BEING run identical to the senior fixture programme, the Munster U20 Hurling Championship opens for Limerick with a difficult outing against Cork at Páirc Uà Chaoimh on Wednesday next, 7pm.
This will be followed by a trip to Clare (April 8), and then back-to-back home ties against Waterford (April 22) and Munster/All-Ireland holders Tipperary (April 29), respectively.
The top team after the group stages will qualify for the final, while second and third-placed sides will meet in a semi-final.
Evan Loftus (Ballybrown) is the manager of Limerick, who bring forward a huge chunk of players from last season including some senior panellists such as Hugh Flanagan and Matthew Fitzgerald.
Limerick: Ahane – Conor Ryan, Jack Cosgrove, John O’Connor; Adare – Darragh Gleeson, Patrick Kearney; Ballybrown – James Coughlan; Bruff – Seán Casey; Ballybricken/Bohermore – Rory Hanly, Michael Hanly; Dromin/Athlacca – Seán Morrissey, Tadgh Boddy; Doon – Aidan O’Connell, Eamon Richardson; Garryspillane – Hugh Flanagan, Declan Heavey; Glenroe – Cathal Dennehy, Dáithà Dennehy.
Hospital/Herbertstown – Diarmuid Hurley, Griffin McCaffery; Kildimo/Pallaskenry – Joe Fitzgerald, Robert O’Farrell; Kilmallock – Jackie Dwane; Knockainey – Michael Leo; Monagea – Gavin Dorgan; Murroe/Boher – OisÃn Holmes, Darren Collopy; Mungret St. Paul’s – Seán Duff, Killian Begley; Monaleen – Dara Ferland, Matthew Fitzgerald; Na Piarsaigh – Alex Kearns, Eoin Brosnan, John O’Keeffe, Marcus Murphy; Newcastle West – Diarmuid Lyons, Cathal Hayes; Patrickswell – John Murray; Staker Wallace – Oran Crowley.
Since its inception in 1964, Limerick have won the title on eight occasions, namely 1986 (captain Anthony O’Riordan, Bruff), 1987 (Gus Ryan, Claughaun), 2000 (Donncha Sheehan, Adare), 2001 (Timmy Houlihan, Adare), 2002 (Peter Lawlor, Croom), 2011 (Kevin Downes, Na Piarsaigh), 2015 (Diarmaid Byrnes, Patrickswell) and 2022 (Jimmy Quilty, Blackrock).
The county has won outright at national six times (‘87, ‘00, ‘01, ‘02, ‘15 and ‘17).