Limerick hoping to have Matthew Fitzgerald back for Munster U20 opener

LIMERICK GAA’s hectic April schedule is typified by the calendar facing Evan Loftus and the U20 hurlers.

Like the senior side, the U20s have a Round 1 bye in the Munster group stage meaning they will play on four April Wednesday's starting with next week's trip to Supervalu Pairc Ui Chaoimh to take on Cork.

The order of games mirrors that of the senior side with a trip to Clare after visiting Leeside, then hosting Waterford before welcoming Tipperary to the TUS Gaelic Grounds on April 22.

One difference to the structure of the U20 Munster Championship is that the teams who finish second and third in the group stage face off in a semi-final - with the group winners progressing straight to the Munster final.

For Limerick U20 manager Evan Loftus, the last few days before the Championship opener will be about fine-tuning the work already done by the panel.

“We’re in the final stages of it, just tapering off, all the hard work is done,” he said. “I’m confident that we got in a good block of work that will stand to us but the proof of that will be next week.”

Matthew Fitzgerald and Hugh Flanagan - both members of the senior set-up - are the two highest-profile names in Loftus’ panel.

“This would be their third year at 20s so we’d have had a lot of exposure to them over the years,” the U20 manager said. “To be fair to John (Kiely) and the senior management team, we’ve had quite a bit of exposure to them, they’ve accommodated us every way they can.

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“Matt is carrying a bit of a knock but hopefully he keeps going the way he’s going and progresses through his rehab and that he’ll be available for us.”

Given the quick-fire nature of the Championship, it will be a whole panel effort for Limerick, if they are to progress past the group stage.

“It’s very much a squad effort. We’re really confident that we have a strong squad. The Munster Championship round robin, the way it’s scheduled at all grades, it’s attritious and it’s coming at you thick and fast so 15, 16 lads won’t get you through it, you need to go deep into your squad. We are confident that if we go to any of our squad that they will be able to step up and do a job for us.”

LIMERICK U20 hurling panel: Conor Ryan, Jack Cosgrove, John O’Connor (all Ahane), Darragh Gleeson, Patrick Kearney (both Adare), James Coughlan (Ballybrown), Sean Casey (Bruff), Rory Hanly, Michael Hanly (both Ballybricken-Bohermore), Seán Morrissey, Tadgh Boddy (both Dromin-Athlacca), Aidan O’Connell, Eamon Richardson (both Doon), Hugh Flanagan, Declan Heavey (both Garryspillane), Cathal Dennehy, Daithi Dennehy (both Glenroe), Diarmaid Hurley, Griffin McCaffery (both Hospital-Herbertstown), Joe Fitzgerald, Robert O’Farrell (both Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Jackie Dwane (Kilmallock), Michael Leo (Knockainey), Gavin Dorgan (Monagea), Oisin Holmes, Darren Collopy (both Murroe-Boher), Sean Duff, Killian Begley (both Mungret-St Pauls), Dara Ferland, Matthew Fitzgerald (both Monaleen), Alex Kearns, Eoin Brosnan, John O’Keeffe, Marcus Murphy (all Na Piarsaigh), Diarmuid Lyons, Cathal Hayes, (both Newcastle West) John Murray (Patrickswell), Oran Crowley (Staker Wallace).