Limerick look to end disappointing U20 hurling campaign on a high
Evan Loftus' Limerick U20 hurlers can not reach the top three in the Munster Championship no matter the result against Tipperary
THE Limerick U20 hurlers are looking to finish their Munster Championship campaign on a high tonight when they host Tipperary at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Evan Loftus' side can not reach the top three in the group no matter the result in the 7pm throw-in at the Ennis Road venue.
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 throughout the campaign, suffering narrow losses to Clare and Waterford.
“Results dictate the narrative and this year the results haven’t gone our way,” said the U20 manager admitted.
“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.
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.”
The ‘Premier’ are already guaranteed a spot in the top three and will need to win by a big margin to force their way to the top of the table to take a spot in the final.
Limerick make three changes from the side who lost to Waterford - senior panellists Matthew Fitzgerald and Hugh Flanagan, dropping out of the team, as does Dara Ferland. James Coughlan, Killian Begley and Cathal Dennehy all come into the side.