Tipperary hurling legends pass their toughest test with hard-fought win over Limerick

Gaelic Masters Association Hurling Championship - Round 4

Tipperary 3-24 

Limerick 1-14

By Michael McCarthy

Tipperary continued their winning run in the competition with a comprehensive 2nd half display. The result now means Tipp are guaranteed a final spot for the second year in a row. 

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Ger O'Grady's charges didn't have it all their own, though, as a plucky Limerick team were very competitive in the first half and handed out Tipperary’s only half of hurling loss since the Masters returned. 

There were changes to Tipps named 15 as Lar Corbett picked up a knock in a junior game the night before, while Niall Curran was unavailable. The manager started himself along with the returning Eoin Kelly in their stead. 

The Mullinahone man would take home the scoring honours with a brace of goals, one in either half, while Evan Sweeney was the liveliest of the forwards and scored well from both play and frees. 

On a sweltering day in Claughaun, Kelly's first-half goal were a godsend for Tipp as Limerick went in at half-time one to the good, 1-8 to 1-7. 

Tipp's class shone through in the second period with goals from Redser & Eoin Kelly stemming the Limerick tide. Kelly was scoring & orchestrating, and a glorious one-two with Paul McGrath saw the Toomevara man score the point of the day. 

Eoin Brislane was also instrumental in keeping Tipp in the game in the first half with three point-blank saves as Limerick went hunting for goals. 

All in all, it was a comfortable victory for Shane McGrath and his men in the end. Declan Fanning & Sean Quirke were steadying influences at the back while Brislane was on top form between the sticks. 

Cathal Gleeson and birthday boy David Young kept the scoreboard ticking over while Sweeney and Eoin Kelly were the pick of the forwards. 

Wexford are next up for Tipp, with fixture details to be confirmed. 

Tipperary: Eoin Brislane (Toomevara); Peter Maher (Thurles Sarsfiends), Sean Quirke (Silvermines), Murty Treacy (Borris-Ileigh); Paul McGrath (Toomevara, 0-1), Declan Fanning (Killenaule), Matty Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh); Tommy Collins (Ballina), Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch, 0-1); Ciarán Ryan (Cappawhite), Cathal Gleeson (Silvermines, 0-3), Ger O'Grady (Thurles Sarsfields, 1-3), Evan Sweeney (Loughmore Castleiney, 0-8, 0-4f), David Young (Toomevara, 0-2), Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone, 2-6, 0-3f). 

Subs used: Tom Costello (Cappawhite), David Kennedy (Loughmore Castleiney), Nigel Kenny (Gortnahoe Glengoole). 

Limerick: Joe Mulcahy; Barry O'Grady, Seamus Barry, Tony Cross; Mikey Dillon, Mike Keane, Karl O'Regan; Derek Grimes, Liam O'Sullivan; Kieran Leahy, Adrian Garvey, Michael McKenna; Roger Ryan, Niall Collins, Peter Tiernan. 

Subs: John Chawke, William Stanners, Christopher O'Connor, Kevin O'Brien, Noel Noonan, Paudie McNamara, Ian McNamara, Stevie Lyons, Ed Kiely, Mark Kelly, Denis Barry, Derek Connaughton, Batt Curtin, Alan Doherty, Patrick Dore, Tony Doyle, Michael Geary, Patrick Hartigan, Gerard Kelleher. 

Referee: John Bugler (Clare)

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