Limerick minors eye ‘four really exciting games’ after months of preparation

ALL-IRELAND minor champions Waterford provide tough opposition for Diarmuid Mullins and his young Limerick charges as they get their 2026 Munster Championship underway on Good Friday.

It’s six years since last Limerick won the provincial title at this grade and you have to go back to 1984 since the Irish Press Cup last resided on Shannonside.

This clash with the Deise will give an early indication of where ambitions will lay for 2026 but for Mullins and his side, they are just content to get on the pitch after months of hard work.

“Preparation has gone well,” Mullins said. “We’ve a lot of work put in since we started last November and I have to say the lads have applied themselves very, very well. We’re happy with where the lads are but you never know before a Championship game. We won’t really know where we stand until next weekend.”

A trip to Ennis eight days later closely follows this opening round game before a three-week break before back-to-back clashes with Cork and Tipp.

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“They are dying to play now. We will be able to reassess after the first two games,” the manager outlined “The first game is against the All-Ireland champions Waterford which is going to be a challenge. They have a number of players that were successful last year in the All-Ireland team.

“We’re away to Clare the following week. Depending on results, you’d be hoping the third game would be close by if you’ve been successful in those two games but we have a little bit of a break which won’t be a bad thing either to reassess where we are.

“It’s four really exciting games, it’s going to be very competitive. Over the last number of years games at minor championships have been close. Sometimes you can be on the wrong side of the result by small margins but we are hoping to be competitive and hope to do the best we can.”

Mullins' squad is backboned by the successful Ardscoil Ris team who won the Dean Ryan Cup in December.

“Niall Moran and the lads inside at Ardscoil did fantastic work with the players to be able to win the Dean Ryan so that gives a certain confidence to the players involved,” Mullins said.

“There was great co-operation between ourselves and Ardscoil during that period of time. It was great for the lads.”

LIMERICK MINOR HURLING PANEL: Rowan Collins, Ruan Kelliher, Eamon O’Sullivan (all Adare), Danann Glynn (Ahane), Jack McCarthy, John Ross O’Reilly, Billy Gavin (all Ballybrown), John O’Riordan (Bruff), Jack Roche (Blackrock), Sam Collins, Cian Hickey (both Crecora-Manister), Diarmuid Crowe (Doon), Colin Burke (Dromcollogher-Broadford), Jack Meade (Glenroe), Danny O’Grady (Granagh-Ballingarry), Zach Bennis (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Xavier Nelligan, Gavin O’Brien, Conor O’Riordan (all Kilmallock), Sam Mitchell (Knockainey), Jack Collins (Monagea), Conor Langan, Conor Ryan (both Monaleen), Rian Horgan, Donagh Horgan, William Ryan, Killian O’Neill (all Murroe-Boher), Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh), Jack Horgan (Newcastle West), Daire Long (Pallasgreen), Eoin Hennessy, John Murray, Callum Butler, Ryan Foley (all Patrickswell), Paul Collins (Tournafulla).