Tipperary pick up first win of the year with emphatic defeat of Limerick in Rathkeale

Munster GAA McGrath Cup - Round 1

Tipperary 0-15

Limerick 0-4

By Tom Clancy

Tipperary eased to an opening round victory in the McGrath Cup, seeing off Limerick in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale. Niall Fitzgerald’s men were in total control, right from the first whistle and breezed to the two points, in this three team group.

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The competition returned following its hiatus in 2025, and it gave both sides to run to rule over new prospects. The clash was played with thirty-minute halves, as opposed to the more recognised 35-minute format.

The movement and efficiency in attack was a positive for Tipperary, while in defence they were disciplined and compact. Shane Garland, ex-Monaghan panellist, was goalkeeper for this contest.

Tipperary worked two patient scores in the opening six minutes with Eoin Craddock off his right foot, soon followed by Clonmel’s Cian Smith off his left. They dealt with the early Treaty advances with a low-block and countered on the turnover.

Smith doubled his tally before talisman Seán O’Connor opened his account after good work from Eoin Craddock. Getting on top of the Limerick kick-out key to even more openings. Shane Cross replied for the hosts to make it 0-4 to 0-1.

O’Connor and centre-back James Morris added two more white flags as the disjointed Limerick defence struggled with the quality Tipp movement.

Further points from James Morris, Paddy O’Keefe (2) and another from Seán O’Connor put the gap out to eight – 0-9 to 0-1 by half-time. Niall Fitzgerald and his backroom team will have been largely satisfied with the movement and shot selection, though stiffer tests will soon arrive in 2026.

Tipperary have won this competition three times, and scoring three sets of back-to-back points kept them at arm’s length against a most-youthful Limerick side.

O’Connor, Charlie King, O’Keeffe and King once more were on target to ensure no collapse was possible. Limerick landed scores from sub Sam Colgan, former U20 captain Evan Curry and Shane Cross (free).

Cappawhite will play host to Tipperary’s clash with Cork on Tuesday evening, while Limerick travel to Cork on Sunday, January 11th to wrap up the group phase.

Scorers: Tipperary: Sean O’Connor, Paddy O’Keeffe 0-4 each; Charlie King 0-3; Cian Smith 0-2; Eoin Craddock, James Morris 0-1 each.

Limerick: Shane Cross (0-2, 0-1f); Sam Colgan, Evan Curry 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Shane Gartland (Kilsheelan Kilcash); Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore Castleiney), Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan); Charlie King (Ballina), James Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields); Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill), Cathal Deeley (Clonmel Commercials), Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Seán O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers).

Subs used: Ben Comerford (Grangemockler Ballyneale) for Delley (37); Mark Russell (Aherlow) for Butler; Daithi Hogan (St Patrick's) for O’Connor; Ben Carey (Ballylooby Castlegrace) for Smith (all 45); Niall Heffernan (Golden Kilfeacle) for Boland (47); Manus McFadden Grangemockler Ballyneale) for Harney (52).

Limerick: Jamie Dolan (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan); Aaron Neville (Newcastlewest), Ciaran Uwatse (Mungret St Paul's), Craig O’Connell (Ahane); Tom Lloyd (Mungret St Paul's), Oisin Moss (Mungret St Paul's), Lee Woulfe (Newcastlewest); Sam Quigley (Fr Casey's), Seán Clancy (Galtee Gaels); Evan Curry (Athea), Rory O’Brien (Fr Casey's), Barry Griffin (Monaleen); Fintáin McNamara (Cappagh), Shane Cross (St Patrick's), Padraic Phelan (Pallasgreen).

Subs used: Ronan McElligott (Mungret St Paul's) for Dolan (HT); Sam Colgan (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan) for Quigley (36); Cian O’Sullivan (Kildimo Pallaskenry) for Clancy (47).

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)

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