“We learned a few lessons in Division Two” | Mark Fitzgerald happy with Limerick response in Tailteann Cup opener

The Treaty saw off a late comeback against a spirited Longford side to pick up the points as they face a winner takes all clash with Carlow on Saturday.

It was a long time coming but Limerick’s second win of the year was secured on Saturday night with a three point win over Longford to kick start their Tailteann Cup campaign.

A late Tommy Griffin score was needed to edge the Leinster outfit who fought back with a late flurry following goals from Cathal Downes and Brian Donovan that had Limerick comfortable.

With their previous 2023 win coming back in January against Waterford in their opening clash of the year, Mark Fitzgerald was happy with his sides performance, taking the lessons from a difficult league and munster semi-final defeat.

“They’re an experienced bunch and obviously we probably learned a good few lessons along the way in division two when you’re playing the quality that we were playing. You watch how teams do it from from that side so look we’re happy enough with a couple of aspects but obviously plenty to work on.

“There were patches during the year where we probably did play well but just wasn’t consistent enough and we were making errors during the league that you just get punished really badly on. So look we’re happy to get the win and happy to start the competition off on on a decent note.”

Following an impressive display against Clare in the provincial semi-final as they came up just short, Fitzgerald was delighted to see the standard set by his side in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

The Treaty saw off a late comeback against a spirited Longford side to pick up the points as they face a winner takes all clash with Carlow on Saturday.

But Fitzgerald isn’t getting ahead of himself as they prepare for a clash with fellow first round winners.

“I mean it was always going to be a difficult task to get back up to that level, the semi-final of it of the Munster championship and we were trying to get back to where we were last year. But no I thought the lads did well in, in patches, we just probably took the foot off the gas at a couple of couple of times and and Longford punished us and probably could have punished us a little bit more only for Donie (O’Sullivan) to be fair made one or two great saves.

“But look I think we’re going in the right direction but we gotta go and look after business in Carlow.

“We’ve trained well over the last couple of weeks got good good energy back in the group and look we have good players you know they’re good lads you know but um as I said it was a tough league campaign and sometimes you they don’t get the credit they deserve you know what I mean but sure look you know we’ll see we’ll see how things go pan out.”

Limerick face Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park in the second round of the Tailteann Cup on Saturday May 20 at 3pm.

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