Tipperary 2-12
Limerick 1-13
TIPPERARY’S U21 HURLING side got in on the winning act with victory over a highly-rated Limerick side in tonight’s Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 semi-final in Semple Stadium.
The William Maher managed side deservedly chiseled out a two-point victory in Thurles against a Limerick side that had been hotly tipped to advance.
The success propels Tipperary to a final meeting with Waterford on 27 July and follows up on the county’s double Munster hurling success at the Gaelic Grounds last Sunday.
Goals in either half from Andrew Coffey and substitute Ronan Teehan proved central to Tipperary’s victory.
Teehan’s strike in the 58th minute was a critical one as it pushed Tipperary five points clear but it was wiped out instantly when Limerick midfielder Darragh O’Donovan lashed a shot to the net at the other end.
However Tipperary weathered the Limerick storm with Teehan pointing in injury-time and a Ronan Lynch free – his ninth of the game – was all that Limerick could muster in response as they fell short by two points.
Limerick had looked bright at the start with a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage by the 7th minute but Tipperary fought back with a trio of points to go ahead after 17 minutes.
In a tough and uncompromising contest, scores were difficult to come by in the second quarter. Limerick raised four white flags courtesy of a trio of Lynch frees and a Tom Morrissey point but they hit seven wides in the opening period.
But a key score arrived in the 28th minute when Quirke set up wing-forward Andrew Coffey for a decisive strike to the net for Tipperary.
Tipperary trailed by 0-8 to 1-4 at the interval but they outscored Limerick by 0-3 to 0-1 in the third quarter and never faced a deficit thereafter.
Limerick were level at 1-7 to 0-10 with ten minutes remaining before Tipperary started to make a decisive burst for home. Jason Ryan (2), Coffey and Mark Russell all fired over points with Limerick’s response consisting of a brace of converted frees by Ronan Lynch.
And then Teehan pounced for that significant goal which put Tipperary into an unassailable lead despite Limerick’s best efforts late on.
Scorers for Tipperary: Andrew Coffey 1-2, Ronan Teehan 1-1, Josh Keane 0-4 (0-3f), Conor Lanigan, Jason Ryan 0-2 each, Mark Russell 0-1.
Scorers for Limerick: Ronan Lynch 0-9 (0-9 frees), Darragh O’Donovan 1-0, Barry Nash, Seamus Flanagan, Pat Ryan, Tom Morrissey 0-1 each
Tipperary
1. Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha)
2. Paul Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)
3. Tom Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty)
4. David Sweeney (Kildangan)
10. Jack Shelly (Mullinahone)
6. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields – Captain)
7. Sean Ryan (Sean Treacys)
8. Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields)
15. Willie Connors (Kildangan)
11. Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers)
5. Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg)
9. Andrew Coffey (Nenagh Éire Óg)
12. Josh Keane (Golden-Kilfeacle)
13. Conor Lanigan (Thurles Sarsfields)
14. Mark Russell (Lattin Cullen)
Subs
17. Jason Ryan (Toomevara) for Connors (47)
21. Pa Ryan (Newport) for Lanigan (47)
22. Ronan Teehan (Gortnahoe-Glengoole) for Keane (55)
23. Tommy Nolan (Drom-Inch) for McCarthy (58)
Limerick
1. Eoghan McNamara (Doon)
2. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh – Captain)
3. Richie English (Doon)
4. Sean Flanagan (Feoghanagh)
5. Colin Ryan (Pallagreen)
6. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
7. Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen)
8. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
9. Pat Ryan (Doon)
10. Ronan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh)
11. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
12. David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh)
13. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
15. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh)
Subs
17. Lorcan Lyons (Monaleen) for Morrissey (41)
24. Oisin O’Reilly (Kilmallock) for Peter Casey (41)
22. Barry Murphy (Doon) for Flanagan (45)
19. Jack Quaid (Effin) for La Touche Cosgrave (57)
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)
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Great result considering the calibre of that Limerick containing most of last year’s winning team
A very good game of hurling in awful conditions. Both teams gave their all.
Tip gave it 1000%
Tipp certainly do love playing in the rain! I’d say Waterford are trying to build a roof on top of Walsh Park to make sure it’s a dry night for the final!
I don’t know how we won that, Limerick should have been 5 or more points up at HT, they just looked the superior team in that 1st half but didn’t finish us, and Tipp improved in that 2nd half slowly but surely. But I’d fancy the Deise, they looked very impressive last night.
Haaan Tipp
Bad week for limerick. Next year will be better for us.
Years of Tipp domineering ahead
Ye said that after ye won the last All Ireland aswell in 2010, I haven’t seen much domineering though
Tipp always have top underage teams but they haven’t dominated in senior in half a century. 5 all Ireland’s in fifty years is an eye opening statistic.
Side show, l love the name side show your opinion dosent mean shit ,great name
Can’t believe he went for a point at the end, when they’d no time left and were a goal behind.
It’s all hype about tipp now, maybe Waterford threw in the towel with 20 mins to go the last day.. Won’t play again for 5 weeks who ever wins between Clare and Galway will have a serious chance against them!
Tipp brought more intensity & aggression to the table tonight than us. We were extremely flat, we just never got going. Not sure if players were complacent or just out-fought on the night. The wides we shot, particularly in the first half, seem to knock the stuffing out of us. We should have gone in at half time at least four points up. Once Tipp got the first few scores of the second half they sensed they could take us, while we continued to shoot more bad wides.
I don’t think Waterford will blow Tipp away in the same manner they beat Clare – the Tipp defence is good. Maher & Fox were particularly good tonight. But I’d still expect the Déise to win comfortably by 7/8 points.
I would love to see Tipp win the All Ireland at any grade and I never get the Tipp hate bandwagon, somebody explain why? unless its passed on arrogance from the older generation… I dont know…Imagine if Offaly had internet forums in the 80s and 90s…oh lord!! I dont dislike anyone in the GAA all the same, leave the hate to the the I hate Tipp Brigade, the sweeper system has improved the game of hurling says the Waterford man who had recent memories of John Mulane, Eoin Kelly, Ken McGrath etc…sweeper system is the way forward lads
I’m from Limerick but I certainly don’t hate Tipp. Mind you I’m probably in the minority there!
Tipp has a border with 8 other hurling counties, more than any other county. That has something to do with many teams rivalry with Tipp maybe.
Kilkenny will be trembling in their boots.
Cian Lynch completely Expendable hanging out in the backs…Best form of defence is attack …sweeper ,short passing, long range pts.wonderful on a nice afternoon in Thurles …Pissing Rain = direct hurling (Cody’s style) inside Fwd’s would have had a chance…instead kept the game plan & took off all three..yikes Limerick needs a coach/Manager immediately