Tipperary Footballers fall to opening round defeat

Limerick1-13

Tipperary 0-14

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary have no margin for error in their quest for promotion from division three of the National Football League following this two point defeat to Limerick at the LIT Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening.

A 1-2 burst from Limerick at the start of the second half proved to the decisive period as the home side claimed the initiative but it was a victory they deserved as they dominated possession and created the more chances with Tipperary only showing more urgency late in the game but it proved to be too late.

Starting with just seven of the team that started in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Mayo last December, Tipperary had three league debutantes in defence in Tadhg Fitzgerald, Paudie Feehan and Jack Harney, the latter making his full senior debut.

And it was the visitors who began the better in the greasy conditions with All-Star forward Conor Sweeney converting two frees before Conal Kennedy finished off a fine move for Tipp’s third before Sean O’Connor claimed the first of two first half marks which he pointed for a four point lead on fifteen minutes. Limerick managed to get on the scoreboard through a Darragh Treacy point before the water-break.

The home side were dominating possession but Tipp were defending well and restored the four point lead on 21 minutes when O’Connor claimed another long range delivery to mark for a point. However from there to half time, Limerick owned the ball as Tipperary struggled on their own kickout as points from Tony McCarthy, and two from Hugh Bourke reduced the deficit to the minimum before Tipp goalkeeper Michael O’Reilly converted a 45 deep in added time as the visitors led 0-6 to 0-4 at half time.

Limerick powered into the second half with Danny Neville pointing before his superb goal in the 37th minute put his side in front for the first time. Hugh Bourke added two frees before Neville pointed again as the home side went five in front on 41 minutes.

It took Tipp nine minutes into the second half to score through Liam Boland but Limerick were always able to keep Tipp at arms length with sub Brian Donovan and Hugh Bourke keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Tipperary found some rhythm before the second water-break with the excellent Conal Kennedy, Sean O’Connor and Steven O’Brien on target from play. Tipp manager David Power made a triple substitution in an attempt to save the situation with Jack Kennedy coming into great effect, kicking two points.

However, Limerick were always a threat going the other way as Bourke, Nevin and Donovan added to their impressive tallies as the home side recorded a two-point victory.

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Limerick: Hugh Bourke 0-6 (3 frees); Danny Neville 1-3; Brian Donovan 0-2; Tony McCarthy, Darragh Treacy 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 0-4 frees; Sean O’Connor 0-3 (2 marks); Conal Kennedy, Jack Kennedy (1 free) 0-2 each; Michael O’Reilly (45); Steven O’Brien, Liam Boland 0-1 each.

TEAMS – LIMERICK: Donal O’Sullivan; Michael Donovan, Brian Fanning, Sean O’Dea; Tony McCarthy, Robert Childs, Gordon Browne; Darragh Treacy, Tommie Childs; Adrian Enright, Cillian Fahy, Cian Sheehan; Tommy Griffin, Danny Neville, Hugh Bourke.

Subs: Iain Corbett for Griffin (HT); Brian Donovan for Enright (HT); Paul Maher for Browne (57); Seamus O’Carroll for Sheehan (63); Robbie Burke for Fahy (67)

Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly; Tadhg Fitzgerald, Jimmy Feehan, Colm O’Shaughnessy; Emmet Moloney, Paudie Feehan, Jack Harney; Steven O’Brien, Conal Kennedy; Brian Fox, Jason Lonergan, Liam Boland, Colman Kennedy; Conor Sweeney, Sean O’Connor.

Subs: Daire Brennan for Harney (41); Shane Foley for Fitzgerald (56); Alan Campbell for O’Shaughnessy (56); Jack Kennedy for Boland (56); Stephen Quirke for Lonergan (67); Padraic Looram for Moloney (70 inj).

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)