Senior experience can help Limerick edge Tipp

For those of you nostalgic for the way hurling was played before the days of tactics and game plans, for those of you who long for the time when you got real value for money at the turnstile, the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick is the place to be this evening, as Limerick face Tipperary in the first semi-final of the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 hurling championship.

Limerick are champions, a title won in glorious fashion after extra-time against Cork last year, and they are powered by eight of John Allen’s current senior extended panel.

Free-scoring Shane Dowling (a minor last year) was the only one of those to start in the All-Ireland qualifier win over Clare on Saturday but Declan Hannon, Kevin Downes and Tomás Ryan all saw action in that game. Aaron Murphy is the senior back-up goalkeeper, Mark Carmody too was held in reserve against Clare, while Seanie O’Brien starred in an earlier All-Ireland senior qualifier win, against Antrim, and both he and Mikey Ryan (along with Carmody) saw league action.