Resilient Limerick minor hurlers score thrilling Munster championship victory over Tipperary

LIMERICK minor hurlers re-ignited their Munster minor hurling championship campaign after securing a thrilling 2-13 to 0-18 victory over Tipperary at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles on Friday night.

Two second half goals from Rian Horgan and Killian Begley, son of former Limerick inter-county player Brian, helped turn the game in Limerick's favour after the Shannonsiders had trailed their hosts by four points, 0-6 to 0-10, at half-time.

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This was a hugely pleasing win for Limerick on the back of their earlier defeats to Cork and Waterford in the round robin phase of the provincial championship.

It also ended Limerick's run of defeats at this grade which included last year's minor championship campaign.

With the game and their championship ambitions on the line, Limerick set about the task with admirable tenacity in the second half. The visitors outscored their opponents 2-7 to 0-8 in the second period to seal a deserved victory.

Limerick now take on Clare in the final round of the Munster MHC round-robin series on Friday next, April 25 in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale at 7pm. 

The side will take huge confidence from Friday's victory in Thurles as Donal O'Grady's young charges showed admirable resolve and composure to seal a precious victory in a tight contest.

This was a significant win for the Shannonsiders as not only do the top two sides at the end of the round robin phase reach the provincial final but the third and fourth-placed teams will progress to the All-Ireland series, along with the top four sides from the Leinster championship. 

Play in the opening spell was scrappy as players struggled to come to terms with the greasy playing surface and breezy conditions.

Given how much was at stake for both sides, it was understandable that nerves played their part in those opening stages with first touch not as sharp as it might have been.

However, once the players settled down, the quality of the game improved significantly. 

The sides were level on three occasions in the opening 13 minutes. Chris Dunne landed all three of Tipp's scores from play while, for Limerick Rory Hanly, with a fine score from play, Shane Waters, courtesy of a free, and Cathal Dennehy, from play, dissected the uprights.

Waters was in terrific form from frees slotting over seven points from placed balls on a difficult night for free-takers with the greasy sliotar and top surface.

A fourth point from Dunne, of Gortnahoe-Glengoole, and a follow-up score from Dylan Hennessy pushed Tipperary 0-5 to 0-3 in front after 17 minutes.

A Shane Waters free from Limerick was cancelled out by a point from play from Tipp's Jaye Cilvinas on 20 minutes.

David O'Keeffe's point for Limerick reduced the home side's lead to a single point, 0-6 to 0-5, before Tipperary landed four points in a row from two Chris Dunne frees and a pair from play from the influential Euan Murray.

Tipp's lead was out to five points, 0-10 to 0-5, after 27 minutes. A second point of the game for Glenroe's Cathal Dennehy reduced the home side's advantage to four before Limerick created a goal chance. 

Paul Murphy, of Castletown Ballyagran, won possession on the half-forward line, before surging forward through the heart of the Tipp defence. However, Murphy's powerful shot for goal was brilliantly saved by Tipperary netminder Patrick McCormack.

Tipperary racked up six first half wides, while Limerick struck just one.

The conditions closed in at the start of the second half as a heavy mist fell from grey skies.

Limerick needed a quick start to the second half to get right back into the contest and the Shannonsiders got it with two crucial scores.

Four minutes after the re-start, Limerick had their opening goal as Cahill-Hayes picked out Rian Horgan who rifled the sliotar to the net to leave a single point between the sides, 1-6 to 0-10.

A third point from play from Dennehy then tied the scores at 1-7 to 0-10.

Tipp's Morrisson and a Waters free for Limerick had the scores level at 1-8 to 0-11 after 38 minutes.

Tipp then added two points to edge their way in front as O'Keeffe and Morrisson found their range.

However, the visitors edged their way in front with a second goal of the night as substitute Killian Begley surged his way through the heart of the Tipp defence before finishing clinically.

Limerick now led 2-8 to 0-13 after 42 minutes before a Waters free pushed the Limerick lead out to two points, 2-9 to 0-13.

The sides then traded points as Waters fired over his fifth free of the evening and Dunne dissected the uprights for the home side from another placed ball for 2-10 to 0-14.

Na Piarsaigh's Waters and Dunne struck over two points free each as the game ticked into injury time and Limerick maintained their two-point lead.

A Dunne pointed free reduced Limerick's lead to two points, 2-12 to 0-16. 

However, a late point from Begley eased Limerick three clear, before Conor Kennedy pointed late on for Tipp.

Limerick tenaciously held on for victory to boost their hopes of reaching the knock-out stages of the championship.

SCORERS: Tipperary: Chris Dunne 0-10 (0-6 frees), Conall Morrisson, Euan Murray 0-2 each, Dylan Hennessy, Jaye Cilvinas, Zach O'Keeffe, Conor Kennedy 0-1 each. Limerick: Shane Waters 0-7 (all frees), Killian Begley 1-1, Rian Horgan 1-0, Cathal Dennehy 0-3, David O'Keeffe, Rory Hany 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Patrick McCormack (Moneygall); Fred Perry (Moyle Rovers), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Newport), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers St Pecaun's); Dylan Hennessy (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), Patrick Hackett (Toomevara), Senan Mackey (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams), Shane Cooney (Clerihan), Jaye Cilvinas (Arravale Rovers); Conall Morrisson (Moyle Rovers), Euan Murray (Durlas Og), Tommy O'Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Zach O'Keeffe (Holycross Ballycahill), Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe Glengoole), Harry Lawlor (St Mary's). SUBS: Jack Cahill (Ballingarry) for Lawlor (half-time), Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Og) for O'Meara (56 mins), Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore) for Cilvinas (46 mins), Paul Cummins (Ballybacon Grange) for Cooney (49 mins), Danny Barry (Fethard) for Collins (58 mins).

LIMERICK: Marcus Murphy (Na Piarsaigh); Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell), Evan Ryan (South Liberties), Jackie Dwane (Kilmallock), Shane Carroll (Kildimo-Palaskenry), Danny Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh), Michael Hanly (Ballybricken/ Bohermore); Gavin Thompson (St Kieran’s), David O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh) (Captain); Sean Óg Cahill Hayes (Croom), Rory Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohermore), Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh), Paul Murphy (Castletown/Ballyagran), Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Rian Horgan (Murroe Boher). SUBS: Killian Begley (Mungret St Paul’s) for Cahill Hayes (38 mins), Gavin O’Brien (Kilmallock) for Horgan (47 mins), Ryan Foley (Patrickswell) for Dennehy (58 mins), Kyle McCarthy (Glenroe) for Carroll (60 + 3 mins).

REFEREE: Patrick O’Mahoney (Cork)