Limerick 1-11
Tipperary 2-14
TIPPERARY HAVE SCORED a first victory in the Munster Senior Football Championship since 2003.
The long wait is over for the Premier County as a six-point success over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds tonight ends a luckless streak dating back eleven years.
Tipp, wit Peter Acheson driving the side forward from the half-back line, were full value for a six-point win on a glorious evening in Limerick city as Barry Grogan and Philip Austin scored the goals.
Peter Creedon’s classy visitors could even afford the luxury of a missed second half penalty along the way.
Grogan’s effort was saved by Donal O’Sullivan – who could have been black-carded for pulling down Ian Fahey.
Tipp led by 1-7 to 0-6 at the end of the first half, with Limerick managing just a single point from play.
That arrived courtesy of Ian Ryan just before half-time as the hosts stayed in touch with Peter Creedon’s impressive visitors.
Tipp had led by six points during their most impressive period of the game as Grogan’s tenth-minute goal put some daylight between the sides after they had shared the opening four points of the game.
And Tipp would have felt that they were due a break as Grogan rolled home a simple goal after Donal O’Sullivan failed to deal with a long delivery.
The Premier County had Ciarán McDonald black-carded as early as the fourth minute with Creedon forced to bring on John Coghlan as a replacement for the highly-rated corner back.
Tipp kicked on after Grogan’s goal as the Aherlow man added a pointed free, before Austin and senior championship debutant Colin O’Riordan kicked points from play.
Limerick were reliant on the free-taking of Eoin Hanrahan and Ryan to remain in contention but a first half tally of seven wides didn’t help their cause either.
Tipp will now play Cork in the Munster SFC semi-final on June 21.
Scorers
Limerick: Eoin Hanrahan 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), Ian Ryan 0-4 (3f), Iain Corbett, Darragh Tracey & Ger Collins 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Barry Grogan 1-4 (0-3f,) Philip Austin 1-2, Peter Acheson 0-2, Colin O’Riordan, Robbie Kiely, George Hannigan, Brian Fox, Conor Sweeney (f) & Michael Quinlivan 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen); Sean O’Dea (Kilteely/Dromkeen), Colm Moran (Monaleen), Johnny McCarthy (St Kieran’s); Iain Corbett (Newcastlewest), Stephen Lucey (Croom), Padraig Browne (Fr Casey’s); Thomas Lee (Ballylanders), Darragh Tracey (St Kieran’s); Micheál Brosnan (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Cian Sheehan (Newcastlewest), Seanie Buckley (Dromcollogher-Broadford); Eoin Hanrahan (St Patrick’s), Ger Collins (Monaleen), Ian Ryan (St Senans).
Subs: John Riordan (Fr. Casey’s) for Sheehan (28), John Galvin (Croom) for Brosnan (28), Pa Ranahan (Ballysteen) for Browne (40), Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s) for Tracey (55).
TIPPERARY: Paul Fitzgerald (Fethard); Ger Mulhair (Arravale Rovers), Paddy Codd (Killenaule), Ciarán McDonald (Aherlow); Colin O’Riordan (JK Brackens), Robbie Kiely (Arravale Rovers), Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers); Steven O’Brien (Ballina), George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers); Philip Austin (Borrisokane), Ian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty); Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen), Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials), Barry Grogan (Aherlow).
Subs: John Coghlan (Moyne-Templetuohy) for McDonald (b/c, 4), Brian Mulvihill (Moyle Rovers) for Fahey (56), Seamus Grogan (Aherlow) for O’Brien (57), Cathal Dillon (Aherlow) for Austin (66).
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).