Limerick minor footballers begin Munster campaign against Tipperary

LIMERICK'S minor footballers open their Electric Ireland Munster MFC campaign when they welcome Tipperary to Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale on this Thursday evening.

John Ryan's side will also face off against Clare and Waterford in a round robin competition with the top two teams reaching the phase 1 final. The two teams will then face either Kerry or Cork in their respective semi-finals.

Limerick beat Waterford and Clare in the competition last year but lost to Tipperary twice, in the group stage and then in the phase one final. 

The Limerick management for 2023 is as follows: Manager - John Ryan (Cratloe), John Murphy (Fr Caseys), Liam O'Connell (Mungret St Paul's), Brendan Donnelly (Bruff), Packie O'Gorman (Cratloe) and Tom Neville (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)

The Limerick minor side are captained by Aidan O'Shea of Cappagh-Rathkeale, with Athea's Evan Curry the Limerick vice-captain.

The 2022 campaign was the first of the restructured Munster Minor Football Championship. In the final year of the old structure, Limerick went all the way to the Munster Final, losing out to Cork after an epic contest.

Ahead of the championship start on Thursday, Ryan said that his charges are fully focused.

"Things have gone well," Ryan told Leader Sport in the build up to the game. "It's down to an hour's football now. We are together since the end of November.

"We have played a few matches in between and now our focus is all about Thursday."

This is the second year of the round robin system for Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Waterford and Ryan believes that it is hugely beneficial to the so called lesser football counties in Munster.

"It gives us, Clare, Tipperary and Waterford a chance to regroup instead of having a knockout system. Players are getting games. I know it's a game each week but you get a chance to use your panel and that's most important.

"At this level, we need to blood players and get players used to playing inter-county football. It's the start of their county careers and they need games," added Ryan.

Limerick's game with Tipperary has a 7pm throw-in at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale this evening and is being streamed live by Munster GAA.

The Limerick team and extended panel are below.

LIMERICK: Sam Guerin (Kildimo-Pallaskenry); Cian O'Sullivan (Kildimo-Pallaskenry) Cian Costelloe (Cappagh-Rathkeale), Kieran O'Kelly (Croom); Liam Og Glynn (Ahane), Cathal Woulfe (Fr Caseys) Sam Colgan (Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan); Aidan O'Shea (Cappagh-Rathkeale), Evan Curry (Athea); Ronan O'Connell (Fr Caseys), Ross Allen (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Padraic Phelan (Pallasgreen); Padraic Murphy (Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan), Tommy Glynn (Na Piarsaigh), Adam Murphy (Fr Caseys). Subs: Charlie Lane (South Liberties), Kevin Morrow (Mungret St Pauls), James Hunt (Athea), Calum Buckley (Athea), Cillian Meade (St Senans), Con Kirby (Crecora-Manister), Darragh Hogan (Mungret St Pauls), Andrew Lyons (Newcastle West), Rory Mullins (Mungret St Pauls). Extended panel: Paudie Hennessy (Bruff), Owen Dee (Cappagh-Rathkeale), Cian Hogan (Galtee Gaels), Barry Griffin (Monaleen), Griffin McCaffrey (Hospital-Herbertstown), PJ Griffin (St Senans), Jack Sheahan (Mountcollins), Jack Murphy (Cappagh-Rathkeale).