Tipp left chastened by rampant Limerick

GAA: National Hurling League Division 1 Round 4

Tipperary 0-21

Limerick 0-36

Report: Noel Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

Photos: Odhran Ducie

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Aidan O’Connor (Limerick)

SCORERS - Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-7 frees; Noel McGrath 0-6; Eoghan Connolly (frees); John McGrath (frees) 0-2 each; Jake Morris, Sean Kenneally, Darragh Stakelum, Keith Ryan 0-1 each.

Limerick: Aidan O’Connor 0-11 (5 frees); Shane O’Brien 0-6; Peter Casey 0-4; Gearoid Hegarty, Aaron Gillane, Darragh O’Donovan, Adam English, Tom Morrissey, Donnacha Ó Dalaigh 0-2 each; Mike Casey, Colin Coughlan, Cathal O’Neill 0-1 each.

A second successive defeat for Tipperary in the National Hurling League might not have been a major surprise to the vast majority of the Premier County supporters in the 15,221 crown at FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday evening, but the manner of it certainly was.

Hammered, chastened, humiliated – just some of the words which floated about the Field of Dreams when the final whistle had sounded as Limerick skipped back over the border having beaten the hosts by a score a man.

It was indeed a dark evening for the All-Ireland champions – one where nothing went right and everything seemed off. The energy associated with the side was missing; the touch was heavy and poor; and the tackling practically non-existent.

It was an evening to forget but there was also a stark reminder that Limerick have not gone away. John Kiely’s men were awesome in their dominance, their execution of scores – 32 from play, and in their ruthless efficiency.

It was hard to believe that the half time scoreline read Limerick 0-20 Tipperary 0-7. The thirteen-point deficit could well have been far worse too with Joe Caesar producing a brilliant hook to prevent a Limerick goal in the 28th minute which would have really put a concluding stamp on the match.

Totally whitewashed in the first half, Tipp took 34 minutes to register a score from play – Noel McGrath’s effort from midfield was the sixth score for the Premier County – all five others coming from Darragh McCarthy frees.

Limerick, by contrast, were flying, full of running, movement and power. They dominated the middle third and from there they laid the platform to their victory. They had seven points on the board before Tipp registered a score – Shane O’Brien (2), Aidan O’Connor (4), Peter Casey and Adam English all pointing.

Tipp’s best attacker was Sean Kenneally and he rasped the upright with a goal chance in the 12th minute – a goal was much needed in the first half for Tipp, but one went unscored. The Moneygall clubman was winning his battle with Limerick full-back Dan Morrissey and he was the one fouled for the missed Darragh McCarthy penalty also at the end of the half – even then the Limerick net went unbreeched.

The visitors continued to roll over the scores with Gearoid Hegarty (2), Aaron Gillane, O’Connor (4), Casey, Darragh O’Donovan and Cathal O’Neill all adding to the tally to bring them up to an incredible twenty points – seventeen from play.

Tipperary were utterly out-played and totally off the pace. Had a Darragh Stakelum goal chance in the 35th minute rattled the net, perhaps some sliver of hope might have appeared, but Nickie Quaid came off his line and smothered the effort, and then minutes later dived to his right only to see Darragh McCarthy’s penalty go wide of the post without having to make the save.

It was a disaster of a first half for Tipp. The feeling was that things could only improve when play resumed, but with the way Limerick were so totally in control, this was very doubtful. And, within seconds of the re-start, midfielder Willie Connors receiving a straight red card, the game was up.

Limerick put a further sixteen points on the board in the second half – only three of those from placed balls. And while Tipperary were marginally behind with fourteen points in that half, six came from frees. Mind you, Tipp attempting to gain traction in attack was practically pointless as Limerick had deployed not one, but two sweepers lying deep and any attempts at feeding quality ball inside was fruitless.

The fact is that Tipp did better in the second half, but that was not a difficult task considering how poor the first half showing had been. The scores came in the form of five Noel McGrath points from play, Darragh Stakelum, Jake Morris, Eoghan Connolly (2 frees), John McGrath (2 frees), Darragh McCarthy (2 frees), and sub Keith Ryan who made his competitive debut on the night.

The problem was, with Willie Connors now in the stands and Tipperary a man down, Limerick had space aplenty and they moved the ball over and back across the field, without Tipperary managing to lay a glove on them. Aidan O’Connor continued his blistering form with four further points to bring his man of the match tally to 0-11, while Shane O’Brien was equally as effective and banged over three more; Peter Casey and Mike Casey, Colin Coughlan and Aaron Gillane all added scores, with subs Tom Morrissey and Donnacha Ó Dalaigh getting two each.

Twelve Limerick scores shared the 36-point tally on an evening that will have pleased manager John Kiely no end. Their dominance over Tipperary in the Kiely era continues – this result was more comprehensive than many of their others and has probably sealed Tipperary’s fate as far as the National League campaign is concerned.

Full analysis and reaction in the Nenagh Guardian on Wednesday

TEAMS - Tipperary: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan 7), Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross/Ballycahill 7), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill 5), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs 6); Joe Caesar (Holycross/Ballycahill 7), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs 6), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s 8); Willie Connors (Kiladangan 5), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 7); Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og 5), Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens 5), Noel McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney 8); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara 5), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og, Capt 6), Sean Kenneally (Moneygall 7).

Subs: Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 7) for O’Farrell (30); Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs 6) for Ormond (HT); John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney 6) for McCarthy (52); Josh Keller (Nenagh Eire Og 6) for C Stakelum (56); Keith Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane 6) for Caesar (61).

Limerick: Nickie Quaid (8); Mike Casey (7), Dan Morrissey (7), Matthew Fitzgerald (7); Colin Coughlan (7), William O’Donoghue (7), Kyle Hayes (7); Adam English (8), Darragh O’Donovan (8); Gearoid Hegarty (7), Aidan O’Connor (9), Cathal O’Neill (7); Aaron Gillane (7), Shane O’Brien (9), Peter Casey (8).

Subs: David Reidy (6) for English (52); Tom Morrissey (8) for Hegarty (52); Donnacha O Dalaigh (7) for Gillane (60); Joe Fitzgerald (6) for O’Neill (60); Diarmuid Byrnes (6) for Hayes (63).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).