Tipp Under 20 Hurling team named for Limerick start
The Tipperary under 20 hurlers become the latest team from the county to enter the championship arena when they take on Limerick in their first game of the Munster Championship on Friday evening.
By Shane Brophy
LIMERICK v TIPPERARY
Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale
Friday, 12th April
Throw-in @ 7.00pm.
Referee: Shane Scanlon (Cork)
The competition did get underway last Friday when Tipperary were on the bye, with defending Munster and All-Ireland champions Cork impressively winning in Waterford while Limerick fell to a one point defeat to Clare in Sixmilebridge.
“They were very good,” said Tipperary manager Brendan Cummins of how Limerick performed.
“As you would expect from any team coming out of Limerick, the workrate was unbelievable and their forwards were really good, and that was with Shane O’Brien coming off with twenty minutes left so they are a team more than having key individuals as well.
“Clare were very strong as well, so I didn’t see anything up there that I expect anyway that this championship is going to be like the senior one, unbelievably competitive.”
Tipperary go into the game with a number of injury concerns to Darragh McCarthy (ankle), Aaron O’Halloran, Joe Egan and Darragh Guinan (all hamstrings) but the first two have made the starting fifteen.
“We have to try and work out do we risk them on Friday night or wait until the Waterford match,” Cummins said.
“Other than that, everyone has been in good nick. We have a good strong panel and depth that fellas will be called upon and see how they get on.”
Optimism within the county about the chances for success for the Tipperary under 20’s this year are thin on the ground but it is a talented group, largely made of players that tasted success with the minor hurlers in 2022 as well as Harty Cups in this year and last.
“The bulk of the panel will be underage again next year,” Cummins revealed.
“The bulk of the team that is likely to play on Friday night will be underage again next year but if you are good enough you are old enough and that is the way it is.”
He added: “The success of Tipperary teams in the Harty Cup has been fantastic.
“We got a good taste of it last year when Cashel and Thurles played in the final and we had eleven players involved.
“There are four Nenagh lads in with us this year, so I’d like to think we have a depth of panel there which has meant that training has been extremely competitive.
“But it is only when we play on Friday night in the first five minutes where we will know really where we are at.
“That is always the mystery and is why Limerick will have that slight advantage as they have played a game, even though they lost narrowly, they know what they have, and what they have is good from what I saw.”
Tipperary team v Limerick
1 (GK) Eoin Horgan Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams
2 Chris O'Donnell Ballylooby/Castlegrace
3 Aaron O'Halloran Carrick Swan
4 Podge O'Dwyer Killenaule
5 Ronan Connolly Cashel Kings Cormacs
6 Ben Currivan (CAPT) Golden Kilfeacle
7 Jack Collins Ballina
8 Sam O'Farrell Nenagh Eire Og
9 Adam Daly Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams
10 Cathal English Fr. Sheedys
11 Conor Martin Cappawhite
12 Oisin O'Donoghue Cashel Kings Cormacs
13 Darragh McCarthy Toomevara
14 Paddy McCormack Borris-Ileigh
15 Senan Butler Kilsheelan/Kilcash
SUBS
16 Harry Loughnane Roscrea
17 Damien Corbett Gortnahoe/Glengoole
18 Eoin Craddock Holycross/Ballycahill
19 Conor Gleeson Gortnahoe/Glengoole
20 Tadhg Gould Holycross/Ballycahill
21 Jamie Ormond JK Brackens
22 Jack O'Callaghan Potroe
23 Ger O'Dwyer Boherlahan-Dualla
24 Jack Quinlan Fethard
Other panellists: Stephen Dee – Solohead; Liam Doyle – Holycross/Ballycahill; Joe Egan – Moycarkey/Borris; Cormac Fitzpatrick – Drom & Inch; Dylan Fogarty – Boherlahan-Dualla; Ciaran Foley – Borrisokane; Darragh Guinan – Lorrha; Sam Rowan – CJ Kickhams Mullinahone; Jim Ryan – Holycross/Ballycahill; Robbie Ryan – Holycross/Ballycahill; Tadhg Sheehan – St Mary’s; Robbie Stapleton – Thurles Sarsfields; Stephen Walsh – Moycarkey/Borris