IT’S UNDERSTOOD that interim Limerick Senior Football manager Mark Fitzgerald, along with his selectors, will be encouraged by the County Football Executive – chaired by Wayne Fitzgerald – to remain in situ for next season.
Fitzgerald, of Kerry club Kerins O’Rahillys (Tralee), only suddenly landed the hotseat following the mid-season departure of Mayo’s Ray Dempsey after a period of unrest within the camp.
Fitzgerald’s short-term contract ended with the Tailteann Cup quarter-final loss to Laois at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday.
At the time of his appointment, Fitzgerald said: “I felt it was too big an opportunity to turn down and I had some time invested in terms of coaching. I felt continuity was the best thing for the group.”
Limerick were denied a Croke Park appearance on Sunday when a horrendous mix-up in defence gifted the visitors a goal (Colm Murphy) almost at the death. The 1-14 to 0-14 victory was sealed in stoppage time when goalkeeper Killian Roche – who made several cracking saves throughout the contest – floated over a lovely point from a dead ball situation, much to the delight of the modest traveling support in an overall attendance of around 1,200.
The Shannonsiders, who led 0-10 to 0-9 at the break, failed to trouble the umpires for the closing 20-odd minutes of the fixture.
In the opening-half, Limerick trio Cillian Fahy, Barry Coleman, and Hugh Bourke were all denied goals by unbeatable Roche. Outside of these chances, Limerick also blazed wide of the target on a couple of occasion.
The game finished in lashing rain, accompanied by frightening claps of thunder.
James Naughton (0-5), Bourke (0-4), and Cian Sheehan (0-2) accounted for the bulk of the Limerick scores.
Laois will meet Down in the semi-final.
Limerick will compete in Division Three of the 2024 National League, following relegation from the higher tier in March.
Limerick: Donal O’Sullivan; Jim Liston, Séan O’Dea, Mike Donovan; Barry Coleman, Iain Corbett, Paul Maher; Cathal Downes, Cillian Fahy; Cian Sheehan, Brian Donovan, Colm McSweeney; James Naughton, Hugh Bourke, Darragh Murray.
Subs: David Connolly, Robbie Bourke, Tony McCarthy, Adrian Enright, Davey Lyons, Tommy Griffin.
Meanwhile, the launch will take place of the Limerick Senior, Intermediate, and Junior Football Championships at Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel, Adare, on Monday evening next.
Holders Newcastle West, Adare, Fr, Casey’s (Abbeyfeale), Monaleen, Ballysteen, and St Kieran’s are viewed as main contenders in the Senior Championship.
