Extra time heart-ache for Tipp minors in Munster Final

Tipperary suffered an agonising three-point defeat at the hands of Limerick in a pulsating Munster Minor Hurling Final last Sunday afternoon.

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Final

Limerick 2-22

Tipperary 0-25 (AET)

Report: Liam Hogan at the LIT Gaelic Grounds

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Adam English (Limerick)

SCORERS – Limerick: Liam Lynch 0-10 frees; Adam English 0-5; Shane O’Brien 0-4; Patrick Donovan 1-1, Eoin Harmon 1-0; John Kirby, Josh Keating 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Jack Leamy 0-10 frees; Peter McGarry 0-4 (3 65s); David Fogarty 0-3; Luke Shanahan, Sean Kenneally, Tony Cahill 0-2 each; Darragh Stakelum, Kenny Lee 0-1 each.

Within the opening six minutes, Tipperary had raced into a three-point lead as Jack Leamy pointed two frees, either side of an angled shot by Sean Kenneally. Shane O’Brien got Limerick on the scoresheet in the seventh minute, but Peter McGarry put Tipp three in front for the second time.

Backed by the slight breeze, Limerick managed to gain a foothold on the game. Liam Lynch was on target with his first free before Shane O’Brien secured his second point. Tipperary responded but John Leamy free in front of goal was just wide leaving Tipp in front 0-4 to 0-3 at the first waterbreak.

Waterbreaks have a way of changing the face of the game and Limerick certainly profited as John Kirby (Garry’s son) scored on the turn from halfway before Shane O’Brien edged Limerick in front in the 16th minute. A minute later the goal did come when Patrick O’Donovan (nephew to Conor O’Donovan Nenagh captain 1995) found the net.

Three minutes later Tony Cahill replied for but O’Donovan, caused some anxious moments in front of the Tipp goal before Liam Lynch converted a free. In response, Leamy made amends for his previous miss quickly followed by a David Fogarty point from play in the 23rd minute. Five minutes later, Tipp suffered a setback when goalkeeper, Jason O’Dwyer suffered a head injury when he collided with full back Robert Doyle. Dylan O’Grady replaced the Clonoulty netminder.

The interruption failed to quell Limerick and the impressive Adam English stretched Limerick’s lead to three before Liam Lynch added a free making it 1-8 to 0-7 on the half hour. There were six minutes of added time and the scores continued as Sean Kenneally and Lynch traded scores before Leamy cut the margin to three with another free. Tipp lost full back Robert Doyle to injury and he was replaced by Maidhc Fitzpatrick but in the dying seconds of the half Peter McGarry pointed a 65. At half time it was Limerick 1-9 Tipp 0-10.

Tony Cahill’s switch to the half forward helped him get on the scoresheet in the second minute but three Liam Lynch pointed frees between the 35th and 40th minute mark put Limerick back in the driving seat momentarily as the next eleven minutes, including the waterbreak in the 45th minute, saw Tipp score five unanswered points with the impressive David Fogarty scoring two, followed by two Leamy frees, before Luke Shanahan scored after the waterbreak. Tipp were two in front 0-17 to 1-12 with nine minutes remaining.

In the 52nd minute Adam English secured Limerick’s first point in twelve minutes. A foul on David Fogarty saw Leamy record his eight free and two in front but three minutes from time, Tipp’s great spell suffered a setback when Eoin Harmon scored a great goal after taking an assist from John Kirby.

In a nail-biting finish, John Leamy had Tipp level with another monster free before Limerick took the lead through O’Donovan only for sub Kenny Lee to level.

Another three minutes of injury time followed and in one final move Tipperary thought they had the match winner after Stephen Ferncombe raced up the left wing and scored a great point, but he was judged to have stepped over the sideline and the point was cancelled. Limerick 2-14 Tipp 0-20.

Extra Time

Tipperary had lost four players through injury in normal time and when the sides returned to the fray for extra time Limerick were the fresher and they quickly raced into four-point lead with points by Shane O’Brien and Alan English. At the other end Kenneally had a goal at his mercy but an excellent hook by corner back Ronan Lyons saved the day. Limerick rose again and two more points a Lynch (free) and Adam English from play left them in a commanding position.

Not to be outdone, John Leamy’s free in the eighth minute kept Tipp in touch but normal service resumed as two Lynch frees extended the Limerick lead to five. Wing back Luke Shanahan pulled one back with a well taken score, but Adam English secured his fifth point as were 2-21 to 0-22 in front at the final break.

The teams had just returned to their positions when Tipp were desperately unlucky to see Sean Kenneally’s low shot come back of the butt of the upright and spun back to play before a Limerick defender concede a 65. Peter McGarry converted as the next six minutes were devoid of scores before Josh Keating moved Limerick five clear.

Tipp’s response was John Leamy’s free saved by Limerick keeper Tomas Lynch and the resulting 65 was directed over the bar by McGarry.

Tipp pressed hard to bring about parity and had to be happy with another Leamy pointed free which left enough time for Tipp to try and engineer a goal, but the next two and a half minutes failed to oblige. Limerick were Munster back-to-back champions after collecting their ninth and their fourth in eight years.

TEAMS – Limerick: Tomas Lynch; Joseph Fitzgerald, Vince Harrington, Ronan Lyons; Billy Molyneaux, Ethan Hurley, Sean Whelan; John Kirby, Barry Duff; Adam English (Capt), Liam Lynch, Shane O’Brien; Luke O’Connor, Patrick Donovan, Liam Dennehy.

Subs: Sean O’Neill for Dennehy (HT); Eoin Harmon for O’Neill (54); Josh Keating for Lynch (60); Liam Lynch for Sean O’Neill (ET); Patrick Finn for Molyneaux (14 ET); Adam Fitzgerald for Kirby (15 ET).

Tipperary: Jason O’Dwyer (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Danny Slattery (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Philly Hayes (Durlas Og); Cathal Quinn (Cashel) King Cormacs), Michael Corcoran (Silvermines, Capt), Luke Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane); Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Peter McGarry (St Mary’s); Anthony McKelvey (Silvermines), Ciaran McCormack (Loughmore/Castleiney), John Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle); Sean Kenneally (Moneygall), Tony Cahill (Drom & Inch), David Fogarty (Holycross/Ballycahill).

Subs: Dylan O’Grady (Knockavilla Kickhams) for O’Dwyer (28 inj); Maidhc Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch) for Doyle (30+5 inj); Kenny Lee (Roscrea) for McKelvey (40); Stephen Ferncombe (Clonoulty/Rossmore for Cahill (52 inj); Eddie Ryan (Borris-Ileigh) for McCormack (53); Pat Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane) for Stakelum (1 ET inj); Tony Cahill for E Ryan (14 ET); Joe Caesar for Slattery (14 ET inj).

Referee: Rory McCann (Clare).