PREVIEW | Limerick and Tipp do battle in Munster Minor Football Phase One Final

Mallow is the venue as Limerick and Tipperary meet in the Munster Minor Phase One Final. For the victors, a place in the provincial semi-final will be secured while the losers will see their team come to an end.

Thus far, both sides have faced each other, as well as Clare and Waterford.

The winners of tonight’s clash will face the losers of Cork and Kerry where the victor in that meeting advances into the Munster final.

Ahead of the clash, Limerick manager John Keane has made one change to his team with influential midfielder Michael Keating coming back into the side after recovering from injury.

Limerick started off their campaign with a loss to tonight’s opponents losing by seven points. However, Keane’s side followed up with a comprehensive victory over Clare in round two to kickstart their campaign.

Limerick hit the net twice in the first ten minutes and were able to push on from there, keeping the Banner at arms reach for the rest of the game, winning out 2-8 to 0-9.

That set up a final day clash with Waterford where victory was likely to seal a Phase One final berth, granted Tipperary defeated Clare.

The Premier obliged, as did the Shannonsiders who were full value for a 1-16 to 0-9 victory in Lemybrien to set up a repeat of the round one tie.

Path to the final

Limerick

• Rd1: Lost to Tipperary 1-15 to 1-8

• Rd2: Beat Clare 2-8 to 0-9

• Rd3: Beat Waterford 1-16 to 0-9

Tipperary

• Rd1: Beat Limerick 1-15 to 1-8

• Rd2: Beat Waterford 3-20 to 2-3

• Rd3: Beat Clare 3-12 to 1-8

As such, Tipp will be favoured to advance but coach Seanie Buckley is looking for Limerick to continue their improvement in the hope of causing a shock.

“We’re there now. Focus shifts straight away tonight. Focus shift straight to Tipperary.”

“They’re formidable no doubt about it and tonight just looking at the score in the Clare game actually it was quite comfortable, it seemed to be from early on and it stayed that way for for the duration of the game.

“They haven’t been massively tested I suppose over the three games we hope we can get a good look at them over the next couple of days and prepare properly.

“There’s no doubt that you know if we are to compete with them and get it down to the last few minutes of the game, where it’s in the melting pot it’ll have to be our best performance of the lot. You know put all the good pieces that we’ve done in the different games together and and create a 60 minute performance out of it.”

And after reaching a first Munster minor final in 23-years in 2021, there is growing shoots amongst underage football in Limerick.

The game will be streamed live by Stream Sport Ireland, with tickets still available for the game in Mallow.

Watch Limerick v Tipperary (Munster Minor Football Phase One Final)

Limerick take on Tipperary in the Munster Minor Football Phase One Final on Thursday May 5 in Mallow at 7pm.