Good afternoon and welcome along to our coverage of Tipperary v Limerick in the Munster SHC.

After shipping a big defeat to Cork in the Division 1A final, Tipperary will be hoping to start their Munster campaign with a big performance against Limerick. The big talking point coming into this game is the shock inclusion of goalkeeper Nickie Quaid in John Kiely’s starting line-up just five months after suffering an ACL injury.

We’ll have team line-ups — and any late changes — in the next few minutes as we edge closer to the 4pm throw-in.

And as always, we want to hear from you if you’re heading to the game or wherever you are watching the action.

Limerick

1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)

2. Barry Murphy (Doon), 3. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), 4. Barry Nash (South Liberties)

5. Diarmuid Byrnes (Patrickswell) 6. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), 7. Colin Coughlin (Ballybrown)

8. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), 9. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell – captain)

10. Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), 11. David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca), 12.Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister)

13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell) 14. Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), 15. Adam English (Doon).

Tipperary

1. Barry Hogan (Kiladangan)

2. Robert Doyle (Clonoulty-Rossmore), 3. Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), 4. Michael Breen (Ballina), 

5. Joe Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill), 6. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields – captain), 7. Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill)

8. Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), 9. Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields)

10. Alan Tynan (Roscrea), 11. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg), 12. Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg)

13. Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), 14. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), 15. Jason Forde (Silvermines).

Some light reading before the game gets underway:

Interview with Will O’Donoghue – ‘Look at what is going to happen again in Munster, the GAA really need to harness that’

A piece from Ronan Early in praise of the Munster championship – The greatest show: Munster hurling championship has become the best competition in Irish sport

Stephen Barry asks some key questions about this year’s competition – Munster senior hurling throw-in: The key questions for each county

The teams are ready for action in Thurles

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The Munster senior camogie quarter-final between Tipperary and Limerick is the curtain-raiser in Semple.

That game has just finished, with Tipp coming out on top by 4-13 to 0-10.

With just under half an hour to go, how do you see this game going?

The final whistle has just been blown in Ennis and it’s a draw between Clare and Cork after a breathtaking encounter. Cork were in total control at half-time but Clare mounted a brilliant second-half comeback.

Can Tipp and Limerick produce another dramatic act in Thurles?

Not long to go now!

National Anthem time!

Throw-in! Tipperary v Limerick

1 min: Tipperary 0-0 Limerick 0-0

Already there’s a needle between the Limerick forwards and Tipperary backs as the referee sprints over to break up the melee. 

He calls them in for a chat to calm things down and the game is back on.

There’s been a change to the Limerick team ahead of throw-in as Tom Morrissey starts ahead of Cathal O’Neill and has just hit a wide.

3 mins: Tipperary 0-1 Limerick 0-1

That man Darragh McCarthy is up and running with a point and Adam English quickly replies for Limerick.

4 mins: Tipperary 0-1 Limerick 0-1

John McGrath sends an attempt at the posts but it tails wide. There’s been a few missed chances at both ends of the field, Gearóid Hegarty the latest to shoot off target.

7 mins: Tipperary 0-3 Limerick 0-1

Darragh McCarthy adds a second point to give Tipperary an early lead. Sam O’Farrell then earns a free for Liam Cahill’s side out near the sideline. McCarthy stands over it but his effort goes to Hawk Eye.

He didn’t look convinced by his shot and was assessing his stick to suggest he didn’t think it was a score. But the Hawk Eye check says Tá. Three points already for him.

8 mins: Tipperary 0-3 Limerick 0-2

Kyle Hayes, who appears to be playing in a more advanced role, reduces the gap to one after a lovely piece of skill from Hegarty.

Hegarty then sneaks in for a goal chance but Barry Hogan is alert off his line and clears the danger.

9 mins: Tipperary 0-4 Limerick 0-3

Aaron Gillane nails the equaliser. The move came from Barry Nash who might be considered lucky for not being penalised for a foul on McCarthy.

Jake Morris than swings over Tipp’s fourth point to edge them back in front.

10 mins: Tipperary 0-5 Limerick 0-3

Tipperary full-back Eoghan Connolly lands a monster free from his own half of the lead to extend the advantage to two.

11 mins: Tipperary 0-5 Limerick 0-3

McCarthy hits his first wide and Tipperary’s fifth in what has been a pulsating start in Thurles. Conditions are not great, the ball is greasy but both sets of players are handling it quite well.

