PREVIEW: The Limerick U20 Hurlers welcome Cork in Munster semi-final

This Saturday, the Limerick U20 hurlers will welcome Cork to the LIT Gaelic Grounds in the Munster semi-final at 4.30pm.

After this game was postponed in late October, Paul Beary will be hopeful off hitting the ground running in his second season in charge.

Their opponents Cork were victorious 2-24 to 2-10 over Kerry in the quarter-final just prior to the second lockdown.

These sides met in the quarter-finals of the competition in 2019, with Cork coming out on top in a 1-20 to 0-16 win in Pairc Ui Rinn.

There are seven players that featured that day that remain in squad in Jason Gillane, Josh Considine, Calvin Carroll Jack Ryan, Dylan O’Shea, Mark McCarthy and Emmet McEvoy.

Louis Dee, Frank Costelloe, Liam Griffin and Daithi Heffernan were also part of the 2019 squad.

Beary is joined in the backroom team by Ger Downes, Aaron Murphy and Paul Browne who reprise their roles as coach/selector from 2019.

Mark Lyons and Leo Morrison remain the S&C coaches.

Former Limerick hurlers James Ryan and Paudie O’Brien are also a part of the backroom team for the 2020 campaign.

The side is to be captained by Jack Ryan.

Beary has four of John Kiely’s Senior squad at his disposal in Gillane, Considine, Brian O’Grady and Mark Quinlan.

Speaking ahead of the game, Beary said he was expecting a tough test against Cork in the Munster semi-final.

“We are well aware of the quality that all Cork sides bring to the table, especially this one, they won the U17 All-Ireland three years ago. So we’ve been well aware of the pedigree we are up against.”

This is the second year that the championship will be played at U20 level with Limerick searching for a first win at the U20/21 level since 2018 when a Kyle Hayes captained side defeated Clare in the Munster quarter-final.

Limerick were crowned All-Ireland U21 Champions in 2015 under John Kiely and then in 2017 under the tutelage of Pat Donnelan.

In total, ten of Limerick’s starting XV against Galway in the senior semi-final a fortnight ago were part of those winning squads.

The winners on Saturday will face either Waterford or Tipperary in the Munster final which is scheduled for Wednesday December 23.

This Saturday’s game will be live on TG4 with the broadcast beginning at 4.15pm.

Limerick U20 Hurling Panel

Bryan Heavey, Dylan O’Shea, Calum Sheehan, Ryan Tobin, Mark Quinlan (all Garryspillane); Calvin Carroll, Josh Considine, Jason Gillane, Patrick Kirby (all Patrickswell); Bob Purcell, Cormac Ryan, Jack Ryan (all Doon); Sean Long, Emmet McEvoy, Adam McNamara (all Na Piarsaigh); Frank Costelloe and Michael Keane (both Adare); Michael Martin and Daniel Owens (both Ballybricken-Bohermore); Colin Coughlan and Aidan O’Connor (both Ballybrown); Daithi Heffernan and Jimmy Quilty (both Blackrock); Kevin Bonar and Danny O’Leary (both Bruff); Cathal Downes and Liam Griffin (both Kildimo-Pallaskenry); Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister); Louis Dee (Mungret), Padraig Harnett (Ahane), Ben Herlihy (Castletown-Ballyagran), Mark McCarthy (Templeglantine), Jack Nicholas (Murroe–Boher), Bryan Nix (Newcastle West), Paudie O’Connor (Kilmallock), Sean O’Connor (Granagh-Ballingarry), Kyran O’Donnell (Pallasgreen), Brian O’Grady (Kilteely–Dromkeen), Oisin O’Grady (Hospital–Herbertstown).

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