Garrett Noonan targets winning start for Limerick minors in Munster campaign

AFTER a difficult spring for Limerick football, the county’s minors are looking to buck the trend when they get their Munster Championship campaign underway this Sunday when they travel to Lattin to take on Tipperary.

After the U20 footballers’ defeat last weekend in New Inn, Garrett Noonan’s charges will be looking to get one over the Premier County.

That game marked back-to-back defeats for the U20s on a weekend where the senior side were relegated to Division 4 of the Allianz League.

However, this set of players aren’t letting poor results around the county affect their preparation for the Championship opener.

“They’re their own group. We have our own job to concentrate on and what goes on outside of that group, I don’t think really has a massive impact on how the group perform,” said Noonan.

“The lads have trained really well and they have performed really well in challenge matches and in the Leinster League. I just hope we can bring that to Sunday and we turn up and we perform. I don’t think results outside the group have an impact.” That Leinster League saw Limerick secure a final victory over Wexford.

The games were particularly important to get the Limerick players used to playing a higher standard of football. Noonan is conscious that opponents first-round opponents Tipperary have a number of players competing at a high level in Munster PPS competitions.

“Tipperary football are competing at a high level at post-primary schools and that’s always a challenge we face,” Noonan acknowledged.

“We don’t have as many schools as we’d like competing at those A and B divisions in football so that gives you a good head start and exposes the players to that standard of competition which is a benefit to your inter-county team.”

The fast-paced nature of the split season means that the games come thick and fast in the MFC.

After Sunday, there are further games against Clare (April 6) and Waterford (April 13). A good start is imperative with the top two teams joining Kerry and Cork in Phase 2.

“You’re targeting that first game, you want to get off to a winning start, you want to get two points on the board because the turnaround is quite short for the next day and it’s important that you build momentum.”

LIMERICK minor football panel: Cillian Murphy, Brooklyn Delahunty (both Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan), Charlie McCarthy (Adare), Donncha Feerick, Harry Ferte, Kevin McNamara (all Ahane), Daniel Barry, Ronan Conneely (both Ballybricken-Bohermore), Adam Kiely (Ballybrown), Cian Lonergan, Conor Nunan (both Ballylanders), Eoghan Murnane, Cathal Donnelly (both Camogue Rovers), Shay Looney (Cappagh), Ollie Stokes, Sean O'Flynn (both Dromcollogher-Broadford), Aaron Murphy, Eoin Broderick, Mikey O'Connor, Jamie McAuliffe (all Fr Casey's), Jack Prendergast, Padraig Casey (both Galtee Gaels), Cian Barry (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Padraig Barrett (Knockaderry), Darragh Doyle, Darragh Lally, Jack Moynihan, Luke McDermott, Rory O'Dwyer, Tom Gavin (all Monaleen), Eoghan Hogan (Mungret St Paul's), Dean Ryan (Na Piarsaigh), Kevin Kearns (Pallasgreen), Conor O'Dwyer (Rathkeale), Ben Hough (St Kieran's).