Mungret St Paul’s and Monaleen to meet in Limerick U21 Premier Hurling final:
By John Keogh Limerick Leader Sport
A MARQUEE game is to finish the Limerick hurling season with Monaleen taking on Mungret St Paul’s in the Premier U21 decider on this Wednesday evening at Mick Neville Park.
The two sides also met in the Premier U19 final with Monaleen coming away with a big victory during the Summer.
There is a host of talent on show within both camps.
Monaleen boast the likes of Limerick’s Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Darragh Langan, Ronan Lyons and Joe Fitzgerald in their starting lineup and come into the game as heavy favourites. They also have recent Limerick minors Dara Ferland, Mark Field and Matthew Fitzgerald as part of their plans.
Mungret have plenty of talent in their own ranks with Fintan Fitzgerald, Liam Lynch, Barry Duff and Mark O’Brien all part of their panel of players.
Darragh O’Hagan, Billy Molyneaux, Sean Duff, Jack McCarthy and Jason Hassett have also been key components during their run to the county final this year.
Brian Begley is over the Mungret St Paul’s team that raced through the group stages with four wins from their four games. Mungret saw off Ballybrown, Doon, Ahane and Newcastle West. They then earned a 1-19 to 1-15 victory over Na Piarsaigh to reach tonight’s final.
Monaleen had an identical record in Group 2 with four wins from their four fixtures. Na Piarsaigh, Bruff, Cappamore and Patrickswell were all swept aside, before a six-point win over Ballybrown in their semi-final.
The final will be the last ever one at this grade after the move to change the age grades to even numbers this year. From 2024, minor club games will revert to U18 instead of U17, while U20 will be competed at instead of U19 and U21.
Coshlea Gaels won the U21 A final at the weekend after an epic extra time victory over Murroe-Boher in the final at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock.
The two clubs also meet in the Premier U21 football semi-final on Friday evening.