Tipperary win leaves Limerick on brink of elimination from Munster U20 hurling championship

Brendan Cummins’ Tipperary side got their Munster U20 Hurling Championship off to a flyer, with a comfortable victory over a faltering Limerick at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.

There was little doubt by half-time that the Premier County were likely winners and despite not scoring in the final 10 minutes as well as having Paddy McCormack sent off, they had too much for the Treaty on an ideal evening for hurling.

The winners had 1-9 from talisman Darragh McCarthy, while he was joined by Oisín O’Donoghue and Senan Butler in raising green flags. This all came after Limerick had started the brighter, moving into a 0-6 to 0-3 lead.

Having lost to Clare last week, Evan Loftus’ side are on the brink of elimination from the championship, ahead of their round penultimate clash later this month.

A goal from a penalty from Hugh Flanagan gave Limerick a lifeline on 23 minutes but a swift major reply from Oisín O’Donoghue and a second goal, from a McCarthy, put seven between the sides at the interval. A 2-12 to 1-8 lead was deserved by lead, after dominating the middle third.

While the second half brought a little more joy from Limerick, they struggled to feed star forward Shane O’Brien and the scores, limited at times, were spread around. The third Tipperary goal, on 50 minutes ended any Limerick hope.

Eoin Horgan pulled off a couple of late saves which may have set up a grandstand finish, but five second half points from McCarthy, including two from play, kept Limerick at arm’s length.

McCormack’s red card was for a dangerous challenge, and the only major blemish on a well-rounded Premier performance on Shannonside.

Scorers – Limerick: H Flanagan 1-1 (1-0 pen), O O’Farrell (3f) and C Scully (1f, 1 ‘65) 0-3 each, C Hayes and M Riordan (2f) 0-2 each, M Fitzgerald, S O’Brien, F Fitzgerald, W Kearns, D Ferland and V Harrington 0-1 each. Tipperary: D McCarthy 1-9 (1-0 pen, 7f), O O’Donoghue 1-2, S Butler 1-0, C Martin 0-3, C English 0-2, R Connolly and P McCormack (1f) 0-1 each.

Limerick: P Connery; M Fitzgibbon, D Langan, S Fitzgibbon; V Harrington, M Fitzgerald, C Scully; J Fitzgerald, C Hayes; F Fitzgerald, S O’Brien, R O’Farrell; D Coughlan, O O’Farrell, H Flanagan. Subs: W Kearns for M Fitzgibbon (h-t), D Ferland for O’Farrell (45 mins), M Riordan for Coughlan (46 mins), D Scully for Flanagan (51 mins), T Boddy for Fitzgerald (61 mins).

Tipperary: E Horgan; C O’Donnell, A O’Halloran, P O’Dwyer; R Connolly, B Currivan, J Collins; S O’Farrell, A Daly; C English, C Martin, O O’Donoghue; D McCarthy, P McCormack, S Butler. Subs: E Craddock for O’Farrell (37 mins), C Gleeson for Collins (49 mins), D Corbett for Butler (52 mins), J Ormond for English (53 mins), J Quinlan for O’Halloran (57 mins).

Referee: S Scanlon (Cork).

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