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James Barry and Donal O'Grady battling in Thurles. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
AS IT HAPPENED

As It Happened: Tipperary v Limerick, Munster senior hurling semi-final

Who’ll be the first team to reach this summer’s provincial hurling decider in Munster?

THERE’S A PLACE in the Munster senior hurling final up for grabs this afternoon in Semple Stadium. 

Last year Limerick shocked Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds but Eamon O’Shea’s side will be hoping for revenge in today’s meeting.

We’re live from Thurles with all the action.

As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to fintan@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

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Hello and welcome along to Semple Stadium. We’re gearing up for the Munster senior hurling semi-final between Tipperary and Limerick. The big news is that throw-in has been put back to 4.15pm due to the intermediate game going to extra-time.

So with the intermediate game over, our attention is turning to the senior showdown.

Here’s how Tipperary will start.

TIPPERARY
1. Darren Gleeson
2. Cathal Barrett
3. Padraic Maher
4. Michael Cahill
5. James Barry
6. Brendan Maher
7. Conor O’Mahony
8. Kieran Bergin
20. Shane McGrath
10. Gearoid Ryan
11. Patrick Maher
12. John O’Dwyer
13. Noel McGrath
14. Seamus Callanan
15. Niall O’Meara

The word is that Shane McGrath will be a late inclusion to the Tipperary team instead of James Woodlock. We’ll confirm that when we get it. What we do know is Cathal Barrett, James Barry and Niall O’Meara are all set for their senior championship debuts today.

Here’s the Limerick team named to start.

LIMERICK

1. Nicky Quaid – Effin
2. Seamus Hickey – Murroe Boher
3. Richie McCarthy – Blackrock
4. Tom Condon – Knockaderry
5. Paudie O’Brien – Kilmallock
6. Wayne McNamara – Adare
7. Gavin O’Mahony – Kilmallock
8. James Ryan – Garryspillane
9. Paul Browne – Bruff
10. Shane Dowling – Na Piarsaigh
11. Donal O’Grady – Granagh Ballingarry
12. Declan Hannon – Adare
13. Graeme Mulcahy – Kilmallock
14. Kevin Downes – Na Piarsaigh
15. Seanie Tobin – Murroe Boher

Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Pre match parade about to start.

The referee today is Westmeath’s Barry Kelly.

The sun is out and there’s a serious crowd in Semple Stadium. First place in the 2014 Munster senior hurling final is up for grabs. Tipperary won when these sides met two years, Limerick turned the tables last June, who’ll triumph today?

Game is under way here.

Two early wides for Limerick from Donal O’Grady and James Ryan.

Limerick 0-1 Tipperary 0-0: 4 mins – Shane Dowling catches a 70-yard free cleanly and points for Limerick.

Limerick applying ferocious pressure on Tipperary early on. Cathal Barrett has just been shunted out over the sideline.

Limerick 0-1 Tipperary 0-1: 7 mins – Neat flick sideways by Noel McGrath sets up Gearoid Ryan for Tipp’s first point of the day.

Limerick 0-2 Tipperary 0-1: 8 mins – Limerick win a free from the puck out when Graeme Mulcahy is fouled and Dowling does the rest.

Limerick 0-2 Tipperary 0-2: 9 mins – Seamus Callanan is fouled after being fed by a Noel McGrath delivery. He points the resultant free to tie the game. Richie McCarthy is booked for the foul.

Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Tipperary 0-3 Limerick 0-2: 10 mins – First point for Tipp newcomer Niall O’Meara.

Limerick 0-3 Tipperary 0-3: 11 mins – Mulcahy is fouled again by the Tipp defence and Dowling supplies his third point of the game from a free.


Goal for Limerick!

Limerick 1-4 Tipperary 0-3: 16 mins – Now this game has ignited. Shane Dowling has just unleashed a bullet from a 20 yard free to the net for Limerick. Declan Hannon had been dragged down and then Dowling stepped up to score. Kevin Downes has just tapped over another point for Limerick.

Limerick 1-5 Tipperary 0-4: 20 mins – Bit of respite for Tipperary as John O’Dwyer bangs over a long-range free after a foul on Shane McGrath but Limerick hit back with a Dowling free.

Goal for Tipperary!

Limerick 1-5 Tipperary 1-4: 21 mins – It’s that man Bonner Maher who inspires Tipperary by rattling the back of the net. Callanan dinked a ball over the top that broke to Maher. He barged through, held off a couple of defenders and got his shot away to send the ball underneath Nicky Quaid.

Limerick 1-7 Tipperary 1-4: 22 mins – A pair of converted Dowling frees knocks the wind out of Tipperary’s sails after that goal. Three in it now.

Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Limerick 1-8 Tipperary 1-4: 26 mins – Hannon’s sideline attempt doesn’t come off but James Ryan gathers and releases Hannon who gallops through before firing over off his left.

