Tipp fall to Limerick fightback in Munster Final

Limerick 2-29

Tipperary3-21

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary gave up a ten point have time lead as they were over-ran by Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling Final at a sweltering Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The Premier County played some outstanding hurling and were full value for their 2-16 to 0-12 half time lead with Jake Morris and John O’Dwyer scoring the goals with Tipperary’s gameplan unsettling Limerick. Jason Forde was outstanding in the first half scoring six points from play.

However, it was a different story in the second half as Limerick found a renewed energy and reeled off the first three points before Seamus Flanagan poked home a rebound from a Barry Hogan save to begin their fightback in earnest.

A Jake Morris point on 46 minutes was Tipp’s only score in the third quarter and by the water-break they had fallen two points behind with sub Aaron Gillane making a huge impact.

Immediately after the water-break, Kyle Hayes burst forward to score a superb goal and suddenly Tipp were five down. Only at that stage did the Tipp management empty the bench, bringing on four subs and in the remaining period of the match matched Limerick but the damage had been done.

Mark Kehoe’s goal in added time we mere consolation while also look back on sixteen wides but the manner of the third quarter collapse will be hard to recover from ahead of an All-Ireland quarter final in two weeks time.

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-8 (4 frees); Tom Morrissey 0-6 (1 free); Seamus Flanagan 1-3; Peter Casey, Diarmuid Byrnes (2 frees, 1’ 65) 0-4 each; Kyle Hayes 1-0; Gearoid Hegarty, David Reidy 0-2 each; Cian Lynch 0-1.

Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-11 (0-3 frees, 0-1 65); John O’Dwyer, Jake Morris 1-2 each; Mark Kehoe 1-0; Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher, Michael Breen, Dan McCormack, Seamus Callanan, Willie Connors 0-1 each.

Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Richie English, Barry Nash; Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes; William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Peter Casey, Seamus Flanagan, Graeme Mulcahy.

Subs: Aaron Gillane for Mulcahy (31); Dan Morrissey for English (31 concussion); David Reidy for Casey (65); Conor Boylan for T Morrissey (67); Pat Ryan for Flanagan (68); Robbie Hanley for Lynch (70).

Tipperary: Barry Hogan, Cathal Barrett, Padraic Maher, Barry Heffernan; Seamus Kennedy, Brendan Maher, Ronan Maher; Dan McCormack, Alan Flynn; Michael Breen, Jason Forde, Noel McGrath; Jake Morris, Seamus Callanan, John O’Dwyer.

Subs: Willie Connors for Flynn (52); Paddy Cadell for McCormack (56); Mark Kehoe for McGrath (56); Niall O’Meara for O’Dwyer (56); B McGrath for Heffernan (59).

Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).