Limerick minors looking to create history in novel Gaelic Grounds final with Tipp

Tipperary and Limerick will face off in the All-Ireland final on Saturday

It is a championship that Limerick have oddly underachieved in but Saturday is a chance for the class of 2026 to win just a fourth All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship title.

With a dozen senior titles and six U20/21 crowns, this is a grade that historically has been difficult for the Shannonsiders. In fact, the clash with Tipperary at the TUS Gaelic Grounds (3pm) is just a ninth final at minor level, and the Treaty’s first in a decade.

That team in 2016 also faced the Premier county in the All-Ireland final, when the grade was U18 and the final played as a curtain raiser to the senior final in Croke Park. For the current crop, there is doubtless future senior inter-county stars in Diarmuid Mullins line-up.

This was seen all over the field in their semi-final over Galway in Ennis a fortnight ago. From the teak tough corner backs Sam Mitchell and Rowan Collins to the stylish corner forwards Eamon O’Sullivan and Rian Horgan there is so much to like about this team.

In the middle of the field, south Limerick duo Xavier Neligan and Jack Roche have formed a solid partnership since Kilmallock youngster Neligan dropped back after the first round defeat. This move allowed team captain Shane Waters to move to the forwards - a shift that has paid rich dividends. The Na Piarsaigh clubman struck three from play in the first half of the win over the Tribesmen at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg and took leadership in both the responsibility of free-taking duties as well as trojan work off the ball.

The return of Ryan Foley to lead the attack at center forward completed a dangerous unit that has got progressively sharper as the campaign has gone on.

This culminated in a 1-26 return in Ennis as Limerick were much too strong from the Leinster champions in a match where both managements emptied the bench late on, giving players game-time as the result was beyond doubt.

Overcoming the occasion will be a big first step towards claiming success this weekend. That said, it is an occasion that manager Mullins and his group are looking forward to.

“Look, we're just delighted to be there and happy that we played reasonably well in the semi-final and we are trying to build on that,” he said.

“It’s a short turnaround, two weeks, so we stick to the routine that we had in place for the vast majority of the year. We're training twice a week with a collective gym session.

“Obviously, lads are looking forward to what's going to be a great occasion for them, but focused on performing well in the match.”

A home All-Ireland final is new territory for Limerick, the minor final was traditionally played at Croke Park with the Treaty’s 1984 success taking place in Thurles to mark the centenary of the GAA.

The venue - a short journey for Tipp fans as well - should add to the atmosphere on Saturday.

“For the minor games, when they are not played with senior games, it's important that there's a compact ground that you can get a little bit of atmosphere for the game, for the lads,” said Mullins.

“There was a very good crowd at the Munster final between ourselves and Tipperary, so I'm sure there'll be a good crowd on Saturday in the Gaelic Grounds as well.

“That'll be great for the occasion and for the lads as well.”

One noticeable aspect of this Limerick team since the provincial championship is how they have improved game-on-game.

“I think we needed to improve from the quarter-final (vs Clare), we accepted that as a group afterwards,” Mullins admitted. The lads really trained well for the semi-final and did play well in the semi-final but we will be looking for improvements again in certain areas again for the final.

“This will be our eighth championship game, so I think we're seeing the benefit of that, that as a group you're getting regular games and I think that really brings on the players.”