By Cian O'Connell

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Small, but important steps are being taken by an emerging crop of Wicklow hurlers.

A second All Ireland Under 21 B Final appearance in three years offers further proof that talented players are being developed.

Padraig Doyle featured in the triumph two years ago and the UCD student is relishing Saturday's trip to Thurles for a clash against Kerry. "Yeah, I can't wait, to play in Thurles as well," Doyle says.

"A lot of the lads on the team haven't got to play there. I was lucky enough to play there two years ago, it is a different experience.

"In Wicklow we don't get these occasions too often in hurling, we are just embracing it all, letting sink in to just enjoy it really."

Seamus Murphy and Michael Neary's impressive work ensures there is a nice blend between the Under 21 and senior set ups according to Doyle. "Yeah, there would be a big mix," Doyle admits.

"This year is a bit different with a lot of young players coming through for us from minor from last year. The management we have Seamus and Michael Neary, they are over the senior team, we had great success with them. We progressed.

"We made it to a League Final and got to a Christy Ring Semi-Final. Their experience and the lads that played between the two teams as well, it is a great asset going into this final."

Doyle acknowledges that the standard in the Christy Ring competition has increased recently. "Yeah, it is massive," Doyle replies. "We lost to Carlow in the Semi-Finals and Carlow went on to play in the Liam MacCarthy with the new system that was in.

"They only lost to Laois by a point or something in the Qualifiers so in that sense it is inspiring for us in a way. We can think further ahead that maybe some day we could also play in the Liam MacCarthy and with the Under 21s that you could play the Kilkennys or the Limericks the year after. We are making progress."

By continuing to work hard Doyle feels that Wicklow can eventually find a way into the Leinster Championship in the next decade.

"I suppose it is all about how you knuckle down and the plan that is in place," Doyle says.

"Michael and Seamus only came in this year and they will be looking at a three or four year plan to develop us as young players and as a senior team to up our standards hurling wise, to get us to link up a lot better than we have for the past few years, just to push for it. I suppose it would be a realistic target."