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Limerick take on Clare in the Munster U20 Championship this Wednesday evening.
Over the last few years, Limerick have been blessed with their production line certainly living up to the hype.
The 2013 and ’14 minor squads who claimed Munster honours have backboned the current senior team that is going for a three in a row of All-Ireland titles this year with four in a row the goal in Munster.
Those squads are at their peak and the players behind them will be looking to make their presence known on the senior squad in the coming seasons.
This Wednesday, the U20 side kick off their championship campaign against Clare in the TUS Gaelic Grounds with plenty of future stars sure to be on show.
And ahead of that game we look at a couple who are poised for the big time in 2022.
Check out the past two editions of this post below.
Five Young Limerick Hurlers poised for breakout 2020
Five Young Limerick Hurlers poised for breakout 2021
*Players included in previous posts weren’t considered for selection.
Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh)
One of three from Ardscoil Rís Croke Cup winning team to be included, Vince Harrington is a Rolls Royce of a defender. Was vice captain for his school as they won All-Ireland honours on St Patricks day, producing a classy display from wing back.
Yet, the powerful defender is equally comfortable at full back where he won a Munster Minor medal with Limerick in his first year on the panel.
Yet to play a game at adult level, he will be a huge asset to Na Piarsaigh who will seek to continue their record of not going more than two years without a championship title since their maiden triumph in 2011.
It will be interesting to see can he break into the U20s starting side that contains twelve of last year’s team.
Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown)
To call Aidan O’Connor a potential breakout star is arguably an unfair one with the Ballybrown man a staple for club and county for a number of years now. But the forward doesn’t get the same fan fair as some of his more renowned UL teammates like Colin Cougan, Adam English and Cathal O’Neill.
Yet on that star studded team that contained club free takers English and O’Neill, O’Connor was the man entrusted over placed balls for UL as they eased to Fresher honours. A starter on the 20s side in his first year on the grade, O’Connor is into his third year on the team and is likely to start to the edge of the square.
O’Connor is by no means a slow player but unlike a lot of inside forwards, he doesn’t rely on his pace, with his intelligent runs and suite of skills allowing for huge returns in almost every game. A very similar player to Peter Casey, the Ballybrown native is definitely one for the future.
Barry Duff (Mungret St Pauls)
An almost swiss army knife type of player, Duff made little of his integration into the Mungret St Pauls side straight from minor, becoming a key component in their Premier Intermediate winning side. He was corner back in their run to the Limerick Championship title but partnered brother and Limerick senior Rory in midfield for their Munster semi-final against Courcey Rovers.
He started in midfield for the Limerick minor side in their Munster final win in 2020 but has really blossomed as a player since making the step up to adult side last season. Manager Diarmuid Mullins will be no stranger to Duff from his time with that minor side in 2020.
A part of that star studded UL side, Duff was one of three from the club involved alongside Brian O’Meara and Liam Lynch, who is an injury doubt for the year. Any of that trio is ready for senior hurling such was their performance levels in the Premier Intermediate championship.
Like O’Connor, Duff is a lesser known player at the moment, if he can replicate his 2021 club form, it will certainly be a year to remember for the Mungret St Pauls youngster.
Cian Scully (Dromin Athlacca)
Another who is best when playing at centre-back, the young Dromin Athlacca man didn’t seem one bit fazed there for his school Ardscoil Ris last month when winning All-Ireland honours.
He captained the Limerick minors in last year’s championship while he was a part of the squad that claimed Munster honours in late 2020.
Like Declan Hannon, Scully is composure personified at centre back but isn’t afraid to get forward as he showed in the refixed 2020 All-Ireland minor semi-final last year.
Dromin Athlacca will be desperately keen to integrate him into their side for the first time ahead of the start of the Premier Intermediate championship.
Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock)
Shane O’Brien seems to be the latest in a growing list of Limerick forwards who showcase their generational talents form an early age. O’Brien was in fine form for the Limerick Minors when they won Munster in 2020 but his performances somewhat went under the radar, although he was awarded with an All-Star award in his first year at the grade.
However, the Ardscoil Rís star announced himself to the national stage with a string of scintillating perfromances for his school en route to winning the Croke Cup final. He was named man of the match in the final and was arguably the player of the tournament.
Much of the attention on the Limerick U20 forward line will be demanded by Cathal O’Neill and Adam English but in O’Brien, the Shannonsiders have another real star on their hands.
And for county champions Kilmallock, he adds to their already sterling line up.
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