Big loss to Tipperary in Munster minor hurling final for Limerick

For a second successive year Limerick lost the Munster minor hurling championship final to Tipperary.

The final score in the Gaelic Grounds was 1-24 to 0-10 with Limerick playing most of the second half with 14-men.

The defeat means the Pat Donnelly maned Limerick will now play Wexford in the All Ireland MHC quarter final on July 23/24.

Tipperary were 0-13 to 0-7 ahead at half time after setting the pace for much of the first half.

But it was a half that saw Limerick hit nine points, while Tipperary only had three.

Lyndon Fairbrother scored 0-7 in last year’s final win for Tipperary and he again caused problems for Limerick. He had two points from play as Tipperary were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after five minutes, with John Flynn getting the first Limerick point.

A Paul O’Brien free followed for Limerick but Tipperary were three points clear on seven minutes as they began to dominate.

Conor Boylan had a fine point from play but Jake Morris and Fairbrother moved the visitors to the Gaelic Grounds, 0-6 to 0-3 ahead on 11-minutes.

Another O’Brien free replied but a run of five points from Tipperary opened a meaningful lead of 0-10 to 0-4 by the 20th minute.

Limerick needed a score and were to finish the half well with O’Brien (free), captain Kyle Hayes and Cian Magner Flynn on the mark to ensure the deficit was six points at the break.

But the srart to the second half was everything that Limerick didn’t want.

Tipperary had the sliothar in the net within three minutes from Jake Morris after Kyle Hayes had reopened the scoring.

To add to Limerick woes, Brian Nash was then sent off just a minute after the goal for a second yellow card.

Dylan Walsh and Jake Morris added Tipperary points to ease clear 1-15 to 0-8.

Aaron Kennedy had  point but Tipp continued to pour forward and it was 21-minutes in before Conor Boylan had Limerick’s second point from play and only a third of a disappointing half.

LIMERICK: Mark O’Kelly; Brian Nash, Conor Nicholas, Brian Timmons; Michael O’Grady, Josh Adams, Finn Hourigan; John Flynn, Darragh Carroll; Brian Ryan, Kyle Hayes, Conor Boylan, Ronan Connolly, Cian Magner Flynn, Paul O’Brien. Subs: Jerome Boylan for Brian Timmons (19mins), David Woufle for Brian Ryan (35mins), Aaron Kennedy for Paul O’Brien (35mins), Cal McCarthy for Josh Adams (40mins), Anthony Barrett for Michael O’Grady (52mins).

TIPPERARY: Ciaran Barrett; Killian O’Dwyer, Michael Whelan, Jerome Cahill; Kieran Breen, Brian McGrath, Jake Morris; Paddy Cadell, Ger Browne; Rian Doody, Mark Kehoe, Cian Darcy; Tom Murphy, Colin English, Lyndon Fairbrother. Subs: Dylan Walsh for Colin English (27mins), Conor Stakelum for Rian Doody (52mins), Gavin Dunne for Cian Flanagan (59mins), Kieram Breen for Tom Murphy (60mins).

REFEREE: Rory McGann (Clare).