SURPRISINGLY, Limerick have won the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship on just three occasions, namely 1940,1958 and Centenary Year 1984.
There has also been unsuccessful final appearances for the Treaty County in ‘63, ‘65, ‘05, ‘14 and ‘16.
Back in ‘40, Paddy McCarthy (Newcastle West) captained the Shannonsiders to a 6-4 to 2-4 win over Antrim at Croke Park.
This contest was the curtain-raiser to the Senior Final: Limerick 3-7, Kilkenny 1-7. Â 1940 remains the only year that Limerick won both the minor and senior championships together.
Limerick were back as champions in ‘58 after a 5-8 to 3-10 defeat of Galway at GAA Headquarters.
That team was captained by Paddy Cobbe of St Patrick’s.
The most recent triumph was in ‘84 and arrived after a replayed win, 2-5 to 2-4, over Kilkenny at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Goals for Limerick arrived from Pat Davoren and Declan Marron.
A second outing was secured via a late sensational point from Brian Stapleton, while Val Murnane – against senior performers – was judged by RTÉ to have made ‘Save of the Year’ against Cork in the Munster Final.
Limerick were under the management of Phil Bennis (Patrickswell), Seán O’Connor (Claughaun), Michael Weekes (Ballybricken), Tom Bulfin (Bruff) and Jerry Molyneaux (Rathkeale).
By virtue of Bruff’s county minor success – their first since 1941 – of the previous season (Bruff 1-7, Claughaun 1-6), Anthony O’Riordan was captain of  Limerick.
Limerick: Val Murnane (Caherline); Anthony Madden (Bruff), Pat Carey (Patrickswell), John Fitzgerald (Claughaun); Ger Hegarty (Old Christians), Anthony O’Riordan, captain, (Bruff), Andy Cunneen (Claughaun); Anthony Carmody (Patrickswell), Mike Reale (Bruff); Tony Byrnes (Old Christians), Gary Kirby (Patrickswell), Gussie Ryan (Claughaun); Pat Davoren (Ballybrown), John O’Neill (Kilfinane), Brian Stapleton (Garryspillane).
Substitutes used: Colm Coughlan (Ballybrown), Declan Marron (Adare), Leo O’Connor (Claughaun), James Galvin (Feenagh-Kilmeedy), Donal Flynn (Killeedy), Michael O’Brien (Glenroe), Pat Donnelly (South Liberties), Declan Nash (South Liberties), John Bresnihan (Castletown/Ballyagran).