Limerick hammer Tipperary in Munster Senior Hurling Championship

LIMERICK have hammered neighbours Tipperary on a scoreline of 2-27 to 0-18 in the second round of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship this evening in the TUS Gaelic Grounds. 

This is the Treaty sides second win on the bounce in the Munster Championship as they now have a two-week break before facing a trip to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday, May 11 to take on the Rebels at 7:30pm. 

The home side scored 2-12 in the second-half to finish off the game as Tipperary struggled, relying heavily on scores from frees.

An Aaron Gillane free opened the scoring for the four-time All Ireland champions after two minutes, quickly answered by Jason Forde's free.

Scores went back and fourth for a portion as Tipperary registered their second score from Gearoid O'Connor replied almost immediately by Kyle Hayes.

Limerick looked to be straight on goal after six minutes of play as Kyle Hayes found himself under pressure from the Tipp defence but referee Liam Gordon awarded a free out to the visitors, disallowing the goal in the process.

The goal opportunity pushed the Treaty men on again going two points ahead as they found their rhythm in attack with points from Cathal O'Neill and Gillane again. 

Tipperary looked well up for the game as they fired over two quick scores from Jason Forde and Mark Kehoe to leave it 0-4 points a piece after 20 minutes. 

The home side went through a dry period of scores as Tipperary's midfielder Eoghan Connolly put Tipp ahead by one before his opposite number O'Neill edged Limerick up ahead, 0-6 to 0-5. 

A huge save after 23 minutes by Limerick goalie Nickie Quaid from a Seán Hayes shot spurred Limerick on once again as Gillane came into his own scoring two vital frees for his side.

This pattern continued as Tipp struggled to get a handle on the Limerick forwards, fouling on multiple occasions and Gillane making no mistake with the shots. 

Limerick gained traction in the final ten minutes of the first-half pulling away from Tipp, despite registering six wides, to leave them 0-12 to 0-7 ahead at half-time.

David Reidy got the second-half underway with a fabulous score courtesy of a Cian Lynch pass. Tipperary replied with a Mark Kehoe point from play as they attempted to lessen the deficit. 

Limerick remained five-points ahead before impact subs for Tipperary Patrick Maher and Noel McGrath slotted over two points at their first touch of the Sliothar.

These scores were undone quickly though after 45 minutes as Patrickswell man Gillane made his presence's felt once again as he struck a shot from the 13-meters out gliding past a number of Tipp defenders to put Limerick on top 1-15 to 0-11. 

The incredible goal lead to a further three points from the All-Ireland champs as Tipp's Jason Forde tried his best to keep his side in the game through two frees.

This would be Tipp's only scores for a period as Limerick looked to finish the game off early with points from Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Cathal O'Neill and Aaron Gillane.

An unmarked Peter Casey who started the game ahead of Séamus Flanagan found the back of the net for Limerick to put them 2-22 to 0-13 ahead, but injured himself incredibly bad in the process. 

10-minutes of no score for Tipp was quenched with Forde's first score from play followed by a Johnny Ryan point as Limerick quieted after the shocking injury to Casey.

Tipperary attempted to fight back but the game was well and truly over after Limerick's second goal despite Jason Forde's best efforts. 

Doon's Adam English made his presence felt off the bench scoring four wonderful points from play to give Limerick the huge victory, 2-27 to 0-18. 

SCORERS LIMERICK: Aaron Gillane 1-8 (0-7 frees), Peter Casey 1-2, Adam English 0-4, Tom Morrissey 0-3, Cathal O'Neill 0-3, David Reidy 0-2, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-2 (0-2 frees), Kyle Hayes, William O’Donoghue, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh 0-1 each  TIPPERARY: Jason Forde 0-9 (0-8 frees), Mark Kehoe 0-2, Gearoid O'Connor 0-2 (0-1 frees), Eoghan Connolly, Alan Tynan, Patrick Maher, Noel McGrath, Johnny Ryan 0-1 each

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid (Effin), Sean Finn (Bruff), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Barry Nash (South Liberties), Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Declan Hannon  (C) (Adare), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister), Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s), David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca), Tom Morrissey (Ahane), Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)

SUBS: Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen) for G Hegarty (51 minutes),  Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for P Casey (56 minutes), Adam English (Doon) for C Lynch (50 minutes), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) for K Hayes (64 minutes), Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) for D Reidy (68 minutes)

TIPPERARY: Barry Hogan, Johnny Ryan, Ronan Maher (C), Craig Morgan, Michael Breen, Byran O'Mara, Conor Bowe, Willie Connors, Eoghan Connolly, Alan Tynan, Gearoid O'Connor, Jason Forde, Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe, Sean Hayes

SUBS: Noel McGrath for S Hayes (Half-Time), Patrick Maher for M Kehoe (41 minutes), Andrew Ormond for W Connors (50 minutes), Darragh Stakelum for J Morris (57 minutes), Sean Kenneally for J Forde (68 minutes)

REFEREE: Liam Gordon (Galway)