Tipperary 4-23
Limerick 1-16
Fintan O’Toole reports from the Gaelic Grounds
TIPPERARY ENDED THEIR losing streak against Limerick in the Munster championship in style today as they ruthlessly despatched their opponents by 16 points at the Gaelic Grounds.
Tipperary advanced to a Munster final date with Waterford on 12 July as they blitzed TJ Ryan’s side on their home patch.
At the break Tipperary had sprinted into a 2-12 to 0-12 lead with Seamus Callanan bagging a brace of goals but Limerick moved back into contention in the second-half.
Shane Dowling struck a penalty to the net and they cut the gap to a point, 2-12 to 1-14, by the 45th minute.
However Tipperary accelerated clear again as they outscored Limerick by 2-11 to 0-2 for the remainder of the game with Jason Forde notching their third goal and debutant Michael Breen coming off the bench for their fourth goal in the dying embers of the clash.
Tipperary’s attack looked threatening throughout with 2014 Allstar duo Callanan and John O’Dwyer replicating last season’s form as they shot 2-12 between them. Jason Forde also showed up well with a 1-3 return while there was plenty to admire in the play of Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher.
Limerick had started the game encouragingly as they raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead with Declan Hannon impressing. But then Tipperary hit 1-4 without reply with Callanan shooting to the net off his left after a one-handed flick by O’Dwyer to create the chance.
Limerick tried to rally but were floored once more in the 23rd minute when Richie McCarthy allowed the ball to creep in behind him where Callanan seized on before running to clear to fire in his second goal.
That left Tipperary in possession of a 2-7 to 0-5 lead but Limerick managed to make some inroads before the interval and were 2-12 to 0-12 adrift at the midway mark.
Limerick got a lifeline just after the break when Shane Dowling fired home a penalty. They were denied three times in quick succession as Darren Gleeson produce excellent point-blank saves to deny Cian Lynch, Shane Dowling and Donal O’Grady.
But O’Grady was then pulled down by Michael Cahill and Dowling slammed his shot home to raise the green flag.
The Limerick sharpshooter fired over two more points to cut the deficit to a single point and with Cian Lynch wreaking havoc, the Limerick fans in the 31,488 attendance were in full voice.
However Limerick couldn’t draw level with some wayward shots hurting their chances. Tipperary steadied themselves after Jason Forde had struck their first point of the second-half in the 49th minute. They went on to reel off a further 1-3 without reply and that third goal in the 56th minute effectively sealed their success.
Graeme Mulcahy’s 61st minute point was Limerick’s final score of the game and Tipperary bagged another 1-5 before the final whistle to seal a comprehensive victory.
Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 2-5 (0-2f, 0-1 ’65), John O’Dwyer 0-7 (0-1 ’65), Jason Forde 1-3, Patrick Maher 0-3, Michael Breen 1-0, Shane McGrath 0-2, James Woodlock, Shane Bourke, Niall O’Meara 0-1
Scorers for Limerick: Shane Dowling 1-7 (0-4f, 0-2 ’65, 1-0 pen), Declan Hannon 0-3, Graeme Mulcahy 0-2, Gavin O’Mahony, Donal O’Grady, David Breen, Seanie O’Brien 0-1 each.
Tipperary
1. Darren Gleeson (Portroe)
2. Paddy Stapleton (Borrisoleigh)
3. James Barry (Upperchurch Drombane)
4. Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill)
5. Kieran Bergin (Killenaule)
6. Pádraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. James Woodlock (Drom & Inch)
9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)
10. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
11. Brendan Maher (Borrisoleigh)
12. Patrick Maher (Lorrha/Dorrha)
13. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
14. Seamus Callanan (Drom-Inch)
15. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
Subs
19. Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields) for Stapleton (inj) (35)
17. Michael Breen (Ballina) for Callanan (blood) (53)
14. Callanan for Breen (60)
18. Shane Bourke (JK Brackens) for O’Meara (67)
23. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for McGrath (67)
17. Breen for Callanan (70)
Limerick
1. Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock)
2. Stephen Walsh (Glenroe)
3. Richie McCarthy (Blackrock)
4. Seamus Hickey (Murroe Boher)
7. Tom Condon (Knockaderry)
6. Gavin O’ Mahony (Kilmallock)
5. Seanie O’Brien (Patrickswell)
8. James Ryan (Garryspillane)
9. Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock)
12. David Breen (Na Piarsaigh)
11. Declan Hannon (Adare)
10. Donal O’Grady (Granagh Ballingarry)
14. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh)
13. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock)
15. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
Subs
21. Paul Browne (Bruff) for Breen (half-time)
24. Kevin Downes (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Grady (50)
22. John Fitzgibbon (Adare) for Paudie O’Brien (60)
17. Wayne McNamara (Adare) for McCarthy (60)
23. David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca) for Ryan (67)
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
Yes and yes. Was also great to see Tom Parsons on last nights panel.
@Sam Walsh: Be it on the Sunday Game last night or at the last Mayo match or on Off the Ball, every appearance he’s made since the injury would make you admire the man and his positivity. A tireless battler on the pitch and clearly the same off it.
@EnKy: a honest player.
Shane Walsh was the best player on the pitch in the Hyde by a country mile. There was no other contenders.
I thought John conlon would get it, his having a great year so far, a man with the strenght of 2 horses as buff egan would say !!!!
Tony Kelly for me, drove Clare on in the second half.
Shanahan had a great game no doubt but it’s easy look good as the spare man. Saw it a lot over the last few years with Waterford sweepers picking up heaps of man of the match awards. Conlon for me for consistency over the game. If Kelly could consistently play for 70 the way he did in the second half he’d never fail to win a MOTM again
@Ciarán: Bill cooper all day long. Won the match for Cork nearly on his own.