Diarmuid Mullins: It’s all about planning for the future

The minor grade has changed a fair bit — and for the better — since a young Diarmuid Mullins won back-to-back All-Ireland football medals with Laois in the mid-90s. Having since swapped codes and counties, the Limerick minor hurling manager is hoping his charges can play their part in a potential Munster double for the Treaty County at the Gaelic Grounds tomorrow afternoon.

That said, the changing attitudes towards development squads and what role they serve means silverware is no longer the chief focus of a county minor manager. Mullins was part of the Laois minor football panel which tasted All-Ireland glory in 1996 and 1997, lining out at half-back for the second of those wins, and while they enjoyed two memorable campaigns, he knows full well they would have benefited far more from the round-robin system currently in place.