Diarmuid Mullins saw senior potential in 2022 Limerick U20 hurling team

MEMBERS of Limerick’s 2022 U20 hurling team are now beginning to make their mark at senior level, as several promising talents have got their long-awaited chance to step up. 

Limerick reached the All-Ireland U20 hurling final in 2022 where they were narrowly defeated by Kilkenny 0-19 to 0-18. 
The Shannonsiders recorded victories over Clare, Cork, Waterford and Tipperary to win the Munster U20 hurling championship three years ago. Portlaoise native Diarmuid Mullins was in charge of Limerick U20's in 2022. 

Twelve players from that Limerick U20 side are now part of John Kiely's squad which includes Cathal O'Neill, Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Aidan O'Connor, Shane O'Brien, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Fergal O'Connor, Ethan Hurley, Vince Harrington, Cian Scully, Patrick O'Donovan, and Eddie Stokes. 

“When you deal with them at underage at minor and U20 level, your hope and your expectation is that there will be guys if they have the natural ability and if they're managed properly and if they are exposed to playing at a high level, as the lads were at minor and U20's level, that you will get a certain number of them coming into the senior set-up that has to be the overall aim,” said former Limerick U20 hurling manager Diarmuid Mullins.

“It's great that over the last couple of years that guys have slowly established themselves on the panel and now guys are breaking onto the starting team.”

READ NEXT: WATCH: Limerick manager John Kiely looks ahead to Munster final showdown with Cork

There are plenty of challenges for players to earn their spot on the Limerick panel according to Mullins.

“The big challenge for guys that are trying to come into the current Limerick team is the standard and the type of player and the success that team has had makes it all the more competitive for those guys to come into the team.

“It is good to see guys coming through and they're putting their hands up to try and get on the matchday panel and also to try get on the team.”

The Crescent College principal said there are a number of players who have excelled playing hurling for Limerick all the way up.

“There was a feeling that there were some very good players there and they had the ability to go and play at senior level.

"There is a number of players there that have excelled all the way up. and now it's try to establish themsleves on the senior team.”

Adam English, Cathal O'Neill, Shane O'Brien and Colin Coughlan and Aidan O'Connor are all players who have seen signficant gametime for Kiely's side this year.

“Adam has really blossomed this year starting all of the crucial games so far at midfield and contributing an awful lot. It was great to see Colin starting against Clare and Tipperary and coming on in games. Aidan is 23 this year, there is still plenty of years ahead, I think they're trying to push on now and make a statement on what they want to do over the next number of years.”

Shane O'Brien is a player that has really cemented his place on the Limerick starting XV.

“Shane was very good against Tipperary and Waterford, he's got a good run in the team and he has benefited from Fitzgibbon Cup with Mary I.

“It is good that he is putting his hand up, that's one of the strength's of Limerick that there is huge depth in the panel.”

Cathal O'Neill who was nominated for young hurler of the year last year has put his injury struggles behind him.

“Cathal had a great year last year for Limerick. He's been on the team for the last couple of the years and he's had a couple injury setbacks this year, even the last day he got a couple of scores against Clare, Cathal is a quality player.”

Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Fergal O'Connor, Ethan Hurley, Vince Harrington, Cian Scully, Patrick O'Donovan and Eddie Stokes are all players pushing for a spot on the matchday squad.