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Limerick U-21 Squad Finalised Ahead of Thursday’s Munster Final

Limerick U-21 Squad Finalised Ahead of Thursday’s Munster Final

Limerick U-21 hurling manager Pat Donnelly has a welcome selection headache ahead of Thursday’s Munster Championship tie with Tipperary.

On Sunday, Donnelly coached the Limerick U-25 hurlers to victory in the first ever Munster U-25 Hurling final. The 4-12 to 1-19 win over Waterford in Thurles was secured with an entire team of U-21 players.

There were many stars in the two-point win over Waterford that could see some of the winning U-25 team force their way into the U-21 plans.


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“Up to this morning we had our team almost picked with a couple of places up for grabs and a number of spots on the bench, but now we have a headache to see who is finally going to get in there,” said Donnelly after Limerick lifted silverware in The Semple Stadium

“There will be lads disappointed and that’s the way it has to be. They got their day today, the fellas that aren’t going to make Thursday night,” said Donnelly, who guided Limerick to the All-Ireland MHC final defeat to Tipperary last September in Croke Park.

”We are under no illusion – Tipperary were in the last two All-Ireland minor finals, won one and lost one, so they are going to come with a new batch of players they may not have been there three years ago,” he said.

”They haven’t any seniors and the work that you can do without an interference can be phenomenal but we hope the lads coming in for us with all the senior experience and training can drive us on.”

Limerick’s U-21 team will be backboned by seven players that played in the Munster SHC loss to Clare two weeks ago – Cian Lynch, Kyle Hayes, Sean Finn, Peter Casey, Tom Morrissey, Barry Nash and Aaron Gillane.

The Limerick U-21 team for Thursday’s quarter-final will be announced after training this Tuesday evening.

Limerick has a 39-man U-21 panel with 27 of those seeing action in the U-25 wins over Clare and Waterford, while a further seven played in the Munster SHC loss to Clare. Twenty-two clubs are represented in the panel, with Na Piarsaigh leading the way with four players. Tom Morrissey will captain the U-21s.

Thursday’s quarter-final has a 7.30 start in the Gaelic Grounds and will be televised live on TG4. If victorious, Limerick will welcome Clare to the Gaelic Grounds in a July 12 semi-final.

To visit the official website for Limerick U-21 GAA click here

To read more Limerick sports stories click here

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