Poor performance condemns Tipperary to opening day defeat by Limerick

Limerick 1-9 Tipperary 1-4

Tipperary’s hopes of advancement to Phase 2 of the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship suffered a dent when they went down to Limerick at Hannon Park, Lattin on Sunday afternoon.

Playing second fiddle for most of this game, which was played in dreadful conditions, the home side never really got to grips with the opposition, even when Limerick were reduced to 14 players for a ten-minute period, following the dismissal of Cian Lonergan to a black card after eight minutes.

During the opening thirty minutes they managed just one score, a goal in the twelfth minute from Cillian Morrissey after Reuben Grace’s quickly-taken free. Limerick took control over the second quarter and built up a 1-7 to 1-0 lead at the short whistle. This was a fair reflection on the opening half, where Tipperary failed miserably on their own kick outs, as Limerick dominated the middle third on a heavy pitch, with surface water in places.

After the restart and now aided by a diagonal wind, Tipp came more into the game, but a lack of penetration in attack meant that Limerick were still two points to the good coming up to the 50th minute. They were always in a position to get that vital score whenever Tipperary threatened.

Limerick dealt a hammer blow six minutes from time, when they turned over the home side around their 45 metre line, resulting in a goal, and while Tipp managed to pull back two points, it was the visitors who saw out the game with two minors in added time to stretch the margin to five at the final whistle.

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Limerick were aided by the rain and also a diagonal wind in the first half. They got the scoreboard moving after two minutes from a Tom Gavin free before Charlie McCarthy doubled their advantage four minutes later, also from a placed ball. The Shannonsiders were then reduced to 14 players after their wing back, Cian Lonergan, received a black card.

Tipperary got in for the opening goal of the game after the referee had moved the ball up to the twenty metre line, for a Limerick breach of the “two up” rule on eleven minutes. Reuben Grace took advantage of slackness in the opposition defence with a quickly-taken free to Cillian Morrissey and the Moyle Rovers clubman made no mistake, blasting a low shot to the corner of the net. This gave the Premier County a one-point lead for the first and only time in the game, as Limerick came thundering back with a succession of points.

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Limerick’s response was swift and immediate, as Cillian Murphy won possession from the resulting kickout before shooting the equaliser. Charlie McCarthy kicked a brace in quick succession, one from a placed ball to put them two up as the game entered the second quarter. Tipperary were finding it difficult to get on the ball while also failing to win possession from their own restarts. Points from Eoin Hogan and Sean O’Flynn stretched the Limerick lead out to four, 0-7 to 1-0 at the short whistle.

The rain cleared for the restart and Tipp now had the advantage of the wind. Limerick missed a few early chances before Reuben Grace pulled one back for the Premier County. Even allowing for the wind assistance and some good possession, Tipp failed to convert possession into scores, mainly due to poor shot choices and over- reliance on retaining possession.

Four minutes into the final quarter Tipperary had the deficit down to two, following a converted placed ball by Cillian Morrissey, but this was as close as they would get. With six minutes of normal time remaining Limerick won a turnover and in a good move from around the forty metre line Cian Barry and Kevin McNamara linked up with Sean O’Flynn to slot home a goal.

To their credit, Tipperary pressed up and a point from Hugh Carolan, followed by a converted free from Morrissey, left it a one-score game. However, Limerick responded in added time to close out the game with a brace from Cathal Donnelly and Charlie McCarthy.

Tipperary will be disappointed, not only with the result, but also with their overall performance. Their next game is away to Waterford in Lemybrien at 7pm on Easter Monday, where a victory is a must if they are to advance to Phase 2.

Scorers: Tipperary: Cillian Morrissey (1-2, 2f), Reuben Grace (0-1), Hugh Carolan (0-1).
Limerick: Sean O’Flynn (1-1), Charlie McCarthy (0-4, 3f), Tom Gavin (0-1f), Cathal Donnelly (0-1), Eoghan Hogan (0-1), Cillian Murphy (0-1).

Tipperary: Danny Cashin (Killenaule), Donal O’Callaghan (Clonmel Commercials), Conor Hurley (captain, Moyle Rovers), Oisín McCarthy (Moyle Rovers), Joe O’Donovan (Moyle Rovers), Nicholas Walsh (Cashel King Cormacs), Ciarán Hennessy (Aherlow), Cian Cahill (JK Brackens), Tadhg Dunlea (Ballylooby Castlegrace), Eoin O’Connell (Aherlow), Conor O’Meara (Grangemockler Ballyneale), Adam O’Callaghan (Portroe), Cillian Morrissey (Moyle Rovers), Reuben Grace (Galtee Rovers), Hugh Carolan (Moyle Rovers).
Subs: Colin Maher (Cashel King Cormacs) for Joe O’Donovan (30), Jack Walsh (Roscrea) for Adam O’Callaghan (31), Donnacha Hurley (Ballylooby Castlegrace) for Tadhg Dunlea (41), Fergal Bradshaw (Moyle Rovers) for Ciarán Hennessy (45), Conor Williams (Moyle Rovers) for Cian Cahill (50).

Limerick: Dean Ryan, Luke McDermott, Aaron Murphy, Ronan Conneely, Cian Lonergan, Eoghan Murnane (captain), Rory O’Dwyer, Cillian Murphy, Jamie McAuliffe, Cian Barry, Jack Moynihan, Sean O’Flynn, Charlie McCarthy, Eoghan Hogan, Tom Gavin.
Subs: Miguel Azzopardi for Eoghan Murnane (37), Conor O’Dwyer for Cian Lonergan (39), Kevin McNamara for Tom Gavin (51), Darragh Doyle for Ronan Conneely (57), Cathal Donnelly for Sean O’Flynn (58).

Referee: Gary Twomey (Clare).