Classy Tipperary minors get their football campaign off to a brilliant start

Tipperary 1-11 Limerick 0-7 

'Buzzing from the off' is the best description to describe the Tipp minor footballers' lethal start against Limerick in their Munster minor football championship opener at Rathkeale on Thursday night. The first tackle and first attack was cheered on robustly by the subs and management which inspired the Tipp lads on the field. The first quarter was dominated by Tipp who showed clever attacking know-how as well as composed shooting.

Afterwards a beaming John McNamara summed up a fantastic display by Tipperary: "To come to Limerick and get the win and to be dominant on the field indicates the standard of player that is currently playing with Tipp football. They are composed, they are settled on the ball and they are smart off the ball too. They are playing a game that suits them, and they are happy to play it," he told Tipperary Live at full time. 

The platform for victory presented itself early and the confident, assured Tipp forwards built up a steady lead against a jittery Limerick side that were too ponderous and lateral in their play to trouble their 'tuned in' opponents. Tipperary started swiftly with a nice pass from Shane Ryan to Ronan O'Brien and the visitors were up and running. Charlie Grace kicked sweetly to make it two, and then on 8 minutes Liam Freeney punched the air in delight after his pinpoint punt sailed over as the sideline crew roared him on. While Tipp were tuned in, Limerick looked wiped out!

Limerick were stuck in their own half and so busy putting out fires they couldn't find the headspace to muster an attack. Emmet Bonner set up industrious midfielder Sean Lewis on 15 minutes for Tipperary's fourth in a row to leave it 0-4 to 0-0 with the sideline clapping on in appreciation. Tipperary kept the pressure on in a top class twenty minute display. The point scoring was exceptional. Long range points, well worked scores and good support play were all features of a well drilled side playing well. 

 The backs, led by centre back Billy Tierney, were steady in possession. Driving runs forward by Michael Connellan and Jamie O'Keefe built the platform for scores. The forwards sensed scores and kept the attacks coming. Shane Ryan had a close in goal chance after good patient build up play before Liam Freeney hit to leave Tipp six up with an ominous scoreboard for Limerick.

Finally the home side got something to cheer about on 19 minutes when Tony Glynn got them off the mark before the steady centre back Billy Tierney kicked a 45 stylishly over the bar to huge applause. Limerick found their bearings by this stage and the talented Evan Curry showed his worth hitting a brace of long range scores in a couple of minutes. On the match day programme his midfield partner was Aidan O'Shea but the captain was absent through injury and without the dynamic duo operating to their maximum in midfield, Limerick struggled. 

Tipp rallied again and the strong and skilful full forward Ronan O'Brien struck a fine point approaching the break in a half that was filled with great displays of catching and kicking from a number of players, most notably wearing blue and gold. As Tipp skipped in 0-8 to 0-3 up, one sensed that Limerick had another gear but with the lead Tipp had built up it would take a huge momentum shift to find a way back. 

Limerick attacked Tipp at the start of the second half and scored to leave it 0-8 to 0-4 but for Tipp it was a matter of continuing with the attacking style of football that was paying dividends at that stage. The attack went up another gear then with fast strikes from Shane Quigley and Ronan O'Brien who was proving a handful in the full forward position for the Limerick full back line.

 Limerick got one back to leave it 0-10 to 0-5 but on 49 minutes Tipperary marked their authority when Ronan O'Brien coolly gathered the ball after Liam Freaney had put the Limerick full back line under too much pressure forcing the defensive wall to collapse. An opening was found and O'Brien calmly slotted to the net from close range thereby finishing the game as a contest. The other highlight of the half was the captain Billy Tierney kicking a free from the grass directly over the bar with effortless ease. 

Limerick had their chances before the goal went in but it was hard to find a way back after that and while they scored a couple of tidy points late on, the Tipperary substitutes were eager to impress and saw the game out by keeping the bulk of the possession to the end. Afterwards Tipp manager John McNamara said the goal sealed his side's supremacy: 

"We had talked about the idea of attacking the Limerick kick out and trying to reduce options for the Limerick keeper. Liam Freaney was smart and pounced to set up Ronan O'Brien and it was a terrific finish." he said. That goal was the icing on the cake for Tipp who won't have long to bask in victory as Waterford await McNamara's men next while Limerick face Clare next Thursday. Full steam ahead now for round two. 

Scorers for Tipperary: R O’Brien 1-3 (0-2 frees); L Freaney, B Tierney (0-1 free, 0-1 ‘45’) 0-2 each; C Grace, S Lewis, S Ryan, S Quigley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: E Curry 0-4 (0-1 free); T Glynn, R Allen (free), A Lyons (free) 0-1 each.

Tipperary: P Boland (Moyle Rovers); S Flanagan (Newport), L Kiely (Fethard), C Ryan (Ballina); M Connellan (Clonmel Commercials), B Tierney (Clonmel Commercials), J O’Keefe (Clonmel Commercials); M O’Reilly (Moyle Rovers), S Lewis (Arravale Rovers); C Grace (Ballina), L Freaney (Kilsheelan Kilcash), S Ryan (Ardfinnan); S Quigley (Arravale Rovers), R O’Brien (Durlas Óg), E Bonner (Galtee Rovers).

Subs: C O’Gorman (Moyle Rovers) for Grace (44), J Quinn (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Quigley (44), L Coughlan (Moycarkey-Borris) for Lewis (53), T Ryan (Moycarkey-Borris) for Ryan (53), R Myles for Bonner (59).

Limerick: S Guerin (Kildimo Pallaskenry); C O’Sullivan (Kildimo Pallaskenry), C Costello (Cappagh Rathkeale), K O’Kelly (Croom); L Og Glynn (Ahane), C Woulfe (Fr. Casey’s), S Colgan (Askeaton); K Morrow (Mungret St. Paul’s), E Curry (Athea); R O’Connell (Fr. Casey’s), R Allen (Kildimo Pallaskenry), P Phelan (Pallasgreen); P Murphy (Askeaton), T Glynn (Na Piarsaigh), A Murphy (Fr. Casey’s).

Subs: D Hogan (Mungret St. Paul’s) for Morrow (25), J Hunt (Athea) for Colgan (36), C Meade (St. Senan’s) for O’Connell (36), R Mullins (Mungret St. Paul’s) for Phelan (53), A Lyons (Newcastle West) for Allen (53).

Referee: J O’Regan (Cork).