‘Senior is the big one that we want really’ says Mungret St Paul's U20 hurling captain Fintan Fitzgerald

MUNGRET ST PAUL'S U20 hurling captain Fintan Fitzgerald is hoping that the club can transfer their underage success into the senior ranks in the years to come.

“You want to be winning seniors, Mungret hasn't won a senior yet. It's great winning all these underage trophies but the senior is the big one that we want really,” Fintan Fitzgerald told Leader Sport after Mungret St Paul's 2-15 to 1-9 victory over Na Piarsaigh in the Premier Limerick U20 Hurling final in Mick Neville Park last Sunday afternoon.

The Mungret St Paul's captain is hoping that this U20 success can help the city club push on next year. Mungret St Paul's previously won the U21 Hurling Championship in 2023.

“Obviously there was some good things and some bad things with the senior this year. A mix of both but we just want kick on and hopefully have a better year next year and get up to the top again.”

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Fintan Fitzgerald was involved with John Kiely's pre-season hurling squad last year, he will be hoping to be involved with the Limerick senior hurlers again this year. He was relieved to see his side get over the line last Sunday.

“It's unreal, it's what we have been looking for since we started 81 days ago. It's exactly what we were looking for and just delighted to have it now.

“We were good in fits and starts, I don't think we were as good as we were in the semi-final. We were just gradually getting better, we started off the first day and it was picking up gears every game. I don't think we peaked (on Sunday) but we won so that's all that matters.”

The UL student felt doing the basics well and working hard across the field was important throughout the U20 hurling championship.

“It's all about the basics really, you master the basics and you work hard and you are more likely to come on top. I think that's exactly what we did.”

Mungret St Paul's sharpshooter Mark O'Brien finished up with personal tally of 1-10 in last Sunday's Premier U20 Hurling final.

“Mark's class, you see there in the semi-final he was very good. It's a team game, there is a nice blend of the older lads and then the youth coming in, you've the likes of Rory O'Callaghan, Rory Gleeson, Oisin Donnelly and Killian Begley. You've a nice mix and it just all came together for a nice performance,” said Fitzgerald.