Tipperary footballers end season in defeat as Limerick send them out of Tailteann Cup

Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter-Final

Tipperary 1-10

Limerick 1-18

By Tom Clancy 

In a most challenging season for Paul Kelly and Tipperary’s football side, their season came to an abrupt end against neighbours Limerick in Rathkeale.

So too, shortly after the contest, did Kelly’s brief reign at the helm of the Premier County. The Dublin native resigned from his role almost immediately following this preliminary quarter-final.

The championship record, coupled with a disappointing National Football League makes for poor reading. Two wins and one draw from 12 outings is not the standards that anybody expects, even with this side clearly in transition.

Wins over Longford in the league and Wexford in the Tailteann Cup group phase are all those in blue and gold have to show for their efforts. While they were clearly second best against a revitalised Treaty side, what could have gone wrong, did.

As well as Captain Steven O’Brien being watercarrier instead of in midfield, James Morris, Mark Stokes and Jack Kennedy all hobbled out of this clash before 40 minutes had elapsed. Then, when the Limerick lead was cut to just three points in the third quarter, Jimmy Feehan’s thunderous shot rebounded off the crossbar and away to safety.

With Feehan still ruing that miss, Limerick’s rising talent, Emmet Rigter, capitalised to curl over a point. From there, those in green didn’t look back and sprinted for the quarter finals.

Limerick will be in Division Four next season but despite back-to-back relegations, they looked to hold the greater knowhow against a Tipperary side very much in transition. Seán O’Connor was clearly the focal point of this attack and he was assisted well by Peter McGarry who showed his quality at times.

The decision to concede the Limerick kick-out for the vast majority of this clash didn’t appear wise, especially with a strengthening breeze behind Kelly’s men during the opening stanza.

Falling 0-4 to no score behind early on, O’Connor and McGarry helped turn the tide but it wasn’t until the equalising goal from Feehan – an absolute bullet from 15 meters into the top corner – that Tipperary felt they were truly in the contest.

But Josh Ryan’s second pointed ’45 of the half put Limerick 0-8 to 1-4 ahead at the change of ends.

Then, wind assisted, Limerick kicked on. James Naughton, Peter Nash and Denny Neville pushed them clear. A wasteful spell allowed Tipperary back in, O’Connor and Stephen Quirke among the scorers.

Then, Feehan’s effort off the bar began to spell the end. Danny Neville and Rigter turned it up a notch – using their pace well on the attack. Rigter’s 68th minute goal, set up by Brian Ahern and Neville closed the door on Tipperary’s season.

Scorers for Tipperary: Sean O’Connor 0-5 (0-3 frees); Paudie Feehan 1-1; Peter McGarry 0-2; Teddy Doyle, Stephen Quirke 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: Emmet Rigter 1-4 (0-1 mark); Danny Neville 0-4; Josh Ryan 0-3 (0-2 ‘45’s, 0-1 free); Peter Nash 0-2 (0-2 frees); Iain Corbett, James Naughton, Tony McCarthy, Cillian Fahy, Tommie Childs 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Emmet Moloney, Jimmy Feehan, James Morris; Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, Stephen Grogan; Liam Boland, Stephen Quirke; Conall Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, Kieran Costello; Peter McGarry, Seán O’Connor, Eoghan Power.

Subs used: Shane O’Connell for Morris (inj – 10); Conor Cadell for Stokes (inj – 31); Teddy Doyle for J Kennedy (inj – 40); Rory O’Dowd for Boland (52); Mark Russell for McGarry (59).

Limerick: Josh Ryan; Cormac Woulfe, Séan O'Dea, Paul Maher; Barry Coleman, Cillian Fahy, Tony McCarthy; Tommy Childs, Iain Corbett; Robbie Childs, Emmett Rigter, James Naughton; Cathal Downes, Danny Neville, Peter Nash.  

Subs used: Brian Ahern for Nash (54); Jim Liston for Woulfe (62); Colm McSweeney for T Childs (67); Bryan Nix for Naughton (67); Darren O’Doherty for Maher (70).

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)