‘It’s very small margins’: Limerick U20 developing hurlers but results not going their way
Since winning the 2022 Munster U20 Hurling Championship, Limerick’s record at this grade does not make for pretty reading
IS YOUR glass half full or half empty?
Since winning the 2022 Munster U20 Hurling Championship, Limerick’s record at this grade does not make for pretty reading: Played 15, won 3, drew 2, lost 10.
The half full perspective - players are graduating to John Kiely’s set up.
Vince Harrington, Shane O’Brien and Oisin O’Farrell were on the 2024 team, Fionn O’Brien, Sean Casey and Darragh Langan last year with the class of 2026 including current senior panellists Hugh Flanagan, Matthew Fitzgerald and James Coughlan.
So while Limerick haven’t seen a team to rival the All-Ireland U21 winners of 2015 and 2017 in the last few years, players are undoubtedly still being produced.
“Results dictate the narrative and this year the results haven’t gone our way,” said Limerick U20 manager Evan Loftus.
“Look, we have to take responsibility for that as well. We’re not going to hide from that but at the same time it’s very small margins,” he added after a one-point loss to Waterford came after a three-point reversal against Clare.
In fact, bar a crazy 16-minute spell either side of half-time against Cork in Limerick’s opening game where they conceded four goals, Loftus’ side have been competitive.
While they lost by the minimum against the ‘Deise’, 19 wides compared to just five from the visitors underscores the fact that Limerick should have won that game.
“There are players being developed,” Loftus noted. “You see at the moment, we’ve three at the moment within this group that are in with the senior set-up. We have three or four of last year’s U20s that are inside there so there are players making that transition.
“Ultimately, we might not be winning championships at this level at the moment, but you know we are developing hurlers that are making that step up to the senior squad.
“We are not going to hide behind that or use that as an excuse, we’re here and we’re preparing and we’re training to win and we haven’t done that. At the same time, there are players making that step up to senior.
“That’s what we have to do, we have to ensure there’s three or four lads progressing into the senior set-up year-on-year, that’s how we keep it going.”