Limerick U20 hurlers prepare for next week's Munster championship opener

LIMERICK U20 hurling manager Evan Loftus says their main goal is to help as many players as possible progress onto the county's senior hurling squad.

Darragh Langan, Fintan Fitzgerald, Hugh Flanagan and Sean Casey have all seen gametime with Limerick senior hurling team in 2025.

“Now you wouldn't hide behind the development side of things too much. Ultimately that is the main goal of getting these lads up to senior hurling and getting them up to that standard. And getting as many through as we possibly can year on year.

“Ultimately you want them coming with a habit of winning as well and getting results that what we are striving for this year. It's fantastic to see those lads make the step up. There's a good few of them up there at the moment. We'd be hoping that the lads that are with us at the moment are looking at that and they're striving for that. I've no doubt they will be,” Loftus said.

Limerick open their Munster U20 hurling championship round robin campaign against Tipperary on Tuesday next March 26. Two weeks later, the Shannonsiders travel to Waterford on April 9. Loftus’ side finish their round-robin campaign off with home games against Cork and Clare.

Second and third-placed teams after the round-robin series will meet in the Munster semi-final on May 7. The winner will take on the team that finishes top of round-robin series in the Munster final on May 14.

Alan Kelly, Stephen Walsh, and Tony Power are all part of Loftus’ backroom team for the second year in-a-row. There are 21 clubs represented on the 38-strong Limerick U20 panel.

Loftus will be hoping his side can put last year's disappointing campaign behind them. Limerick only managed to win one of their Munster championship games.

Loftus feels the biggest challenge for himself and his management team is to get their players into a winning habit. “It's just about doing the basics right and doing them consistently right. And with that brings confidence.”

LIMERICK U20 SQUAD: Conor Bickford (Ahane), Jack Cosgrove (Ahane), James Coughlan (Ballybrown), Barry Adams (Ballybrown), Sean Casey (Bruff), Owen Meaney (Bruff), Tadhg Boddy (Dromin Athlacca), Fionn O Brien (Bruree), Jack Daly (Croom), Aidan O Connell (Doon), Donal Coughlan (Doon), Shane Fitzgibbon (Dromin/Athlacca), Dan Scully (Dromin/Athlacca), Ruairi O Connor (Feenagh/Kilmeedy), Patrick Cagney (Feohanagh/Castlemahon), Declan Heavey (Garryspillane), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane), Darren Frewen (Glenroe), Diarmuid Hurley (Hospital/Herbertstown), Joe Fitzgerald (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Robbie O Farrell (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Pierce Connery (Kilmallock), Mikey Leo (Knockainey), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen), Cian Scully (Monaleen), Dara Ferland (Monaleen), Mark Field (Monaleen), Sean Duff (Mungret/St Pauls), Mark O Brien (Mungret/St Pauls), Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret/St Pauls), John O Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh), James Finn (Na Piarsaigh), Eoin Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), Diarmuid Lyons (Newcastle West), John Murray (Patrickswell), Sean Carroll (Staker Wallace) and Eoghan Collins (Tournafulla).