Five Things We Learned | Limerick deliver under pressure (again), Croke Park beckons & Division Two is stacked for 2023

Limerick sealed their place in the second tier of the National Football League for 2023 after they beat Fermanagh at the weekend.

A 1-16 to 0-14 win over the Ulster outfit was enough to end a fifteen year wait for the Limerick footballers who earned promotion from Division 3 for next year.

Josh Ryan’s first half goal had Limerick leading by three at the break as they dominated the second half.

Limerick now have a League final with Louth to look forward to but before that we look at five thigs we learned form the game at the weekend.

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Limerick avoid the maiden season of the Tailteann Cup

Much of the public has been clamouring for a tiered All-Ireland Football Championship, akin to the one the hurling provides, for years with the dominance of Dublin, Kerry and Tyrone accounting for all but four of the All-Ireland titles since the turn of the century. Galway (2001), Armagh (2002), Cork (2010) and Donegal (2012) the outliers.

The resistance to that has softened with the introduction of the Tailteann Cup, a second tier of the All-Ireland that involves sides in Division 3 & 4 unless one of those reaches their provincial final. Prior to the League, Limerick knew that failure to gain promotion would mean they needed to reach the Munster final to progress to the All-Ireland proper.

Now, a place in the Sam Maguire championship is assured regardless of the outcome against Clare on April 30. And while no one would have disputed a run in the Tailteann Cup, Limerick’s recent performances have shown they belong in the top tier.

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When backs are against the wall, this Limerick always shows up

Rarely does Limerick football take the easy route, and while this side is similar in that regard, they rarely fail to deliver when needed. Being wrote off heading into the Munster quarter-final with Tipp in Semple Stadium in 2019, Billy Lee’s side were comprehensive 3-11 to 1-10 winners, sealing a first Muster championship win in seven years.

In 2020, Limerick had the chance to seal promotion against Wexford in Mick Neville Park. But defeat meant that a win was a must to ensure promotion against Sligo in Markievicz Park. Lee’s men led from start to finish with a brilliant 1-16 to 1-14 victory sealing a move back to Division 3 after four years in the bottom tier.

Last year, Limerick traveled to Wicklow knowing a reversal would see them into a relegation play-off in their maiden year back in the third tier. But again, Lee’s side made little of the notoriously difficult trip, putting the hosts to the sword in a 2-19 to 1-12 win in Aughrim.

In this campaign, trips to Antrim, Wicklow and Portlaoise yielded three wins that meant a victory against Fermanagh would guarantee promotion for the second time in three years. And with pressure on the Shannonsiders to perform, they more than did that, again keeping their opponents at bay for a memorable and richly deserved victory.

Next year, every clash will be a backs to the wall job but this side have shown in spades that they can deliver under pressure.

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Division Two of the 2023 NFL is stacked

Speaking of next year, Limerick will be in Division Two of the League for the first time in fifteen years and Billy Lee’s side are certainly facing into the Lions den in terms of the strength of the opposition. The eight team division will include Dublin who won six All-Ireland’s in a row between 2015-2020.

2023 NFL Division Two

1. Dublin
2. Clare
3. Cork
4. Derry
5. Kildare
6. Limerick
7. Louth
8. Meath

None of those games will be an easy for Limerick but its the level Lee and his side have earned to be operating at. Clare will provide the inspiration as a team who steadily built before consistently sustaining their place in Division 2 and with the sides to meet in the Munster quarter-final, it will act as an interesting subplot.

Maintaining their divisional status for 2024 will be priority number one but the way this side has been building, anything is a possibility.

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Opportunity for revenge against Louth beckons

As mentioned, Limerick so often take the hard route. Leading by Louth by five with time ticking down in UL in February, the Shannonsiders looked home and hosed for a third successive League win to start the campaign. But the Leinster side hit seven on the trot to secure the victory as Limerick’s promotion battle went down to the wire.

That result in Castletroy meant Limerick’s safety wasn’t guaranteed until the final kick of a ball in Portaloise in round six.

Nonetheless, Limerick will have ample motivation when the teams meet this Saturday in Croke Park at 4.45pm.

Yes, promotion will have been the aim for this side, with a league title just the cherry on top.

But striking while the iron is hot is important as the competition increases week on week as Limerick seek a third piece of silverware since the start of 2020.

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Limerick are Croke Park bound for the first time since 2013

The League final will also offer a host of players the chance to make their Croke Park debuts with GAA HQ the venue for Saturday’s final. Limerick not only missed out on a chance to play in Croker, but also a league final in 2020, with no decider played due to the condensed nature of the season.

Limerick’s previous venture to Croke Park came in 2013 when they saw off Offaly in the Division 4 final. A couple of face remain in the set up from nine years ago with joint captains Donal O’Sullivan and Iain Corbett both starting on that day,

O’Sullivan was named in goals while Corbett kicked a point, operating in the full forward line. Darrragh Treacy also featured off the bench that day with the trio now integral parts of the team.

Trips to Croker don’t come around too often and Limerick will be keen to make this Saturday a memorable one.