Tipp aim to continue underage dominance

Darragh McCarthy is one of 10 survivors from the Tipperary that began last year’s All-Ireland U20 final defeat to Offaly.

Darragh McCarthy, scorer of 2-44 in the league this year, has been named at corner forward for the Tipperary U20s. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Tipp on top. But can they stay there?

The Tipperary U20 team named for this evening’s Munster hurling championship opener at home to Limerick (Semple Stadium, 7pm) is made up of nine players that began the 2022 All-Ireland minor final win over Offaly.

In the three years since then, and to really emphasise how Tipp have become the dominant force at underage in the province, Cashel Community School, Nenagh CBS, and Thurles CBS have all claimed the Harty Cup, with the latter adding All-Ireland honours only last week, not to mind another minor All-Ireland, as well as Munster U20 crown, last summer.

Brendan Cummins’ U20 panel pulls from all these successes. Darragh McCarthy did not start the aforementioned minor final triumph of 2022. His development in the interim has taken him onto Liam Cahill’s senior team where he’s contributed 2-44 (2-37 from the placed-ball) in their run to the Division 1A hurling final. He’s named at corner-forward for this evening’s game.

McCarthy is one of 10 survivors - Eoin Horgan, Aaron O’Halloran, Podge O’Dwyer, Sam O’Farrell, Adam Daly, Cathal English, Conor Martin, Oisín O’Donoghue, and Senan Butler the others - that began last year’s All-Ireland U20 final defeat to Offaly.

The Cork U20 hurling panel for their Munster bid contains eight players that featured in last year’s U20 provincial final defeat to Tipp. Ahead of the county’s Munster round-robin opener away to Clare this Wednesday (Sixmilebridge, 7pm), new Cork manager Noel Furlong has released his 30-man panel.

Captain Denis Cashman and vice-captain Barry Walsh are two of the four panelists that began last year’s Munster U20 final loss. The two other starters from that game still eligible for U20 are Ben Walsh and Timmy Wilk.

The four Cork subs introduced in the 2024 Munster U20 decider - James O’Brien (Fermoy), Adam O’Sullivan, Ross O’Sullivan, and Barry O’Flynn - are all part of the 2025 set-up. Adam O’Sullivan (hamstring) is currently sidelined and so will not be involved at Sixmilebridge.

Furlong, who oversaw Cork’s 2021 All-Ireland minor final win, has succeeded Ben O’Connor in the U20 gig. His backroom team includes Dónal Óg Cusack, Tadhg Óg Murphy, Vincent Hurley, and Seán Guiheen.

Same as last year, the team top of the pile at the end of the round-robin progresses direct to the Munster final. The second and third-placed teams will meet in a semi-final.

TIPPERARY (U20 v Limerick): E Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); J Quinlan (Fethard), A O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), P O’Dwyer (Killenaule); A Ryan (Arravale Rovers), S O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), J O’Callaghan (Portroe); P Phelan (Upperchurch Drombane), A Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); C English (Fr Sheehys), C Martin (Cappawhite), O O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs); D McCarthy (Toomevara), P McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), S Butler (Kilsheelan Kilcash).

LIMERICK (U20 v Tipperary): F O’Brien (Bruree); J Murray (Patrickswell), S Casey (Bruff), D Scully (Dromin/Athlacca); E Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), A O’Connell (Doon), D Langan (Monaleen); M Fitzgerald (Monaleen), J Finn (Na Piarsaigh); R O’Farrell (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), H Flanagan (Garryspillane), D Coughlan (Doon); T Boddy (Dromin/Athlacca), R O’Connor (Feenagh/Kilmeedy), F Fitzgerald (Munster St Paul’s).

CORK U20 HURLING PANEL: A O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig), B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), Barry Walsh (Killeagh, vice-captain), Ben Walsh (Killeagh), B Collins (Newtownshandrum), C Cronin (Midleton), C Dunphy (Erin’s Own), C O’Callaghan (Dungourney), D Murnane (Carrigtwohill), D O’Connell (Dromina), D O’Leary (Ballincollig), D Cashman (Bride Rovers, captain), D McCarthy (Killeagh), E Guinane (Valley Rovers), J O’Brien (Cloyne), J O’Brien (Fermoy), J Murphy (Mallow), J Wigginton Barrett (St Finbarr’s), J Murphy (Dromina), J Galvin (Éire Óg), M O’Brien (Douglas), M Barrett (Carrigtwohill), O Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s), O Walsh (Youghal), P O’Shea (Erin’s Own), R O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), R Deasy (Ballymartle), S O’Neill (Ballincollig), T Wilk (Cobh), Z Biggane (Charleville).