Positive start for minor footballers

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship Phase 1 Round 1

Limerick0-7

Tipperary 1-11

Report: Liam Hogan in Rathkeale

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Ronan O’Brien (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Limerick: Evan Curry 0-4 (1 free); Tommy Glynn, Ross Allen (free), Andrew Lyons (free) 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Ronan O’Brien 1-3 (0-1 free); Billy Tierney (1 free, 1 45), Liam Freaney 0-2 each; Charlie Grace, Sean Lewis, Shane Ryan, Shane Quigley 0-1 each.

Holders Tipperary’s had seven points to spare over Limerick in the opening round of the Daryl Darcy Cup Phase 1 Munster Minor Football Championship last Thursday evening.

The margin of the victory should have been much greater but for the number of gilt-edged chances missed but Tipp were the better side by far as they played much of the opening quarter on the front foot but all too often the final piece of the jigsaw resulted in either lost possession or the needless concession of a free in the Limerick half.

The Tipp attack was the difference with five of the starting six on the scoresheet including Ronan O’Brien at full forward with the Durlas Og clubman scoring 1-3.

The defence played their part also with the all-Clonmel Commercials half backline of Michael Connelly and James O’Keeffe very prominent at both wing back positions while Billy Tierney who was very good at six and playing his captain’s part so well.

“We realised halfway through our ten-week preparation period that we needed to play the type of game they enjoyed playing. They played through the hands and there was lots of support,” commented winning manager John McNamara.

“I’m delighted for Billy Tierney as captain. His first time and he comes away with a win. he did that from a quarter back position, wearing number six and he just guided the lads you could name any of those lads who played well.”

Indeed, such was the efforts of the close marking defence that Limerick were limited to one main scoring threat where midfielder Evan Curry was their top man with four points, three from play.

However, a word of warning comes with the game which was very loose at times and the intensity will be greater in challenges ahead. Limerick will be very disappointed. They were beaten finalists last year, but their prospects were hampered with the loss of top player Aidan O’Shea who appears will miss the rest of the season due to a neck injury incurred in a recent game.

Ronan O’Brien had Tipp in front by the third minute. Two minutes later Charlie Grace’s intentions of a goal flew over with the help of the crossbar before Liam Freaney made it three clear by the eighth minute.

More Tipp attacks promised much but the Limerick defence were getting tighter but up front their attacking ideas were much too pedestrian and anything that fell short was dealt with by Tipp goalkeeper Peter Boland.

Meanwhile, Tipp’s swift but patient build up was more laboured as Limerick tightened up considerably but the Premier eventually scored in the fifteenth minute through midfielder Sean Lewis. Two minutes later, Billy Tierney ventured forward with danger before finding Shane Ryan who scored after forcing Limerick keeper Sam Guerin to fingertip the ball over the bar while a second Liam Freaney score made it 0-6 to nil after eighteen minutes.

Undeterred, Limerick came forward again and after slight concern on the edge of the small square full forward Tommy Glynn scored their first point in the 20th minute. A converted 45 by Billy Tierney had Tipp six in front again but five minutes from half time Limerick had Evan Curry supplying two quickfire points inside sixty seconds before Tipp had the final word of the half when Ronan O’Brien’s right foot made 0-8 to 0-3 at half time.

The second half was thirty-five seconds old when Evan Curry scored again for Limerick. Yet, Tipp were not about to allow the good work of the first half go undone as Shane Quigley scored with a goal at his mercy after Charlie Grace provided the link which came from a lengthy clearance by corner forward Emmett Bonner who was helping out in defence on a more permanent scale. There was more as Ronan O’Brien’s pointed free in the 37th minute had Tipp six clear for the third time.

Both sides toyed with possession but the Limerick defence, led by full back Cian Costello and Darragh Hogan, were much improved and they cut the margin to five after an Evan Currey free in the 47th minute.

However, Tipp regrouped and two minutes later a pass from the Limerick defence - inside their own forty-five - was intercepted by Liam Freaney who found Ronan O’Brien for the latter to evade a close marking Limerick defender and fire low to the net.

Leading by eight points, Tipp could relax, and the subs bench was in free flow operation leaving any scores that came in the closing stages from placed balls as Ross Allen converted followed by another from Andrew Lyons while Billy Tierney did likewise at the other end.

There was one last piece of action when Peter Boland saved well from Tommy Glynn but seconds later the game was over.

“We could have won by more as we left behind a few scores. But for me, we battled hard and didn’t give them anything,” added McNamara.

“It was nice to win. It sets the tone for the year. Yes, Limerick had their moments as any opposition has in any game, but we were smart and composed.”

TEAMS - Limerick: Sam Guerin; Cian O’Sullivan, Cian Costello, Kieran O’Kelly; Liam Og Glynn, Cathal Woulfe, Sam Colgan; Kevin Morrow, Evan Curry; Ronan O’Connell, Ross Allen, Padraic Phelan; Padraic Murphy, Tommy Glynn, Adam Murphy.

Subs: Darragh Hogan for Morrow (24); James Hunt for Colgan (35); Cillian Meade for O’Connell (35); Andrew Lyons for Allen (53); Rory Mullins for Phelan (53)

Tipperary: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers); Shane Flanagan (Newport), Liam Kiely (Fethard), Cillian Ryan (Ballina); Michael Connellan (Clonmel Commercials), Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials, Capt), James O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); Michael O’Reilly (Moyle Rovers), Sean Lewis (Arravale Rovers); Charlie Grace (Ballina), Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan); Shane Quigley (Arravale Rovers), Ronan O’Brien (Durlas Og), Emmett Bonner (Galtee Rovers).

Subs: Joey Quinn (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Quigley (45); Cathal O’Gorman (Moyle Rovers) for Grace (45); Louis Coughlan (Moycarkey/Borris) for Lewis (52); Tom Ryan (Moycarkey/Borris) for S Ryan (52); Ronan Moyles (Ardfinnan) for Bonner (56).

Referee: James Regan (Cork).

TIPPERARY v WATERFORD

FBD Semple Stadium

Thursday 20th April

Throw-in @ 7.00pm

Referee: Eoghan O Muircheartaigh (Kerry)

TablePWDL+/-Pts

Clare1100+132

Tipperary1100+72

Limerick1001-70

Waterford1001-130