O’Neill leads Limerick to fine victory

LIMERICK made a fine start to their campaign with a thrilling victory over Tipperary at the GaelicGroundsyesterday.

Half-forward Cathal O’Neill lead the way for the Treaty Countywithasuperb performance that yielded 11 points.

Things had looked up for Tommy Dunne’s Tipperary outfit with two second-half quick-fire goals from Sean Hayes, but Cormac Ryan’s goal brought Limerick back into the contest with eight minutes left to play and O’Neill’s class saw them home.

Tipperary settled the quicker tolead0-3to0-1on11minutes after both sides made a nervy start. Limerick responded with two O’Neill points, but Tipperary should have been further ahead than two points at half-time as RyanRenehan’spenaltywas pushed over by Limerick keeper Bryan Heavey.

Itwasamuchmoreeven second-half, but O’Neill’s quality and Ryan’s goal saw Limerick to a two-point win.

SCORERS – Limerick: Cathal O’Neill 0-11 (3f, 1’65), C Ryan 1-1, B Purcell, C Coughlin 0-2 each, B Nix 0-1;

Tipperary: S Hayes 2-1, R Renehan 0-3 (0-1pen, 0-1 s/l) J Devanney, K O’Kelly 0-2 each, J Ryan, J Campion, M Hackett, M O’Shea 0-1.

LIMERICK – B Heavey 7; P Harnett 6, B Herlihy 7, M Keane 7; E O’Mahony 6, E McEvoy 7, J Nicholas 6; D Kennedy 5, B O’Connor 5, C O’Neil 9l, C Ryan 7, D Hegarty 5; C Coughlan 7, B Purcell 7, B Nix 6. Subs: S Hurley 5 for Kennedy (h-t), P Kirby 6 for Hegarty (43), C Casey 5 for O’Connor (55), D Riordan for Hurley 5 (63), M Martin 5 for Coughlan (65).

TIPPERARY – A Browne 6; C O’Dwyer 5, C Whelan 6, K Hayes 6; J Ryan 7, F Purcell 6, F Hanafin 6; M Hackett 7, J Campion 6; S Hayes 8, D Ryan 5, K O’Kelly 6; J Lanigan 5, R Renehan 6, J Devanney 6. Subs: M O’Shea 6 for Lanigan (39), K Maher 5 for Renehan (48), C O’Farrell 5 for Ryan (55), E Purcell 5 for O’Kelly (55).

Ref – N Wall (Cork)