“There’s no reason why a lot of these guys wouldn’t have a big future in a Limerick Jersey”- Mulqueen.

For the first time since 2012, Limerick wont be contesting the Munster Minor Hurling Championship decider. In dreadful conditions in Cusack Park last night Clare beat Limerick 0-19 to 0-17 after extra time to secure their place in the minor final.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow for manager John Mulqueen as his side battled bravely to bring the game to extra time and had chances to win it.

Reflecting on the game, Mulqueen praised his sides efforts,

“I’m gutted to be honest with you very very disappointed, epic game, conditions weren’t the best but that’s no excuse. Small things at different times, small little things, key decisions at different times were the difference”

“Just disappointing, I felt we had the ability to win this, I think if we had won it we would have drove on, that’s hindsight now.”

Limerick got off to the best possible start and four Paul O’Brien points had Limerick 0-4 to 0-0 ahead after 10 minutes. Indeed Limerick wouldn’t find themselves trailing at any stage in the first half but still managed to go into the break level at 0-7 each.

After 59 minutes Clare looked home and hosed with a three point lead, but Limerick rallied to bring the game to Extra Time. There was still nothing to separate the teams after the first period of extra time with the sides deadlocked 0-16 a piece.

However, Clare were able to add on three more points in the final 10 minutes against Limerick’s solitary reply.

Mulqueen gave immense praise to both sets of teams as they battled hard in woeful conditions.

“Fair play to Clare, they worked extremely hard. They died for the cause out there and maybe it wasn’t pretty hurling at times but I think both teams gave as much as they honestly could”

The disappointment in Mulqueen’s voice was clear but he was quick to point out that these young players have bright future’s ahead in the green of Limerick.

The Bruff man was quick to cite the development of Sean Finn, Peter Casey and Kyle Hayes who all started for Limerick in the Munster Championship and are only a couple of years out of minor,  a single year in Haye’s case.

“In the bigger scheme of things, I think you have a bigger picture here, you have young lads to develop, you know there’s a lot of lads out on that field tonight that will have massive futures for Limerick if they drive on.”

“There’s no reason why a lot of these guys wouldn’t have a big future in a Limerick Jersey going forward”

 A season that promised so much at minor grade has come to a premature end but one thing is for sure, if the players who are moving on apply the same intensity and work ethic, then they will go on to bigger and better things.