O’Meara out to make a name on the big stage

It’s already been a superb hurling season, cracking games at every level from minor to senior; the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 final in Semple Stadium this evening looks set to augment what has gone before.

Clare are the reigning champions and their stuttering win against Waterford in the semi-final notwithstanding, again look very strong this year, with nine from the senior panel that will face Limerick in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday week.

Tipperary, however, are the form side. In their semi-final win, a 15-point hammering of a fancied Cork side, they looked to be the team of all the talents, up front especially. Senior star Jason Forde led the scoring with 2-8, full-forward Bill Walsh was direct and lethal with his 2-1 return, but the man pulling the strings for them was centre-forward and captain Niall ‘Bill’ O’Meara, brother of senior panellist Brian ‘Boogie’.