Limerick 1-8 Tipperary 1-5: 27 mins – Limerick’s defence is not alert and Noel McGrath intelligently flicks a sideline short to John O’Dwyer with the Killenaule man splitting the posts.

Limerick 1-8 Tipperary 1-6: 30 mins – Callanan slots over a free for Tipperary from 20 yards out.

Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Goal chance for Limerick as Downes catches a puck out before careering through the Tipp rearguard but his shot goes wide while under extreme pressure.

Limerick 1-8 Tipperary 1-7: 34 mins – Another Callanan pointed free and the gap is back to the minimum.

Limerick 1-8 Tipperary 1-8: 36 mins – Callanan shoots high over the bar to tie the game but Limerick looked like they should have been awarded a free for a foul on Gavin O’Mahony in the build up to that score.

Half-Time: Limerick 1-8 Tipperary 1-8

We’ll be back shortly with the second-half action as the teams retire all square at the break.

Teams back out here for the second-half in Thurles.

Goal for Tipperary!

Tipperary 2-8 Limerick 1-8: 37 mins – Perfect start to second-half for Tipperary. Shane McGrath surges through and finds Gearoid Ryan all alone close to goal. He drills the ball low and hard to the net past Quaid.

Tipperary 2-8 Limerick 1-9: 38 mins – A response that Limerick needed as Paul Browne strikes a neat point after being set up by Mulcahy.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Tipperary 2-8 Limerick 1-10: 43 mins – Dowling knocks over another free for Limerick.

Tipperary 2-8 Limerick 1-11: 43 mins – Now Limerick are level. A super point by captain O’Grady after great work by Quaid and Ryan to repel Tipp and launch a counter attack.

Limerick 1-12 Tipperary 2-8: 44 mins – O’Grady does it again to send Limerick into the lead.

Limerick 1-12 Tipperary 2-9: 45 mins – John O’Dwyer ties the teams with a point for Tipperary.

Limerick 1-13 Tipperary 2-10: 46 mins – Shane Dowling is showing the value of a free taker as he bangs over a sparkling point. Noel McGrath points for Tipperary in reply to cancel it out.

Limerick 1-13 Tipperary 2-11: 50 mins – Gearoid Ryan splits the posts to send Tipperary back in front.

Tipperary 2-12 Limerick 1-13: 50 mins – Now O’Dwyer fires over to extend Tipp’s lead.

Tipperary 2-12 Limerick 1-14: 52 mins – Dowling strikes over a free as the game continues to ebb and flow.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Patrick Maher, Seamus Callanan and Niall O'Meara with Seamus Hickey

Substitute: Lar Corbett on for James Barry for Tipperary. Huge cheers amongst the Tipp fans.

Tipperary 2-12 Limerick 1-15: 56 mins – Superb stickwork by Downes to point for Limerick after Dowling swung a cross field pass in his direction.

Tipperary 2-14 Limerick 1-15: 59 mins – Callanan and O’Dwyer grab points as Tipp move ahead once more.

Substitute: Thomas Ryan is on for Limerick for Seanie Tobin. Tipperary bring in Denis Maher for Niall O’Meara.

Tipperary 2-15 Limerick 1-16: 62 mins – Mulcahy gets on to a breaking ball for Limerick and notches a point but then Lar makes his mark for Tipp with a point.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Michael Cahill and Cathal Barrett with Graeme Mulcahy

Limerick score a goal but it’s disallowed!

Mulcahy thought he’d found the net but referee Barry Kelly says that Dowling fouled Maher in the build-up to that goal. Big call and the Limerick fans aren’t happy about it.

Chance for Limerick to cut the gap but Hickey shoots wide after a brilliant break by James Ryan.

Substitute: Conor O’Brien is on for Tipperary as he replaces Michael Cahill.

Limerick missing chances, five minutes left and they trail by two.

Tipperary 2-16 Limerick 1-16: 67 mins – Denis Maher hits a vital point for Tipperary.

Goal for Limerick!

Limerick 2-16 Tipperary 2-16: 68 mins – Huge drama as Dowling finds the net following terrific run by Downes.

Sub: Shane Bourke on for Tipp for O’Dwyer.

Two minutes of injury time.

Bourke point chance for Tipp but shot tails wide.

Sub: Thomas Stapleton on for Tipp, Noel McGrath goes off.

Limerick 2-17 Tipp 2-16: 71 mins – Thomas Ryan points for Limerick!

Denis Maher wide for Tipp!

Seamus Hickey points for Limerick!

Limerick win by two points!

Full-Time: Limerick 2-18 Tipperary 2-16

All-Ireland underage winners named in Tipp intermediate and junior teams

Hickey returns as Limerick name Munster semi-final team to face Tipp

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