Toothless Tipp cannot match
LIMERICK may see itself as the heartbeat of Irish rugby but it is also the home of the All-Ireland hurling champions so it was no surprise to see dozens of cars parked up at hotels and pubs near the Gaelic Grounds as hostilities were getting under way at Lansdowne Road.
It’s been 45 years since Tipperary had to take on a Limerick team bearing the mantle of champions but this was a big night for Liam Sheedy’s men as they, like Limerick, tried to make it two wins from two in the League. But by the end the Treaty men ran out decisive winners as Tipp lacked the forward power to secure the win in the second half.
The teams were level five times in the opening half but Tipperary went in leading by 1-9 to 1-8 on a freezing night in Limerick.
It was difficult for both sides to play in the frosty conditions but neither of these neighbours stood on ceremony during an entertaining opening half. Scores were hard to come by early on but the sides managed to exchange points three times in the opening 21 minutes before Darragh O’Donovan edged Limerick in front for the first time.
The Tipperary response was impressive as the superb Willie Connors set up Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher for a goal for Tipperary with a neat flick which put the Lorrha-Dorrha man through on goal.
Jason Forde, on for the injured Dan McCormack who went off with a shoulder problem, also grabbed another but his ground effort flashed across goal.
However, they extended their lead when Robert Byrne pointed from distance to put them 1-4 to 0-4 in front. Tipperary increased that advantage and pulled four points clear after Seamus Callanan, who had earlier missed two scoreable efforts, got his second point of the night with a free from distance.
The All-Ireland champions needed a response and they got it when Tom Morrissey sent in a long delivery from the right and Graeme Mulcahy managed to get his hurley to it ahead of Donagh Maher and guide it to the net with a neat flick.
Aaron Gillane pointed a free to tie the sides at 1-6 apiece before he and Callanan swapped points as Kilkenny referee Sean Cleere clamped down on both teams on the handpass and over-carrying rule.
Forde and wing-back Barry Heffernan, pushed Tipp two in front with fine points as the exchanges became more intense.
But the All-Ireland champions went in trailing by just the minimum when Tom Morrissey pointed to leave it 1-9 to 1-8 at the break.
Limerick levelled for the sixth time four minutes after the restart when Mulcahy pointed after a superb cross from the right by Diarmuid Byrnes and then the wing-back followed it up with his third point from a long-range free.
Callanan levelled for the seventh time but Limerick got a grip on the game, with Byrnes and Dan Morrissey dominant in the wing-back positions.
Impressive debutant Conor Boylan got the first of two good points and Gillane also hit two more, with Forde responding for Tipperary to leave it 1-13 to 1-11 after 49 minutes. Dan Morrissey landed a superb point from distance with Callanan lifting the siege with another free before Boylan announced his arrival at this level with a fine point from the left. The outstanding Byrnes put four between them with a fine point from play as Limerick showed they are in fine fettle.
‘It was tough out there but we got the scores,’ said Byrnes afterwards. ‘It was good to get a few points but the first job is to stop your man but it’s nice to see them going over at the other end.
‘We have a lot to work on but we are hungry for it. We have had our holiday but that’s all over and done with now.’
Forde’s third point reduced the margin to a goal with 11 minutes left but Tipp never looked like getting in for the goal they needed. Instead, Gillane landed a fine score from the left wing over his shoulder to put four between them.
Gillane hit a 65 after a goal effort from Pat Ryan was deflected out by corner-back Alan Flynn, with Padraic Maher getting Tipp’s final score of the night on 68 minutes.
Limerick wrapped up the win during four minutes of stoppage time as Tom Morrissey, Peter Casey and Gillane all hit the target as John Kiely’s men sent out a clear message that they are going to be a major force again this year.
However, Sheedy will have a painful look back at his first defeat since he returned to Tipp with their lack of penetration in the secondhalf their primary concern. Limerick: N Quaid; T Condon, S Finn, R English; D Byrnes, D Hannon (P O’Loughlin 50), D Morrissey; D O’Donovan (C Lynch 69), C Ryan; G Hegarty, T Morrissey, C Boylan (K Hayes 57); A Gillane, K Downes (P Casey 45), G Mulcahy (P Ryan 64). Scorers: A Gillane (5f, 2 65) 0-9, G Mulcahy 1-1, D Byrnes (2f, 1 65) 0-4, T Morrissey, C Boylan 0-2, D Morrissey, D O’Donovan, P Casey 0-1. Tipperary: B Hogan; D Maher (K O’Dwyer 55), J Barry, A Flynn; B Heffernan, R Maher, Padraic Maher; R Byrne (N O’Meara 50), M Breen (J McGrath 63); D McCormack (J Forde 13), N McGrath, W Connors; J Morris (M Kehoe 55), S Callanan, Patrick Maher. Scorers: S Callanan (5f) 0-5, Patrick Maher 1-0, J Forde 0-3, B Heffernan, Padraic Maher, R Byrne, M Breen, N McGrath, W Connors 0-1. referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).