REPORT: Decent Tipperary effort falls short against Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds

Allianz National Hurling League - Division 1A - Round 3

Tipperary 1-23

Limerick 0-30

Tipperary came away from the TUS Gaelic Grounds empty-handed once again after succumbing to a four-point loss against the Munster champions in a lively affair in round 3 of the Allianz National Hurling League on Sunday afternoon.

Leading by two points at the interval, Tipperary were more than holding their own against the Treaty at that time but were slowly worn down by the Limerick machine as the game wore on in the second half.

Diarmaid Byrnes led the charge for Limerick with the Patrickswell man hitting seven points from wing-back in a virtuoso display, top-scoring for John Kiely’s side who had a lot of newcomers impressing in the game.

Tipperary will be disappointed that they tailed off late in the game with Limerick pulling away to claim the win, but there was a lot to like about the bulk of the effort on the day, with the score-line flattering the winners slightly; there being only one point between the teams with four minutes of normal time remaining.

The opening 12 minutes was a point-a-minute battle between the teams as they spread a dozen points between them in that time with six different scorers for the Premier through Willie Connors, Alan Tynan, Michael Breen, Sean Kenneally, Bryan O’Mara, and Jake Morris all on target.

Limerick picked off some fine scores themselves in that salvo thanks to David Reidy who was prominent in the first half; Adam English, Aaron Gillane (2), and Eddie Stokes were the providers for them, along with Aidan O’Connor who would go on to bag five points in an excellent individual display.

With the score reading 0-6 apiece at the 12-minute mark, Limerick upped the intensity and reeled off three points in succession with O’Connor on target again, while Tipp responded through a first free for Darragh McCarthy but O’Connor again and a first for Adam English had the Treaty ahead 0-11 to 0-7 after 19 minutes.

Tipp settled well though and didn’t let Limerick pull too far ahead, outscoring the home side by 1-6 to 0-4 for the remainder of the half, with the goal coming through Sean Kenneally in the 26th minute - and what a goal it was!

A long delivery into the danger zone was picked up by Darragh McCarthy and rather than take the easy point on offer, he sold two Limerick defenders with a reverse hand pass to Sean Kenneally over his right shoulder, and without hesitation, the Moneygall man doubled first time and zipped the ball past the despairing dive of Shane Dowling.

That put Tipp ahead after Jake Morris and McCarthy (free) had pointed and they extended that lead into the break with another Kenneally score, Gearoid O’Connor hitting his first, and a fine effort from Alan Tynan on the stroke of the half-time giving Tipp a 1-13 to 0-15 advantage with Limerick having to replace the injured Kyle Hayes after 24 minutes.

Tipperary have been here many times with Limerick over the years and there was nobody in the Tipperary camp or support base in the Mackey Stand who were getting carried away, and Limerick certainly made that clear after the restart.

Patrick O’Donovan, Diarmaid Byrnes, and the impressive Aidan O’Connor (his fifth from play) all flighted over scores within three minutes to put Limerick in front as Tipp looked to get back up and running after the break.

And they did do just that with Sean Kenneally showing well again, hitting his third from play, before Darragh McCarthy hit his fourth free of the game to make it a one-point game, and the first ten minutes of the half was a pattern that would repeat itself throughout the second half. Tipperary responding to Limerick and vice versa.

Alan Tynan and Jake Morris reduced the arrears with fine efforts from play to bring it to one point in the 45th minute, but Tipp could never get that equalising score in the final quarter despite having sighters at the posts a few times; Willie Connors in particular spurning good chances that he had converted in the previous two rounds.

Indeed, Limerick would finish the game well as the aforementioned Morris' point in the 45th minute would prove to be Tipperary’s final point from play in the game with a combination of poor wides and Limerick fouling contributing to that.

A big chance came and went in the 49th minute when a diagonal delivery into Sean Kenneally was fielded brilliantly by the attacker and with Dowling in front of him, he didn’t connect with his effort well as the shot was parried away and with Darragh McCarthy mis-hitting the breaking ball from the ground, Limerick punished Tipp by heading straight down the pitch to point through Adam English.

Still, Tipp persisted and stayed in the game as Darragh McCarthy would convert all but one of his frees on the day and hit Tipp’s last six points in the contest, and his penultimate conversion in the 67th minute left just one point between the sides at 0-26 to 1-22.

However, Limerick would finish the better with four of the last five points coming from Aaron Gillane (free), Ethan Hurley, and a brace of class efforts from Diarmaid Byrnes claiming the two points for Limerick as they notched their first win of the league at the second time of asking.

Despite the loss, there was plenty to like about the Tipperary performance across the pitch that will please management and supporters alike.

Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, and Michael Breen were outstanding in the full-back line all game long, while Alan Tynan and Jake Morris came close to their top form, picking off seven points from play between them.

Sean Kenneally and Darragh McCarthy impressed at the top of the attack for Tipperary, both players linking up well on a few occasions - including the goal - and for players at the age of 22 and 19 respectively, it will be a huge positive for Cahill, and company.

Barry Hogan did his chances no harm either, creating several well-taken scores from restarts but had little to do in terms of shot-stopping.

All in all, Tipperary will be disappointed to lose to Limerick again, but the performances of new faces and the energy levels will be something for management to hang their hat on going into the round 4 game against Cork in FBD Semple Stadium on February 22.

Scorers: Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-9f, Sean Kenneally 1-3, Jake Morris 0-4, Alan Tynan 0-3, Bryan O’Mara, Gearoid O’Connor, Michael Breen, Willie Connors all 0-1 each.

Limerick: Diarmaid Byrnes (0-7, 0-3f), Aidan O’Connor 0-5, Aaron Gillane (0-4, 0-3f), David Reidy, Adam English, Patrick O’Donovan all 0-3 each, Ethan Hurley, Cian Lynch 0-2 each, Eddie Stokes 0-1.

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Robert Doyle; Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher, Bryan O’Mara; Craig Morgan, Willie Connors; Alan Tynan, Jake Morris, Gearoid O’Connor; Darragh Stakelum, Seanie Kenneally, Darragh McCarthy.

Subs used: Brian McGrath for Kennedy (47); Conor Bowe for D Stakelum (47); Michael Corcoran for Morgan (56); Johnny Ryan for Connors (65); John McGrath for O’Connor (65).

Limerick: Shane Dowling; Fergal O’Connor, Dan Morrissey, Barry Murphy; Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Colin Coughlan; Adam English, Cian Lynch; Eddie Stokes, David Reidy, Aidan O’Connor; Aaron Gillane, Donnach Ó Dálaigh, Patrick O’Donovan.

Subs used: Ethan Hurley for Hayes (24, inj); MIchael Houlihan for Ó Dálaigh (47); Hugh Flanagan for Stokes (65); Dylan Lynch for O’Donovan (67)

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)