Limerick U20's look to boost knock-out ambitions in Munster Hurling Championship

THE LIMERICK U20 hurlers will look to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Munster Championship this Wednesday, April 23. Limerick host Cork in the TUS Gaelic Grounds at 7.30pm in round three of the Munster U20 hurling championship.

The Shannonsiders have defeated Tipperary and played out an exciting draw with Waterford in their opening two games of the Munster round-robin series, both away from home. “You're always looking to win your home games, three points now from our two away games. We need to up the ante for our two home games,” said Limerick U20 hurling manager Evan Loftus this week.



Evan Loftus’ side sit in joint second place with Clare on three points. Tipperary are top of the table on four points. Meanwhile, Waterford and Cork are just behind Limerick on one point each.

Limerick's opponents Cork are yet to win a game in the Munster Championship. READ NEXT: Five talking points from Limerick's thrilling draw with Tipperary in Munster Senior Hurling Championship Loftus was impressed by his side's character in their draw with Waterford. “We've set high standards for ourselves within the camp and we fell short of those standards (against Waterford).

The other side of it then at one stage the game it looked like it was gone from us, but we dug deep so we'll take heart from that and we'll go again.” Limerick finish their round-robin series off against Clare on April 30 in Mick Neville Park at 7pm. Hugh Flanagan has impressed scoring 0-9 during the Munster championship.

Evan Loftus has made two changes from the Limerick side that drew with Waterford in round two. Dara Ferland and Mark O'Brien have been included in the starting XV, while Tadgh Boddy and Ruairi O'Connor have been held in reserve. Mungret St Paul's clubman Mark O'Brien has earned his first start of the championship having scored 2-3 off the bench in Limerick's first two games against Tipperary and Waterford.

Senior players Darragh Langan, Sean Casey and Hugh Flanagan are all named on Limerick's starting XV. LIMERICK: Fionn O'Brien; John Murray (Patrickswell), Sean Casey (Bruff), Dan Scully (Dromin-Athlacca); Jack Cosgrave (Ahane), Aidan O'Connell (Doon), Darragh Langan (Monaleen); Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen), James Finn (Na Piarsaigh); Robert O'Farrell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Dara Ferland (Monaleen), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane); Mark O'Brien (Mungret St Paul's), Donal Coughlan (Doon);, Fintan Fitzgerald (Captain, Mungret St Paul's). SUBS: Pierce Connery (Kilmallock), Barry Adams (Ballybrown), Tadgh Boddy (Dromin-Athlacca), Conor Bickford (Ahane), Sean Duff (Mungret St Paul's), , Darren Frewan (Glenroe), Diarmuid Hurley (Hospital-Herbertstown), Ruairi O'Connor (Feenagh-Kilmeedy), Owen Meaney (Bruff).

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