Tipp hang on for a draw in hurling league opener

GAA: Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Round 1

Limerick0-20

Tipperary0-20

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary were relieved to leave the LIT Gaelic Grounds with a share of the spoils after Limerick came from six points down in the final quarter in this Allianz Hurling League opener on Saturday evening.

The Premier County didn’t score from play in the second half, relying heavily on Jason Forde who scored all eight of their points after the break, with his 67th minute free the only score the visitors managed in the final eighteen minutes as an inexperienced Tipp attack at the finish were hanging on as Limerick brought on the heavy artillery in Cian Lynch, Gearoid Hegarty and Peter Casey to rescue the situation.

Tipperary made a few positional switches at the start, most notably Brian McGrath at full back and he had early difficulties with Seamus Flanagan who opened the scoring.

The early exchanges were well contested with Niall O’Meara getting Tipperary off the mark with Willie Connors and Jason Forde (free) on target as the sides shared the first six points with Adrian Breen and William O’Donoghue on target for Limerick.

David Reidy (free) nudged Limerick back in front as the home side were the sharper in the early going with Flanagan and Reidy on target from play as their ability to open pockets of space in attack caused Tipp problems.

However, Tipp hit back with two quick points from play from Jason Forde before a Reidy free gave Limerick a 0-7 to 0-5 lead at the water-break.

Tipperary came out hungrier after the water-break with the switch of Dan McCormack to midfield giving more security to the defense and from there the visitors took control with points from Forde (free) and McCormack. Reidy’s second from play was cancelled out by a long range Ronan Maher point from play before a long range Forde free put Tipp in front for the first time after 24 minutes, 0-8 to 0-9.

Forde added his fourth free of the half as Tipp were in command but Limerick finished the half well with Will O’Donoghue pointing after Jake Morris had the best goal chance of the half denied by Nickie Quaid.

Ronan Maher converted a long range free for Tipp before Limerick’s Breen and Flanagan brought them level. Michael Breen nudged Tipp back in front but a long range Diarmuid Byrnes free brought the sides level at half time, 0-12 to 0-12.

Tipperary took firm control in the third quarter, without doing anything spectacular with the defence particularly assured with Brian McGrath, Barry Heffernan and Seamus Kennedy impressing, and provided great protection to debutante goalkeeper Barry Hogan who didn't have a save to make.

It was only after the final water-break when Limerick brought on their key players that the tide began to turn with Casey in particularly finding pockets of space to score two points from play while David Reidy brought his tally with eight, with his equaliser in added time bringing them level with a draw being a fair result in what was a low-key contest.

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Limerick: David Reidy 0-8 (6 frees); Seamus Flanagan 0-4; Adrian Breen 0-3; Peter Casey 0-2; Diarmuid Byrnes (free), William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-14 (11 frees, 1 65); Ronan Maher 0-2 (1 free); Michael Breen, Dan McCormack, Niall O’Meara, Willie Connors 0-1 each.

TEAMS: Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Aaron Costello, Sean Finn, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash; Willie O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan; Tom Morrissey, David Reidy, Conor Boylan; Adrian Breen, Seamus Flanagan, David Dempsey.

Subs: Peter Casey for Dempsey (46); Cian Lynch for O’Donovan (46); Gearoid Hegarty for Boylan (55); Darren O’Connell for Breen (60); Brian O’Grady for O’Donoghue (67).

Tipperary: Barry Hogan, Cathal Barrett, Brian McGrath, Barry Heffernan; Bryan O’Mara, Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher; Alan Flynn, Michael Breen; Dan McCormack, Jason Forde, Niall O’Meara; Willie Connors, Jake Morris, Patrick Maher.

Subs: Noel McGrath for O’Meara (53); Dillon Quirke for Maher (53); Cian Darcy for Connors (60); Mark Kehoe for Flynn (62); Padraic Maher for O’Mara (67 inj).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)