13 mins: Tipperary 0-5 Limerick 0-5

Diarmuid Byrnes, the expert long-range free-taker, sends over a big one from distance to leave one between the sides again.

Shane O’Brien then steps up to get the equaliser after a lovely dummy to create some space before firing the ball over.

14 mins: Tipperary 0-6 Limerick 0-5

Spilled possession comes to John McGrath who drills it over. Limerick come right back down and create another goal chance which comes to O’Brien. His shot doesn’t end in the net though and will be determined by Hawk Eye.

15 mins: Tipperary 0-6 Limerick 0-5

And it’s Limerick’s third wide of the game. The ball comes back to O’Brien again following a super pass from Colin Coughlan, but he fumbles possession and a scrap for the ball follows.

The move ends in a Limerick sideline.

16 mins: Tipperary 0-7 Limerick 0-6

English nabs his second point of the game to draw the sides level. Tipperary will be disappointed to concede that point after leaving him unmarked.

Bryan O’Mara then edges Tipperary ahead again.

GOAL! Tipperary 0-7 Limerick 1-6 (Adam English ’17)

21 mins: Tipperary 0-9 Limerick 1-7

Another error in the Tipperary defence leads to a goal for Adam English. He snuck in behind and tapped the ball along the ground under Barry Hogan. He’s on fire.

Tipperary have responded well though, with points from McCarthy and Morris before Limerick steal the advantage once more through O’Brien.

21 mins: Tipperary 0-10 Limerick 1-7

McCarthy takes his tally so far to five and levels the tie with a free.

23 mins: Tipperary 0-10 Limerick 1-8

O’Brien draws a free from Eoghan Connolly after taking him on. Gillane converts. 

24 mins: Tipperary 0-10 Limerick 1-8

Hayes gets hooked by O’Mara. Gillane is on the spilled ball and recycles the ball. Tipperary then turn the ball over but give it back to Limerick.

Tom Morrissey tries another shot, but again, it’s wide.

25 mins: Tipperary 0-10 Limerick 1-8

O’Mara links up with O’Farrell from a sideline puck. McGrath then is adjudged to have overplayed the ball and it’s a free out.

Liam Cahill is livid with that call on the sideline.

27 mins: Tipperary 0-10 Limerick 1-9

Colin Coughlan the latest Limerick scorer, and that’s his first-ever championship point. 

28 mins: Tipperary 0-11 Limerick 1-9

Limerick starting to get on top in possession. They win another line ball but Ronan Maher secures the ball and sets up an attack that ends in a second point of the game for Morris.

30 mins: Tipperary 0-11 Limerick 1-10

Hawkeye is called into service again. This time it’s for a Gearóid Hegarty strike that Hogan managed to tap down as it was going over.

But Hawkeye says it was already over the bar which means the difference is back to two again.

32 mins: Tipperary 0-12 Limerick 1-10

Another long-rang free from Connolly and the Tipp full back is on fire today. Just one between them now.

33 mins: Tipperary 0-13 Limerick 1-10

Morris thought he had earned a free there after breaking through a tackle but the referee penalises him for taking too much out of it.

It doesn’t matter though as Jason Forde levels matters. It came from a great hook to turn over the ball in the Tipperary defence.

33 mins: Tipperary 0-13 Limerick 1-10

Tipp win another crucial free and it triggers a mighty roar from their supporters. They’ve weathered that Limerick storm and are starting to push themselves back into the contest.

36 mins: Tipperary 0-14 Limerick 1-10

Tipperary corner back Robert Doyle has just received a yellow card as Eoghan Connolly lands his third free from the Tipperary half of the field.

Tipp lead.

36 mins: Tipperary 0-14 Limerick 1-10

Three minutes of added time to be played.

37 mins: Tipperary 0-15 Limerick 1-10

Four from four frees for Connolly!

What a display from the full-back in the first half to put his side two in front.

37 mins: Tipperary 0-16 Limerick 1-10

And that’s four of the last five points for Tipperary. They’re seriously motoring now as Craig Morgan wheels away from his score.

Half-Time! Tipperary 0-16 Limerick 1-10

Some of the first-half highlights 

Tipp respond with a tidy point from Jason Forde – this one’s heating up!🌡️

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Colin Coughlan 🤝 his first championship point

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Master of the long-range free 👉 Diarmaid Byrnes

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Second-half: Tipperary 0-16 Limerick 1-10

35 mins: Tipperary 0-16 Limerick 1-11

Cian Lynch scratches his name onto the scoresheet with the first shot of the second half.

