WATCH: Limerick and Tipperary play out thrilling draw in epic Munster championship clash

GREAT rivals Limerick and Tipperary played out a thrilling 2-23 each draw in their dramatic Munster senior hurling championship round robin opening round fixture in front of an official attendance of 32,295 at FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday.

A pointed free from UL student Darragh McCarthy in the fourth minute of added time earned a share of the spoils for Tipperary who were looking for their first win over Limerick in the championship since 2019.

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Holders Limerick looked to have done enough to claim the precious two points on offer when Patrickswell sharpshooter Aaron Gillane converted a 72nd minute free.

However, a share of the spoils was probably the fairest result in an epic first round derby which produced a host of thrills and spills, passages of quality hurling and top class scores.

This was old school championship fare, a game which produced 50 scores, including four superbly finished goals. 

The @MunsterGAA Senior Hurling Championship just keeps on giving!@TipperaryGAA 2-23@LimerickCLG 2-23

Watch the highlights here ️#TIPvLIM pic.twitter.com/rO9sxRjzHG

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 20, 2025

The contest was played at a high intensity, the pace and tackles never relented from the first whistle to last. The first round clash had the large Easter attendance on the edge of their seats throughout. 

Following Clare's comeback draw with Cork in Ennis earlier in the day four teams are now tied on a point each after the opening series of fixtures.

Next up for Limerick, who are seeking to win a seventh successive Munster senior hurling title this year, is a Saturday, May 3 meeting with Waterford at Walsh Park, while Tipperary head to Leeside to face Cork at SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday next, 4pm.

There was a late change to the Limerick team before throw-in in Thurles as the experienced Tom Morrissey came into the starting line-up for Cathal O'Neill.

Limerick also made a number of positional switches to their selected side prior to throw-in. Kyle Hayes, named at number six, was switched to centre half forward. Will O'Donoghue was deployed at centre half-back.

There was a throwback championship feel to the game in the opening stages despite the leaden skies overhead.

The sides traded points in the opening three minutes as Darragh McCarthy's early effort for Tipperary was cancelled out by a similar score from Limerick's Adam English.

McCarthy then added two more, one from a free, as Tipperary moved into a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage after seven minutes.

It took time for the players to get used to the greasy conditions, which made footing and first touch tricky as a steady drizzle fell for a part of the opening half.

Limerick rallied to draw level by the ninth minute as Kyle Hayes and Aaron Gillane fired over points.

However, the see-saw nature of the scoring continued as Tipp hit a brace of points through Jake Morris and the first of four terrific long range pointed frees from Eoghan Connolly to lead 0-5 to 0-3 after 10 minutes.

Back came Limerick to draw level and the sides were tied 0-6 each after 16 minutes when Adam English raised a white flag for Limerick.

Tipp had edged in front by a point when Limerick struck for a well-taken goal from Adam English after Aaron Gillane found him with a pass. English beat Tipp netminder Barry Hogan in the race for the sliotar with the Doon man flicking the ball into an empty net for 1-6 to 0-7.

It looked a psychological blow in the context of the game, but the home side hit back with points from Morris and McCarthy free to draw level, 0-9 to 1-6.

Limerick were back two in front, 1-9 to 0-10, with points from a Gillane free and Colin Coughlan in the 26th minute.

When Gearoid Hegarty pointed, after consultation with Hawkeye, Limerick led 1-10 to 0-11 after 29 minutes.

However, Tipperary fired over the closing five points of the half, including three long range frees from Connolly and efforts from play courtesy of Jason Forde and Craig Morgan to take a three point lead into the half-time break, 0-16 to 1-10.

Tipperary's three point interval lead didn't last long after the restart as Limerick came roaring out of traps. Points from Cian Lynch and the excellent Shane O'Brien was followed by a goal from the Kilmallock player who finished superbly to the net after being found by a well-executed stick pass from Colin Coughlan.

When Barry Nash pointed in the 39th minute, Limerick were suddenly two points in front, 2-13 to 0-17.

However, back came the home side and Craig Morgan set up John McGrath for a 40th minute goal. Suddenly Tipperary were back in front.

A run of three Limerick points from Gillane, two, one free, and Morrissey saw Limerick into a one-point lead.

Limerick continued to respond as Tipp managed to get the lead back to a single point on a number of occasions as the half wore on.

The home side did draw level when Darragh McCarthy pointed a 58th minute free.

A Kyle Hayes point had Limerick one point to the good after 61 minutes when Tipp hit back with a second goal from John McGrath to lead 2-22 to 2-20.

Limerick showed their resilience and a run of three points on the trot from Gillane, two frees, and Diarmuid Byrnes from play had the holders in front deep in injury time before McCarthy fired over a dramatic late equalier for Tipperary.

Time to draw breath.

SCORERS: Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-8 (0-5 frees), John McGrath 2-1, Eoghan Connolly 0-4 (frees), James Morris 0-4, Bryan O'Mara, Craig Morgan, Alan Tynan, Jason Forde, Seamus Kennedy, Noel McGrath 0-1 each. Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-7 (0-4 frees), Shane O'Brien 1-4, Adam English 1-2, Diarmuid Byrnes 0-3 (0-2 frees), Kyle Hayes 0-2, Barry Nash, Colin Coughlan, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Gearoid Hegarty 0-1 each.

TIPPERERY: Barry Hogan; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Joe Caesar, Ronan Maher (c), Bryan O'Mara; Craig Morgan, Darragh Stakelum; Alan Tynan, Jake Morris, Sam O'Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath, Jason Forde. SUBS: Noel McGrath for Caesar (41 mins), Conor Bowe for Forde (49 mins), Seamus Kennedy for Stakelum (52 mins), Conor Stakelum for Tynan (67 mins), Sean Kenneally for John McGrath (68 mins).

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Barry Murphy (Doon), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Barry Nash (South Liberties); Diarmuid Byrnes (Patrickswell), William O'Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) (Capt), Adam English (Doon); Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick's), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Tom Morrissey (Ahane); Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca). SUBS: Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown) for Morrissey (49 mins), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh) for Hegarty (58 mins).

REFEREE: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)