All-Ireland MHC final: Tipp won't fear Gaelic Grounds, insists Limerick boss 

Limerick manager Diarmuid Mullins speaks to his players. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile

Diarmuid Mullins says that home advantage won’t be the decisive factor as his Limerick side prepare to host Tipperary in Saturday’s All-Ireland minor hurling final at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

The Treaty travelled to Thurles for the Munster final, with Tipp winning the coin toss for home venue and the match itself.

Meanwhile, the Premier have good memories of the Shannonside venue, having played their All-Ireland semi-final against Cork there.

“Home advantage or where you're going to play games sometimes can be overplayed,” says Mullins.

“We had no problem in going to Thurles and the reason that we didn't win in Thurles wasn't down to the game being based in Thurles. We made a few mistakes and we got punished for those.

“Tipperary have played twice in the Gaelic Grounds and they've won both times in the Gaelic Grounds this year.

“I think they weren't overly keen to come to Ennis, which I think was the preferred venue by Croke Park for the final. So then they agreed to come in to play us in Limerick. I don't think it holds any fears for them.

“We're happy, obviously, that we're playing at home, but I don't think that will necessarily be the defining reason why either team will win at the weekend.” 

Mullins’ youngsters have displayed the biggest improvement of any county this season. They began with a home defeat to Waterford before bookending a loss to Tipp at the Gaelic Grounds with away wins in Cusack Park and Páirc Uí Rinn to secure progression.

The latter result was their breakout performance, with a 2-21 total by far their biggest of the round-robin phase.

The Munster final delivered a seven-point defeat, but they had Tipp in their crosshairs until a 1-2 stoppage-time sucker punch.

Having clambered past Clare in Thurles, they produced a second standout display to pile 1-26 on Galway in a double-digit Ennis triumph.

“We thought we were fully prepared for the first game against Waterford in the Gaelic Grounds,” says Mullins. “Even though we didn't play as well as we would have liked, we still had some very good chances in the second half to get a win there.

“The benefit of the round robin in Munster is that you know you have four games to get your performance right and to get team selection right as well.

“Always with younger players, with 37 lads on the panel, there isn't a huge amount between players at the start of the year and it's only as you keep developing from game to game and lads get confidence from winning championship games that you see a different side to certain players.

“Even in the games that we haven't won since then and in the games we've won, we've seen incremental progress throughout the year.” 

Mullins notes that Limerick are playing their eighth championship match this weekend. Waterford, who beat them in the first round, ended up missing out on qualification and finished with four games under their belt.

As well as more matches, the Portlaoise-native feels that getting to finals is important for player development. Mullins managed Limerick to their last two Munster deciders, winning both in 2019 and ‘20.

“There's a really strong player profile right across the whole squad of 37 players,” he says.

“Some of the previous minor teams I had that were successful at Munster level, there may have been very prominent individuals who were also very good team players as well; the likes of Cathal O’Neill, Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Aidan O'Connor.

“There's definitely a depth in the squad here that has really helped in training.” 

This group have brought Limerick to their first All-Ireland minor final since 2016, when they lost to Tipp. They are now bidding to capture the Irish Press Cup for the first time since 1984.

“You have the two best teams in the final,” says Mullins.

“The previous two times we met, they were close games, but Tipperary ultimately were better than us on both days and deserved to beat us. I don't think there's a huge amount between the teams.

“We're not a management team that decides to forensically look at the opposition to the detriment of our own team. There's a balance to be struck.

“We know the strengths that Tipperary have and we have to try and counter that, but equally we have to keep momentum within our own group and keep doing the things a little bit better that have got us to this stage so far. We'll be hoping for an even better performance in the All-Ireland final.”