Slow start costly for Tipperary youngsters in defeat to Limerick on Monday evening

Electric Ireland Minor Football Championship - Phase 1 - Round 2

Tipperary 1-12

Limerick 2-14

By Tom Clancy

Tipperary suffered a setback in their hopes of reaching the Electric Ireland Munster Minor football Phase One final, as they came off second best against an accurate Limerick on Monday evening.

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Played at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale, the Tipp youngsters were left it all to do after a porous start saw them fourteen points behind before they registered their first score.

Despite rallying the Premier, managed by Michael Donnellan and Shane Hennessy, were unable to mount an unlikely comeback and head into the final game with Clare with work to do.

With the top two from this group of four to reach the final, Clare and now Limerick appear best placed to meet. However, there was some green shoots from this performance.

The hosts did start much brighter and a quartet of white flags set them on their way. Ben Kiely, Shane Gill, Ryan Sheehan and Jamie Crowley were all on target inside ten minutes.

At the other end, playing against a strong breeze, Tipperary left a handful of efforts narrowly wide or into the keepers hands. When they conceded two goals in just three minutes, they were ten points behind.

The first came from Oisín Healy who drilled low to the net, the second a fine finish after a better catch from Crowley. Then came two orange flags for Limerick, to put the gap out to four points – two long range efforts.

The introduction of Seán Cleary sparked Tipp. Seán Griffin barrelled through for a point before Cleary kicked a point of each foot to give them a foothold.

However, the gap was still 11 by half-time, 2-9 to 0-4.

Hunting both goals a two-pointers in the second half, Tipperary threw caution to the wind and an early Sean Burke effort was deflected away by Jack Noonan in the Limerick goal.

The sides traded the first four points of the half with Darragh Bresnan and O’Meara on target.

There was a nice point from Dara Maher but once again the hosts had an answer. The blue and gold did probe for other goals but a combination of good defending and slightly mistimed passing saw these chances go to waste.

Despite a 48th minute goal from O’Meara, they could never get closer than six points in arrears, which they reached in stoppage time with Bresnan kicked the final score of the game. Ultimately, the start that Limerick got was too much to overcome.

They host Clare, who have won both their games, in two weeks’ time, needing a win to try to leapfrog one of the Shannonsiders into second spot in the table. Limerick will be firm favourites to get to four points when they host Waterford.

Scorers: Tipperary: Ned O’Meara 1-4 (0-2 frees); Seán Cleary, Darragh Bresnan, James Murphy 0-2 each; Seán Griffin, Dara Maher, 0-1 each.

Limerick: Jamie Crowley 1-3 (1 tp); Ryan Sheehan 0-4 (1 tp); Oisin Healy 1-0; Ben Kiely 0-2; Shane Gill, Eoin Williams, Darragh Moloney, Jake Higgins, Aaron O’Kelly 0-1 each.

Limerick: Jack Noonan (Dromcollogher/Broadford); Matthew Cox (Ballybricken/Bohermore), Ronan Butler (Ahane), Aaron Murphy (Fr. Casey’s); Olin Ryan (Galtee Gaels), Markus Vang (Cappagh), Jake Higgins (Kildimo Pallaskenry); Kealan Lonergan (Glin, Capt), Shane Gill (Ahane); Aaron O’Kelly (Fr. Casey’s), Ryan Sheehan (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Oisin Healy (St. Senan’s); Ben Kiely (Monaleen), Jamie Crowley (Monaleen), Eoin Williams (Monaleen)

Subs used: Darragh Moloney (Castlemahon) for Williams (43); Ryan Downey (Ballylanders) for Lonergan (inj  49); Paddy Ryan (Oola) for Crowley (52); Amhlaoibh Bohane (Mungret St. Paul’s) for Cox (60)

Tipperary: James O’Brien (Moyle Rovers); Cormac McInerney (Cashel King Cormacks), Daniel Charles (Clonmel Commercials), Killian Fitzgerald (Lorrha Dorrha); Darragh Bresnan (Arravale Rovers), Conor Hurley (Moyle Rovers), Jack Kearney (Ballyporeen); Sean Griffin (Upperchurch Drombane), Aaron McAndrew (Moyle Rovers); Sean Burke (JK Brackens), Ned O’Meara (Captain, CJK Mullinahone), Luke McKeogh (Ballina); Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Reuben Grace (Galtee Rovers St. Pecuans) Dara Maher (Clonmel Commercials).

Subs used: Seán Cleary (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) for McKeogh (24); James Murphy (Ardfinnan) for Grace (HT); Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane McDonaghs) for Charles (51); Aaron Brazil (Cullen Lattin) for Bourke (54); Cillian Morrissey (Moyle Rovers) for Maher (54).

Referee: Ciaran Murphy (Cork)

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