Premier U21 Hurling Championship gets underway this evening

Defending champions Doon get their championship underway on Wednesday evening as they seek four in a row.

The Premier U21 Hurling Championship group stages commence tonight with action from both group one and two taking place.

Defending champions Doon are seeking a fourth successive title at the grade but face stiff competition from a number of sides.

They are paired in group one with Ahane, Kilmallock and Garryspillane. Last year, the East outfit defeated Na Piarsaigh in the final to complete a three-in-a-row. They have All-Ireland winner Adam English in their ranks with Tomas Lynch, Chris Thomas and Eddie Stokes all featuring in the defeat to Kilmallock in the senior championship over the weekend.

Ahane face Kilmallock in Doon to kick things off in the group Doon take on Garryspillane on Wednesday evening. Both games throw in at 8pm.

Group Two consists of four city sides with each reaching the knockout stages in 2021. Na Piarsaigh were finalists last year, falling to Doon in the decider. A couple of their U21 side were a part of their Limerick SHC semi-final win over South Liberties on Saturday.

Mungret St Pauls were eliminated by the Caherdavin side in last year’s semi-final after winning each of their four group games. Their senior side will contest the County Cup final on Thursday with a number of the 21s side involved while they were crowned Premier U17 champions over the weekend.

They take on Patrickswell in the opening round on Tuesday evening in Mick Neville Park. The ‘Well were also defeated by Na Piarsaigh in the knockout stages in 2021. Their Junior side will be in action in the Limerick JAHC semi-finals on Saturday with a couple involved in both.

Ballybrown round out the group and will be backboned by the three-in-a-row Premier Minor champions from 2019-21. Led by All-Ireland winner Colin Coughlan, the Clarina outfit were U18 champions in 2019 & 2020 before claiming the U19 title last year. They were beaten by Doon in last year’s semi-finals

Na Piarsaigh face Ballybrown in Mick Neville Park on Wednesday evening.

The second round of fixtures take place this weekend.

See full list of fixtures below:

County Premier U21 Hurling Championship

Round One

Group 1

Ahane v Kilmallock (Tuesday at 8pm in Doon)

Doon v Garryspillane (Wednesday at 8pm in Caherdavin)

Group 2

Mungret St. Pauls v Patrickswell (Tuesday at 8pm in Mick Neville Park)

Na Piarsaigh v Ballybrown (Wednesday at 8pm in Mick Neville Park)