PREVIEW: U20 footballers the first Tipperary team into Munster Championship action this Saturday

Tipperary’s U20 footballers will be the first Premier team to taste Munster Championship action this year, as they prepare for a long trip West to face Clare in Quilty next Saturday afternoon.

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Once again, the Premier will compete in Phase 1 of the Munster U20 Football Championship with Clare the first hurdle before further games against Limerick and Waterford to come over March and April.

The four-team group will see the top two from the Phase 1 games go on to enter Phase 2 with Cork and Kerry, with more competitive games and a chance to get into the Munster final on the line.

New Tipperary manager Paddy O’Gorman will be hoping to build on the good work done at this grade in recent years during new senior manager Niall Fitzgerald’s tenure, and will face a tough opener by heading to the home of Kilmurry Ibrickane GAA to face the Banner.

After that, they will then face Limerick in New Inn on Saturday, March 21, before travelling to Lemybrien to take on Waterford the following Saturday, March 28.

The U20s were within a whisker of qualifying for a Munster final last year, and with the improvement at minor level also rising the tide for Tipp football, there is expectation that this group can make an impact again in 2026.

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Tipperary U20 Football Panel 2026:

Aherlow: Aaron Brazil, Paddy Chapman, Seán Bourke;
Ardfinnan: Rónan Myles, Shane Ryan
Arravale Rovers: Ciaran Kelly, Darragh Bresnan, Evan Ryan;
Ballina: Cillian Ryan;
Ballyporeen: Jack Kearney, Sam McGrath;
Clonmel Commercials: Cillian Fahey, Danny Morris, Dara Maher, James Power, Jamie O’Keeffe, Killian Smith;
Clonmel Óg: Luke Hannigan, Jamal Yousif;
Fethard: Ben Allen, Charlie Walsh, Gavin Neville, Liam Kiely, Mark Neville, Rory O’Mahony;
Galtee Rovers: Emmet Bonner;
JK Brackens: Dayle Hogan;
Kilsheelan Kilcash: Liam Freaney;
Moyle Rovers: James O’Brien, John Cronin, Michael O’Reilly, Peter Boland;
Rockwell Rovers: Jack McGonigle;
St Patrick’s: Oran Gahan;
Thurles Gaels: Dylan Cotter;
Upperchurch Drombane: Philip O’Dwyer, Sean Griffin.