Tipp U20 hurlers begin Munster title defense with defeat to Limerick

GAA: oneills.com Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 1

Tipperary 0-17

Limerick 2-13

Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Darragh McCarthy (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-11 (6 frees, 1 65); Conor Martin, Adam Daly 0-2 each; Cathal English, Paddy McCormack 0-1 each.

Limerick: Hugh Flanagan 0-6 frees; Matthew Fitzgerald, Mark O’Brien 1-0; Tadhg Boddy, Robert O’Farrell, Fintan Fitzgerald 0-2 each; Dan Scully 0-1.

A 58th minute goal from sub Mark O’Brien proved to be the key score as Limerick upset defending champions Tipperary in the opening round of the Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship on Tuesday evening.

Tipperary were hot favourites going into the game, boasting five senior panellists including Darragh McCarthy who was superb on the night scoring eleven points, four from play, but apart from Conor Martin and Adam Daly got little support in the scoring stakes.

The visitors also boasted four players with senior league experience, including Hugh Flanagan (2) and Fintan Fitzgerald who were both on the scoresheet within six points as they started well with Tipp defender Podge O’Dwyer also forced to make a superb hook to deny Matthew Fitzgerald a possible goal as a sluggish home side took time to get going, ten minutes in before registering their first score from Conor Martin.

Points from Cathal English and Darragh McCarthy (free) levelled it up before Limerick asserted themselves once more with Robert O’Farrell and Flanagan on target once more.

Tipp were working off limited possession but made the better of it with Adam Daly, Paddy McCormack and McCarthy bringing them level before Daly gave them their first lead on 27 minutes.

Limerick responded with two quickfire Tadhg Boddy points with a Darragh McCarthy free the final score of the half from a 65 after Senan Butler had been denied by a last ditch John Murray block.

Tipp started the second half strongly with Darragh McCarthy converting two frees but Limerick showed they weren’t going to yield as another Matthew Fitzgerald surge through the middle again this time resulted in a goal on 34 minutes.

Limerick’s workrate and application was immense all through as they never allowed Tipp to get into any flow, as the sides went score for score until the last ten minutes when the home side looked to have made their move when McCarthy and Martin pointed from play.

However, Limerick came again, and their persistence was rewarded when after Robert O’Farrell was denied a goal by the post, they prevented Tipp from clearing, forcing a free which Hugh Flanagan converted before more tigerish work by the Limerick forwards led to O’Brien’s lead goal.

In the three minutes of added time, Tipp only managed one further score from Darragh McCarthy as the holders are now under pressure to qualify ahead of heading to Cork for round two.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), Jack Quinlan (Fethard); Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og, Capt), Jack O’Callaghan (Portroe); Paddy Phelan (Upperchurch/Drombane), Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); Cathal English (Fr Sheehy’s), Conor Martin (Cappawhite), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Senan Butler (Kilsheelan/Kilcash).

Subs: Robbie Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Butler (HT); Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris) for O’Callaghan (36); Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane) for Martin (57).

Limerick: Fionn O’Brien; Dan Scully, Sean Casey, John Murray; Eoin Brosnan, Aidan O’Connell, Darragh Langan; Matthew Fitzgerald, James Finn; Robert O’Farrell, Hugh Flanagan, Donal Coughlan; Tadhg Boddy, Ruairi O’Connor, Fintan Fitzgerald.

Subs: Conor Rickard for Brosnan (17-22 HIA); Dara Ferland for Coughlan (40); Mark O’Brien for O’Connor (48); Sean Duff for Finn (54); Barry Adams for Boddy (57).

Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Cork)