows the history and the struggles. They all know what is required for the county to progress.
Right now, the focus should be on how such counties can rise through the ranks.
Could a Limerick amalgamation compete in the Corn Uí Mhuirí? Can this group kick on and continue to compete for silverware? After all, success breeds success.
To do all of that, they need to feel like they have the backing of their own.
