Lee aiming to foster a winning mentality with footballers

For the second time in four years, Billy Lee will lead Limerick’s footballers into the McGrath Cup final as they face Cork in the decider at the LIT Gaelic Grounds. Victories over Clare and Waterford ensured Limerick’s progress into the pre-season final where they will meet a much-fancied Cork who have had big wins over Kerry and Tipperary.

While the competition is largely overlooked, the importance of winning cannot go overlooked as he prepares for the commencement of the league later this month.

“It’s all about winning and when you are winning matches it builds confidence in the boys and that’s the big thing about it.”

“We were on this journey three years ago, we beat Clare and Waterford, brought Kerry to extra time in the final before the season fizzled out so we are not getting carried away with ourselves.”

“We were able to give fellas games, we’ve a lot of lads out and we were still able to win those two games with established fellas out so getting into the winning mentality is the big bonus out of getting to the final.”

As mentioned, football in Cork is on the rise once more after much progression in the championship in 2018. Many of the All-Ireland U-20 winning side have already been integrated into the side for this year.

Albeit against a Kerry U-20 side, Cork raised six green flags to go with eighteen points before they had 14 points to spare against Tipperary with Lee is fully aware of the challenge on hand against the Rebels.

“Obviously Cork are in great shape at the moment. We played them in a challenge before Christmas and it was a really competitive affair.”

“They beat us but they’re trying fellas out and have varying teams so like us they are just trying to hit the ground running. They’re trying to get out of Division 3 and most importantly for them, be in Tier 1 of the Championship.”

Nonetheless, Lee is hopeful for another win on Saturday as he tries to build momentum for the League. Once more Limerick will be in the bottom tier of the League, where they have found themselves for the past two seasons.

However, while results didn’t go their way last year, Limerick had a number of positive performances and Lee is hopeful that 2020 will change that, with results to match the performance, continuing on Saturday.

“For ourselves, it’s about getting form the bottom of Division 4 to the top of it and whether that’s get promotion or not, let results dictate that but we have to realistically be fighting for that.”

“That’s always been the aim but we have two years under our belt and we have got to build on that. Performances were good last year but we have to get results this year.”

Even as huge outsiders, Lee says his side will approach the game with the same mindset that has delivered two wins thus far in 2020.

“Winning two games in preseason isn’t exactly being used to winning but it’s a start for us. We’ll go with the same attitude we have had for the previous two games.”