Limerick U20s stun Tipperary in Munster U20 hurling championship opener

RESILIENT Limerick U20s made a winning start to the round robin phase of the Munster U20 championship when recording a deserved 2-13 to 0-17 victory over Tipperary U20s in front of an official attendance of 2,768 at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles on Tuesday night.

Second half goals from Matthew Fitzgerald and substitute Mark O'Brien in the 58th minute proved crucial as Limerick U20s secured an impressive victory.

Limerick's workrate and intensity in their play was excellent all through as was their use of possession. While Tipperary relied heavily on UL student and senior player Darragh McCarthy for the vast majority of their scores, Limerick had a greater spread of scorers on the night.

Limerick will take great satisfaction from the team's gritty response to falling two points in arrears with seven minutes remaining, 1-11 to 0-16.

Evan Loftus' charges outscored their hosts 1-2 to 0-1 over the remaining minutes of the contest to seal a precious victory.

Next up for Limerick is a trip to Dungarvan's Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field to take on Waterford on Wednesday, April 9, 7.30pm.

For Limerick U20s, Sean Casey, Darragh Langan, Hugh Flanagan and Fintan Fitzgerald have all seen gametime with the county's senior hurlers in 2025.

Twenty players from last year's squad are part of the Limerick U20 38-man panel this year, with 18 new players included in the panel. 

For Tipp, senior panelists Darragh McCarthy, Sam O'Farrell, Oisin O'Donoghue, Aaron O'Halloran, and Conor Martin all featured in Tuesdday night's U20 game.

Limerick made the brighter opening with midfielder Matthew Fitzgerald's surging run right from the throw-in was only halted by a last gasp hook from Tipperary corner back Podge O'Dwyer as he bore down on goal.

Limerick did open the scoring a minute later when Hugh Flanagan pointed a '65, while Fintan Fitzgerald doubled their lead with another point three minutes later.

The Shannonsiders' excellent start gathered further momentum when Flanagan added another free on six minutes for 0-3 to 0-0.

Limerick brought the greater intensity and workrate through the opening period.

The home side did break the run of Limerick scores when Conor Martin and Cathal English pointed in the ninth and tenth minutes for 0-3 to 0-2.

UL student Darragh McCarthy then levelled the scores when pointing a long range free for Tipp in the 12th minute.

Robert O'Farrell's excellent long range score had Limerick 0-4 to 0-3 in front on 18 minutes, before the visitors added another score through a placed ball from Garryspillane clubman Flanagan.

Adam Daly then cut the Limerick advantage to a point soon after.

However, Limerick regained the initiative when Darragh Langan found Ruairi O'Connor after a surging run upfield and he passed to Fintan Fitzgerald who pointed superbly from an acute angle. 

Tipp drew level in the 25th minute when Darragh McCarthy, who was deployed in a deep role, pointed, while the home side hit the front, 0-7 to 0-6, when Daly struck over his second point of the evening.

The sides were tied 0-8 each at the change of ends, after Tadhg Boddy struck over two fine points for Limerick.

Tipp might well have been in front just before the break, but Limerick corner back John Murray did superbly to get in a block as Senan Butler was about to strike for goal.

Tipperary made the early running in the second half with Darragh McCarthy landing two frees.

However, back came Limerick and a terrific solo goal from Matthew Fitzgerald in the 34th minute had the visitors in front 1-8 to 0-10.

McCarthy then equalised with another point before Robert O'Farrell split the uprights to help Limerick into a narrow lead.

The see-saw nature of the scoring continued as Toomevara clubman McCarthy converted another free to tie the scores, 1-9 to 0-12.

The sides then traded points, McCarthy for Tipp, and Dan Scully for Limerick as the game remained deadlocked, 0-13 to 1-10, after 45 minutes.

Another McCarthy pointed free had Tipp in front. Back came Limerick, however, and Flanagan levelled the contest with a well-struck free, his fourth point of the game.

McCarthy proved Tipp's trump card once again when scoring his 10th point of the game, fourth from play, to edge them ahead, while Conor Martin added another to make it 0-16 to 1-11.

Limerick came within a whisker of grabbing a second goal when Flanagan's sideline cut was caught by O'Farrell, but his effort on goal came crashing back off an upright.

The Shannonsiders did close to within a point when Flanagan struck over a free.

And Limerick were in front in the 58th minute as substitute Mark O'Brien finished clinically to the net for 2-12 to 0-16 after being set up by Barry Adams pass.

Limerick moved three points in front when Flanagan added a long range free in the final minute of normal time. 

McCarthy brought Tipp to within two points when he converted a 61st minute free which kissed off the upright before sailing over.

Tipp had Sam O'Farrell dismissed on a second yellow card in the second of three minutes of added time.

Limerick had done enough to make a winning start to their round robin campaign.

The team top of the pile at the end of the round-robin phase progresses direct to the Munster final. The second and third-placed teams will meet in a semi-final.

SCORERS: Limerick U20: Hugh Flanagan 0-6 (0-4 frees, 0-1 '65), Matthew Fitzgerald, Mark O'Brien 1-0 each, Robert O'Farrell, Tadhg Boddy, Fintan Fitzgerald 0-2 each, Dan Scully 0-1. Tipperary U20: Darragh McCarthy 0-11 (0-6 frees, 0-1 '65), Adam Daly, Conor Martin 0-2 each, Paddy McCormack, Cathal English 0-1.