Footballers welcome Laois for Tailteann Cup quarter-final

The Treaty qualified for the quarters with a game to spare but were beaten in their most recent encounter in a dead rubber.

Limerick are in action in the Tailteann Cup quarter-final this Saturday, as they host Laois at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, throwing in at 3pm.

The Treaty topped Group 3, which consisted of Carlow, Longford and Wicklow, although Fitzgerald’s side will need an improvement from their last game, where they disappointingly lost to the Garden County. However the result came after their qualification had already been secured following the opening round wins, and perhaps the Shannonsiders could have been accused of taking their foot off the gas.

It is Limerick’s first year competing in the competition since it’s 2022 inception, and they will fancy their chances of beating Laois and making it to the semi-final stage with those last four clashes down for decision in Croke Park next Sunday.

Mark Fitzgerald’s men go into the game as favourites, priced at 1/2 while their opponents can be got at slightly higher odds of 2/1. The Shannonsiders are ranked fifth out of the eight sides as favourites to win the competition outright at 7/1, ahead of Laois, who are way out at 25/1.

Laois competed last weekend in their preliminary quarter-final, where they overcame Fermanagh, and booked their trip to the Ennis Road. The O’Moore county had to play a preliminary round to earn their quarter-final spot, following a third place finish in Group 1, which consisted of Cavan, Offaly and London.

The win over Fermanagh came as somewhat of a shock with the Ulster outfit earning promotion earlier this season and further highlighting the danger of Laois this Saturday.

It is a contrast to Limerick who will be hoping to bounce back after that defeat to Wicklow. Although it was an underwhelming loss to the Leinster outfit, Fitzgerald had made a number of changes to his side, which seemed to halt their momentum. The Shannonsiders will be hoping the likes of James Naughton and Peter Nash, who have been crucial in their campaign thus far, can return to electric form this Saturday.

They are also likely to be buoyed by a fully fit Iain Corbett and Robbie Bourke who returned to the side last time following spells on the sideline.

At the outset of the year, were they resigned to the second tier Alll-Ireland, Limerick would have been aiming for the last four of the Tallteann Cup at the least. Now they have home advantage in their bid to secure that semi-final berth in GAA HQ.

Last year they ended an eight-year wait to return to Croke Park and will be desperate to book their slot in next weekend’s games.

If they can perform as they ddi against Clare, Longford and Carlow is successive outings, they should have enough for Laois. If not, they could be in danger of crashing out.

Limerick host Laois in the Tailteann Cup quarter-final this Saturday at 3pm in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

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