New faces impress for Tipperary in exciting one-point win over Limerick in Fethard Town Park

Dillon Quirke Foundation Charity Hurling Match

Tipperary 1-21

Limerick 0-23

A fine and hurling-hungry crowd turned out to Fethard Town Park on Saturday evening to see Tipperary edge Limerick by the minimum in an exciting contest in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation that was well-worth the admission with some pretty intense passages of play unfolding over the hour.

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Tipperary edged the contest by a single point and had plenty of new faces on show, as did Limerick and despite nothing being at stake, there were still plenty of big hits, well-taken scores, and talking points to leaf through in the end.

Sean Kenneally provided the goal late in the first half after brilliant link-up play from Paddy Creedon and Jack Leamy fed the Moneygall man through, and it gave Tipperary a six-point lead at half-time that was well deserved but not insurmountable by any means, having played with a strong wind.

1-11 to 0-8 it read on the scoreboard, but that was also largely attributable to Limerick’s awful shooting throughout, especially in the first half, where they racked up 14 wides with ten of these being registered within 15 minutes while at least four other efforts dropped short.

Tipp hit some fine points on the other hand, with some accurate shooting from range from Jack Leamy, Darragh Stakelum, and Billy Seymour getting them into a 0-8 to 0-4 lead by the 22nd minute.

Cahill’s team finished the half strongly, and a classy score from Kevin McCarthy, followed by a second Darragh Stakelum effort, Kenneally’s goal, and a brilliant Jack Leamy point from play gave Tipperary the aforementioned six-point lead at the break.

There was plenty of bite in this game throughout the second half, despite the nature of the contest, with players on both sides eager to stake their claim. Jack Leamy, however, started the half as he had finished the first, with a superb point from play within 60 seconds.

Limerick were largely reliant on Shane O’Brien and Aidan O’Connor for scores in the first half, with the two regulars hitting 0-4 of their 0-8, and they continued to provide with three of their first four points of the second half coming between the pair; Robbie O’Farrell making an immediate impact off the bench with the other as Limerick closed the gap to three points after 40 minutes.

Still, it was a far more impressive use of the ball from Tipperary with the elements against them in comparison to Limerick in the first half, and there were some fine scores picked off by the three-quarter mark with Paddy Creedon hitting a brace while Brian Óg O’Dwyer very nearly rattled a goal in the 42nd minute after introduction, but had to settle for a white flag.

That had Tipperary in the ascendancy, leading by 1-17 to 0-14 with the last quarter to come, but Limerick slowly began to turn through the gears.

The Treaty completely erased the lead to level the game within nine minutes, where they hit seven of the next eight points with their bench making an impact in that flurry. Dylan O’Shea hit a pair of class long-range points from wing-back, while Robbie O’Farrell, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Paddy O’Donovan, and Aidan O’Connor (2) all found the target with a little over five minutes to be played.

However, Tipperary settled soon after, with Kevin McCarthy getting a vital score to steady the ship, before the Toome man, along with Brian Óg O’Dwyer, won frees to give Jack Leamy efforts at the posts to convert - which he did - as Tipperary edged to a one-point win over the visitors in Fethard.

For Tipperary, there were numerous debuts, with Jack Leamy perhaps the pick of them as the Golden Kilfeacle marksman had a quality outing in the full forward line, hitting some excellent scores from frees and play throughout the game.

Darragh Tynan, Mason Cawley, and Kevin McCarthy made their first appearances in the blue and gold at senior level, and each had their moments. The younger Tynan and Cawley both had strong showings in the first half with their trademark hard running from wing back proving fruitful before they faded in the second half.

The older McCarthy, Kevin, had a very quiet first 20 minutes at centre forward, but burst into the game in the second half, winning countless possession deep and also chipped in with a pair of nice points in an encouraging first outing.

Of the regulars on show for Tipperary, Darragh Stakelum was impressive in midfield, while Sean Kenneally had a strong outing inside, working well with Paddy Creedon and Leamy at times throughout the game.

The full-back line had good performances from Ray McCormack and Johnny Ryan for the most part, while David Nolan struggled with the pace and power of Shane O’Brien.

For the likes of Billy Seymour and Joe Fogarty, it will be a tough ask to keep their heads above water on this panel, such is the competition on show, and they failed to take their opportunity on the day.

There were introduction from the bench for youngsters in Adam Daly, Charlie Ryan and Adam Hall also, and there will be another chance for players to impress next weekend as Tipperary take on the Cats in Templetuohy next weekend in aid of Mary’s Meals, and by the evidence of this one, a bumper crowd will undoubtedly turn out to see the early versions of Liam Cahill’s Premier outfit for 2026.

Scorers: Tipperary: Jack Leamy (0-10, 0-8f), Sean Kenneally 1-1, Kevin McCarthy, Paddy Creedon, Darragh Stakelum all 0-2 each, Billy Seymour, Darragh Tynan, Brian Óg O’Dwyer, Joe Caesar all 0-1 each.

Limerick: Aidan O’Connor (0-8, 0-4f), Shane O’Brien (0-4, 0-1f), Oisin O’Farrell, Robbie O’Farrell, Dylan O’Shea all 0-2 each, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Ethan Hurley, Colin Coughlan, Darragh Langan, Paddy O’Donovan all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Brian Hogan (Lorrha); Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers), David Nolan (Gortnahoe Glengoole), Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh); Darragh Tynan (Roscrea), Joe Caesar (Holycross Ballycahill), Mason Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg); Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Peter McGarry (St Mary’s); Joe Fogarty (Moneygall), Kevin McCarthy (Toomevara), Billy Seymour (Kiladangan); Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle), Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields), Sean Kenneally (Moneygall).

Subs used: Brian Óg O’Dwyer (Boherlahan Dualla) for Seymour (40); Charlie Ryan (Boherlahan Dualla) for Cawley (40); Adam Hall (Toomevara) for Kenneally (51); Adam Daly for McGarry (51).

Limerick: Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen); Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh), Sean Casey (Bruff), Eddie Stokes (Doon); Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Cathal O'Neill (Crecora/Manister), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); Adam English (Doon), Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West); Oisin O'Farrell (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan), Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane); Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Paddy O'Donovan (Effin).

Subs used: Robbie O’Farrell for Flanagan (HT); Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen) for Hurley (43); Dylan O’Shea (Garryspillane) for Coughlan (44); Chris Thomas (Doon) for Stokes (44); James Coughlan (Ballybrown) for O’Neill (53); Darragh Ferland (Monaleen) for O O’Farrell (53); John English (Garryspillane) for O Dalaigh (53).

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