Spoils shared as Tipp and Limerick play out another Munster epic

GAA: Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 1

Tipperary 2-23

Limerick 2-23

Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

Photo: Bridget Delaney

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-8 (5 frees); John McGrath 2-1; Jake Morris, Eoghan Connolly (frees) 0-4 each; Bryan O’Mara, Craig Morgan, Alan Tynan, Jason Forde, Noel McGrath, Seamus Kennedy 0-1 each.

Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-7 (4 frees); Shane O’Brien 1-4; Adam English 1-2; Diarmaid Byrnes 0-3 (2 frees); Kyle Hayes 0-2; Barry Nash, Colin Coughlan, Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey 0-1 each.

A Darragh McCarthy free from 45-yards in the third minute of added time earned Tipperary a deserved draw with Limerick in a pulsating opening round game in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday afternoon.

Tipperary looked like they were set to be end of another heart-breaking loss to Limerick when Aaron Gillane converted a free moments before, but William O’Donoghue was pulled for a throw by referee Thomas Walsh in the next play with the Toomevara youngster holding his nerve, after missing two scoreable frees earlier in the half.

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill made two changes from the National League final loss to Cork with Darragh Stakelum replacing Willie Connors in midfield while John McGrath started at full forward with Gearoid O’Connor dropping to the bench.

It was a fresh looking Limerick side with Sean Finn, the Morrissey brothers Dan & Tom and Darragh O’Donovan all starting from the bench with the big news being the return of goalkeeper Nickie Quaid after less than six months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Played in drizzly conditions, Tipp gave a lot away in power but not in application as the sides went score for score in the opening quarter with frees from McCarthy and Eoghan Connolly supplemented by points from play from McCarthy (2), Jake Morris, John McGrath and Bryan O’Mara.

Tipp had edged in front when Limerick scored the first goal on eighteen minutes, Adam English running onto an Aaron Gillane pass and nonchalantly flicked the ball under the advancing Barry Hogan.

Tipp’s response was strong with two more McCarthy frees added to a second from the excellent Morris. A second monster Connolly free was followed by a Jason Forde point as Tipp finished the half on the up with two more wind-assisted Connolly frees followed by a Craig Morgan point to a rousing ovation from the home fans as they went in leading 0-16 to 1-10 at the break.

Tipp’s poor second half starts against Limerick reared its head again as within three minutes, the visitors had scored 1-2, the goal coming from Shane O’Brien who turned Michael Breen and buried to the net from an angle.

When Barry Nash added a point, Tipp were under the cosh but the response was superb with Craig Morgan playing in John McGrath for a 41st minute goal. Limerick managed to keep their nose in front for much of the next twenty minutes, never more than two points between the sides but when John McGrath finishing a flowing move out of their own half back line involving Noel McGrath, O’Mara, Morris, Conor Bowe, O’Mara again, before John McGrath gave Nicky Quaid no chance, 2-22 to 2-20 in the 63rd minute.

Alan Tynan missed a great chance to extend the lead but there was also an opening for a goal if he had spotted Jake Morris. Tipp looked set to rue that play when Limerick responded with another free from Gillane with Diarmaid Byrnes scoring the equaliser at the start of added time, moments after Hawk-eye had ruled out an Adam English point already given.

A foul on sub Aidan O’Connor led to Gillane edging Limerick back in front before O’Donoghue was adjudged to have fouled the ball with McCarthy converting to ensure both opening round games in Munster end in a draw as Tipp quickly turn their attention to playing Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh next Sunday.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan); Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs); Michael Breen (Ballina); Joe Ceasar (Holycross/Ballycahill), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, Capt), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill); Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields); Alan Tynan (Roscrea), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Jason Forde (Silvermines).

Subs: Noel McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Caesar (42); Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy) for Forde (50); Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s) for Stakelum (51); Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) for Tynan (68); Sean Kenneally (Moneygall) for J McGrath (68).

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Mike Casey, Barry Murphy, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Colin Coughlan; Adam English, Cian Lynch; Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, David Reidy.

Subs: Aidan O’Connor for Morrissey (50); Peter Casey for Hegarty (58);

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).

Attendance: 32,295.