Tipp fail to build on first half showing

 

Limerick       1-21

Tipperary     1-14

 

By Shane Brophy at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

 

All Ireland champions Limerick flexed their muscles in the second half to ease to a seven point victory over Tipperary in the second round of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A this evening.

In frosty conditions, Tipperary got off to a blistering start with Michael Breen pointing after just nine seconds. Limerick’s early scores came from frees with Noel McGrath also pointing from play before Tipp suffered a blow with Dan McCormack forced off with a shoulder injury.

Robert Byrne and Jason Forde landed good scores but Limerick had edged in front for the first time when Tipp struck for goal on 23 minutes with Noel McGrath and Willie Connors playing sweet passes, the final one finishing with Patrick Maher who finished low to the corner. It was almost a second goal two minutes later but sub Jason Forde pulled wide from close range.

Tipp were four ahead on the half hour when they were pegged back as Graeme Mulcahy got on the end of an angled delivery to flick to the net and that margins remained the same to the break, 1-9 to 1-8 in Tipp’s favour.

Limerick started the second half the brighter with Mulcahy, Aaron Gillane (free), Diarmuid Byrnes (free) and Conor Boylan landing points with Tipp’s responses from Seamus Callanan (free) and Jason Forde.

The home side really took a stranglehold with their defence nice and compact with Tipperary’s forwards finding little space and on the break, Limerick caused Tipp problems with Dan Morrissey, Boyland and Diarmuid Byrnes landing fine points from play as they went four up with fifteen minutes to go.

Despite Jason Forde bagging his third from play, Tipp struggled throughout the second half, although their cause was not helped by eleven wides, six from frees at crucial times in the game.

Limerick were able to bring strength from their bench late on with Tom Morrissey and Aaron Gillane (free) rounding off an impressive second half showing from the home side.

 

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Diarmuid Byrnes (Limerick)

SCORERS – Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-9 (5 frees, 2 65s); Diarmuid Byrnes 0-4 (2 frees, 1 65); Graeme Mulcahy 1-1; Tom Morrissey, Conor Boylan 0-2 each; Dan Morrissey, Darragh O’Donovan, Peter Casey 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 0-5 frees; Jason Forde 0-3; Patrick Maher 1-0; Barry Heffernan, Padraic Maher, Robert Byrne, Michael Breen, Noel McGrath, Willie Connors 0-1 each.

 

TEAMS – Limerick: Nicky Quaid; Tom Condon, Sean Finn, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Darragh O’Donovan, Colin Ryan; Gearoid Hegarty, Tom Morrissey, Conor Boylan; Aaron Gillane, Kevin Downes, Graeme Mulcahy.

Subs: Peter Casey for Downes (45); Paddy O’Loughlin for Hannon (50); Kyle Hayes for Boylan (57); Pat Ryan for Mulcahy (63); Cian Lynch for O’Donovan (69).

Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Donagh Maher, James Barry, Ronan Maher; Alan Flynn, Padraic Maher, Barry Heffernan; Robert Byrne, Michael Breen; Dan McCormack, Noel McGrath, Willie Connors; Jake Morris, Seamus Callanan, Patrick Maher.

Subs: Jason Forde for McCormack (12 inj); Niall O’Meara for Byrne (50); Killian O’Dwyer for D Maher (56); Mark Kehoe for Morris (56); John McGrath for Breen (62).

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)