On a bitingly cold night by the Lee the All-Ireland champions Limerick proved their worth once more with a one-point victory over a Tipperary team that were able to get goals to stay in the hunt but ultimately fell short to the better side. For Tipperary manager Liam Cahill, after this Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B game, his immediate concern will be to get half back Seamus Kennedy assessed after the experienced St. Mary's clubman fell awkwardly in the second half with no one around him.
The fear is that he may have picked up a serious injury but an assessment will be needed to see if he has a further part to play this season.
The starting team had eleven changes from the win over Westmeath with Kennedy, Brian McGrath, Conor Stakelum, and Jason Forde all starting again. Going into the game Tipperary were unbeaten but on the night Limerick held all the aces and despite conceding three goals, they had enough points on board to get the win.
It was a game in which Tipperary needed to get out ahead and push on but, as the game wore on, it was Limerick who grew stronger - striking 19 second half points - as they kept the pressure on. Afterwards Limerick manager John Kiely said the aspect that pleased him the most from the night was how Limerick grew stronger and better as the game went on.
In the end a Jake Morris solo run and strike to the net brought it back to a one point game by the 76th minute but Limerick looked convincing from a long way out.
The game opened with both sides trading scores early points from Jason Forde and Gearoid O'Connor put Tipperary ahead before Limerick levelled it at 0-4 a piece on 16 minutes.
A fantastic strike from the impressive Craig Morgan put Tipp one up again before Jake Morris struck another in the 24th minute to leave it 0-6 to 0-4.
Again Limerick rallied, pointing from a free. By now Jason Forde had taken over the freetaking duties from Gearoid O'Connor however the difficult playing conditions meant scores were hard to come by.
It was O'Connor and Forde who struck from play shortly after. Gearoid O'Connor hit a point from play then on the half hour mark he sent a lengthy sideline across the field where goal lurcher Jason Forde was lurking.
Neatly pushing his marker off, Forde threw up the ball head height and neatly tapped it past the Limerick keeper to leave Tipperary 1-7 to 0-5 up.
Limerick responded by striking four points in a row. They were driving forward as the half time whistle sounded and allowed Tipperary, who actually went in 1-7 to 0-9 up, a chance to gather themselves.
On resumption Tipperary started with scorers from Forde again and Alan Tynan. The injury to Seamus Kennedy occured when he tried to change direction quickly and with no one around him, went down injured. Quickly Dan McCormack took to the field as the crowd clapped Seamus Kennedy off.
While Tipp had weathered the Limerick storm til that point, the game changed significantly. Limerick were playing against the wind but it didn't bother them in the slightest as their half back line began to take control.
Diarmuid Byrnes, Colin Coughlan and centre back Cathal O'Neill dictated matters. Coughlan and O'Neill struck long range points as they grew stronger.
With 21 minutes to play Limerick went ahead. All over they were playing better. New find Ó Dálaigh struck a sweet one from near the sideline and corner forward Arron Gillane added another. Cornerback Mike Casey then pointed.
It was looking like a lost cause for Tipperary and a shuffle of the cards meant the subs came into play. While Limericks subs were overall more effective than Tipp subs, it was Patrick 'Bonner' Maher who led the fightback for Tipperary.
In the 22nd minute of the half he chased down a ball, dispossessed Coughlan the Limerick defender who was caught in possession, and then taking on the ball into a scoring position he fired low past Nicky Quaid to leave it level at 2-12 to 0-18.
It was a sweet strike from the veteran forward but it didn't halt the champions. Limerick responded in the same way as they had to Tipperary's first goal and struck four points in a row once more.
Substitute Graham Mulcahy, on his 71st league performance, struck a point in the 62nd minute to leave the score at: Limerick 0-21 Tipperary 2-12.
Diarmuid Byrnes hit one, Gillane another and Tom Morrissey but Liam Cahill's team kept trying to get back into the game.
Tipperary went from the 58 to the 68 minute without registering a score until Sean Ryan pointed.
The clock was against Tipperary and while they rallied with Forde and Morris points, Limerick struck hard with all four subs getting on the scoresheet.
As time trickled down to just a minute left, a late solo and strike from Jake Morris brought it back to a one-point-game but it was still too little too late as Tipperary were by the narrowest of margins in the end.
While it was close on the scoreboard, in reality the game had lost all fizz by the time Morris struck the consolation goal however the late scoring rally by the vice captain puts Tipperary into a good position to make the league semi finals.
Some positive news then for Liam Cahill after a tough defeat and a possible long term injury to Seamus Kennedy. Tipperary will take on Antrim up north next Saturday, they will be hoping to bounce back quickly on the road.
TIPPERARY SCORERS: Jason Forde 1-7 (0-3 frees), Jake Morris 1-3, Patrick Maher 1-0, Gearoid O'Connor 0-3, Craig Morgan, Alan Tynan and Sean Ryan 0-1 each.
LIMERICK SCORERS: Aaron Gillane 0-8 (0-7 frees), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh 0-3,Diarmaid Byrnes 0-3 (0-1 free), Cian Lynch 0-2, , Gearoid Hegarty 0-2, Colin Coughlan 0-2, Conor Boylan, Mike Casey, Graeme Mulcahy, Tom Morrissey, Adam English and Seamus Flanagan 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan); Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Michael Breen (Ballina), Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s), Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney); Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Paddy Cadell (Brackens); Alan Tynan (Roscrea), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Gearoid O'Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy); Jason Forde (Silvermines), John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og). SUBS: Bryan O Mara for B McGrath (Half-Time), Dan McCormack for S Kennedy (46 minutes), Sean Ryan for J McGrath (51 mimutes), Patrick Maher for A Tynan (56 minutes), Cathal Quinn for P Cadell (63 minutes)
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, Aaron Gillane, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Peter Casey. SUBS: Tom Morrissey for C Boylan (58 minutes), Graeme Mulcahy for P Casey (58 minutes), Seamus Flanagan for A Gillane (63 minutes), Adam English for B Murphy (69 minutes).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).
