Tipperary ease to victory in lively contest with Limerick for Dillon Quirke Foundation

Dillon Quirke Foundation Game

Tipperary 3-27

Limerick 1-20

By Michael Dundon

The final dress rehearsal before the start of the National Hurling League saw an experimental Tipp side comprehensively defeat a second-string Limerick outfit in the Dillon Quirke Foundation senior hurling tournament at FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday.

In what was the last opportunity for fringe players to put their hands up for selection in the league squad, it was “old hand” John McGrath who stole the show with a first-half performance that yielded 2-6, half of it from play, a timely reminder, if such was needed, for the qualities of the Loughmore Castleiney man who has had his troubles with injury for the last two years.

An official attendance of 3,218 was treated to a lively encounter, particularly in a first half that produced thirty scores, including four goals, and while the second half did not have the same flow, due largely to the many substitutions by both managers, it nevertheless kept the gathering engaged right up to Kevin Jordan’s final whistle.

Three first-half goals tipped the scales in Tipperary’s favour. John McGrath bagged the first, converting a 10th-minute penalty after Mark Kehoe was fouled. That put Tipp 1-5 to 0-3 ahead. Still, within a minute, Limerick’s Donnacha O Dalaigh wrong-footed Johnny Ryan, shook off Ronan Maher’s tackle and blasted past Barry Hogan for a goal for the Shannonsiders.

With McGrath in fine fettle, Tipp looked the more threatening, and in the 28th minute, John McGrath again netted after being set up by Andrew Ormond to put Tipp ahead 2-12 to 1-8. Four minutes later Andrew Ormond had Tipp’s third goal, finishing to the net after an Eoghan Connolly effort was saved. At half-time Tipp led 3-13 to 1-13.

The second half was not as lively with Tipperary fending off Limerick’s best efforts to bridge the six points margin. Tipp were leading 3-21 to 1-19  with five minutes plus stoppage time remaining and in that closing spell they out-shot Limerick six points to one for a flattering 13-point win.

Neither manager will attach great significance to this result but for Tipp followers, the form of John McGrath was the big plus to take from the game. Hopefully, he will stay injury-free to provide valuable leadership in the Tipp attack for the league and championship campaigns. 

A downside to the game was the early injury to the promising Danny Slattery who damaged a hamstring after 34 minutes and must be regarded as a doubt for the league opener against Dublin.

Apart from John McGrath, there was no stand-out performance though Jake Morris and Alan Tynan had their moments with Ronan Maher, and subs Barry Heffernan, and Conor Bowe also doing well when introduced.

Limerick manager John Kiely will not lose sleep over this defeat. The performance of Donnacha O Dalaigh will encourage him, who grabbed 1-3 from play with Adam English, Fergal O'Connor, Ethan Hurley,  and Conor Boylan, who are also prominent.

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Danny Slattery, Ronan Maher (0-1), Johnny Ryan; Michael Breen, Robert Byrne, Enda Heffernan (0-1); Eoghan Connolly (0-1), John Campion; Jack Ryan (0-1), John McGrath (2-9, 1-0 pen, 0-6f), Alan Tynan (0-2); Andrew Ormond (1-2), Mark Kehoe (0-1), Jake Morris (0-3).

Subs used: Craig Morgan for Slattery (34); Conor Bowe (0-1) for Heffernan (HT); Patrick Maher for Kehoe (HT); Willie Connors (0-1) for Campion (HT)); Billy Seymour for Jack Ryan (HT); Sean Ryan (0-1) for Morris (52)), Paddy Cadell for Connolly (55); Barry Heffernan for Byrne (60); Gearoid O’Connor (0-2f) for McGrath (61); Gavin O’Halloran for Tynan (62); Joe Fogarty (0-1) for Ormond (68); Pauric Campion for Breen (68);  Bryan O’Mara for Johnny Ryan (68), Cian O Dwyer for R Maher 69).

Limerick: Jamie Power; Emmet McEvoy, Fergal O’Connor, Ronan Lyons; Ethan Hurley, Ronan Connolly, Ciaran Barry; Micheal Houlihan, Colin Coughlan (0-1); Aidan O’Connor (0-1), Patrick O’Donovan(0-4, 0-2f), Conor Boylan; Donnacha O Dalaigh (1-3), Oisin O’Reilly (0-2) Adam English (0-4).

Subs used: Darragh Langan for Barry (30); Barry Murphy for Houlihan (HT); Joe Fitzgerald for Coughlan (HT); David Reidy (0-4f) for O’Donovan (HT); Gearoid Hegarty for A O’Connor (HT); Mike Keane for Lyons (49); David Fitzgerald for Connolly (54); Liam Lynch for O’Reilly (54), Luke Flynn (0-1) for O Dalaigh (54); Donal Coughlan for English (54); Evan O’Leary for F O’Connor (58).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)