Tipperary suffered their first defeat in the National Hurling League as Limerick edged to a one point victory on Leeside.
GAA: Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B Round 4
Limerick 0-26
Tipperary 3-16
Report: Shane Brophy at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Cathal O’Neill (Limerick)
SCORERS – Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-8 (7 frees); Diarmaid Byrnes (1 free), Donnacha O Dalaigh 0-3 each; Colin Coughlan, Cian Lynch, Gearoid Hegarty 0-2 each; Conor Boylan, Mike Casey, Adam English, Graeme Mulcahy, Tom Morrissey (free), Seamus Flanagan 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Jason Forde 1-7 (0-3 frees); Jake Morris 1-3; Gearoid O’Connor 0-3; Patrick Maher 1-0; Craig Morgan, Alan Tynan, Sean Ryan 0-1 each.
Manager Liam Cahill made eleven changes from the win over Westmeath with Seamus Kennedy, Brian McGrath, Conor Stakelum, and Jason Forde the only players to retain their places while there was a first appearance of the campaign for Paddy Cadell in midfield.
The opening half was a tame enough affair, with handpassing the notable feature from both sides with little in the way of free-flowing hurling. Liam Cahill’s charges led at half time, 1-7 to 0-9 with the goal coming from Jason Forde on thirty minutes, but Tipp failed to score for the rest of the half as Limerick hit four in a row to trail by one.
Tipp did start the second half well with Jason Forde and Alan Tynan on the scoresheet, but Limerick continued to dictate terms and on fifty minutes took the lead for the first time through Donnacha O Dalaigh, shortly after Tipp lost Seamus Kennedy to a concerning knee injury.
Limerick forged three clear on 58 minutes when sub Patrick Maher robbed Colin Coughlan and scored a superb individual goal. However, as in the first half, Limerick responded well to rattle of the next four scores in a row and kept Tipp at arm’s length for the remainder with Jake Morris superb goal with the last puck of the game reducing the margin to one, but Limerick were full value for the win.
Tipperary face Antrim in their final game next Saturday but likely need Limerick to avoid defeat to Galway in their final match as should the three teams finish level, score difference comes into play as Tipp’s (+22) is the most inferior to both the Limerick (+52) and Galway (+51).
TEAMS – Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Fergal O’Connor, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Cathal O’Neill, Colin Coughlan; William O’Donoghue, Barry Murphy; Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Conor Boylan; Donnacha O Dalaigh, Aaron Gillane, Peter Casey.
Subs: Tom Morrissey for Boylan (59); Graeme Mulcahy for P Casey (59); Seamus Flanagan for Gillane (67); Adam English for Murphy (70).
Tipperary: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan); Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Michael Breen (Ballina); Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy), Brian McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s); Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Paddy Cadell (Kiladangan); Alan Tynan (Roscrea), John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy); Jason Forde (Silvermines), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields).
Subs: Dan McCormack for Bowe (3-10 blood); Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill) for B McGrath (HT); Patrick Maher for O’Connor (41-46 blood); Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) for Kennedy (47 inj); Sean Ryan (Templederry Kenyons) for J McGrath (52); Patrick Maher (Lorrha) for Tynan (57); Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs) for Cadell (65).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).