35 mins: Tipperary 0-17 Limerick 1-12

Alan Tynan makes it five of the six Tipp forwards on the scoresheet. And the gap is back to two

GOAL! Tipperary 0-17 Limerick 2-12 (Shane O’Brien ’37)

39 mins: Tipperary 0-17 Limerick 2-13

And just like that, Limerick are back in front. What a shot from O’Brien? He cut in along the side and went for power with his effort to send it to the roof of Barry Hogan’s net.

Barry Nash then collects a pass on the run from Lynch to put Limerick two ahead.

GOAL! Tipperary 1-17 Limerick 2-13 (John McGrath ’40)

41 mins: Tipperary 1-17 Limerick 2-14

John McGrath with a super strike from a tricky angle. They take the lead briefly before Hegarty feeds Gillane for the equaliser.

And Tipperary have just deployed Noel McGrath. He could have a big impact here.

43 mins: Tipperary 1-17 Limerick 2-15

David Reidy wins a free which Gillane taps over for his fourth so far. Limerick back in front once more as the rain comes down.

44 mins: Tipperary 1-17 Limerick 2-16

Tom Morrissey sends it from down town to put two between the teams. 

46 mins: Tipperary 1-18 Limerick 2-17

Brilliant block down by Darragh McCarthy. Reidy then commits a foul on him as he tries to take off with the ball. Up comes Connolly for another long range free.

This time it drops short but the ball comes to Noel McGrath who makes his presence felt with a point. The difference briefly comes down to one before Gillane emerges to swing one over his shoulder.

Cúl as a cucumber 🧊

John McGrath lashes it into the net for @TipperaryGAA

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Green flag for the Treaty! Kilmallock clubman Shane O'Brien smashes it home for @LimerickCLG

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48 mins: Tipperary 1-19 Limerick 2-17

Huge miss from McCarthy from a free. Morrissey then registers a wide at the other end. John McGrath then fails to rise the ball as Limerick come out with the ball.

Tipp turn it over though and Morris fires it over.

49 mins: Tipperary 1-19 Limerick 2-17

Limerick sub: Aidan O’Connor replaces Tom Morrissey.

Tipperary sub: Conor Bowe comes in for Jason Forde.

51 mins: Tipperary 1-19 Limerick 2-17

Terrible miss from Adam English on the run with no-one near him. But the referee was playing advantage for English and has called it back for a free.

51 mins: Tipperary 1-19 Limerick 2-18

Byrnes slots it over and that two-point cushion opens up again.

53 mins: Tipperary 1-19 Limerick 2-18

Sam O’Farrell finds Ronan Maher. They try to play it inside but Will O’Donoghue comes across to cut it out. Colin Coughlan tries to link up with O’Brien with a crossfield pass but there’s too much sauce on the pass and it goes out for a Tipperary sideline.

55 mins: Tipperary 1-20 Limerick 2-18

Another bad miss from English but he is very lively on the ball and Tipperary need to keep a closer watch on him.

Séamus Kennedy, who has just been introduced for Darragh Stakelum, taps over an important point.

57 mins: Tipperary 1-20 Limerick 2-18

Byrnes misses a free and that’s Limerick’s eighth wide of the game. And there’s a huge turnover for Tipperary as they win a free for Aidan O’Connor taking too long on the ball.

Kiely is not impressed with the decision.

57 mins: Tipperary 1-21 Limerick 2-18

LEVEL!

Darragh McCarthy takes it, and it’s a long way out beside the sideline. But he measures it perfectly.

59 mins: Tipperary 1-21 Limerick 2-19

O’Brien strikes back to put Limerick ahead again. But he goes down after the strike and needs treatment.

59 mins: Tipperary 1-21 Limerick 2-19

Limerick sub: Peter Casey is on for Gearóid Hegarty.

60 mins: Tipperary 1-21 Limerick 2-19

Limerick penalised for throwing the ball and this is a huge chance for Tipperary to equalise again.

61 mins: Tipperary 1-21 Limerick 2-19

McCarthy doesn’t get the strike on target and that’s a huge miss.

61 mins: Tipperary 1-22 Limerick 2-19

LEVEL!

McCarthy shakes off that missed free with the leveller. 

62 mins: Tipperary 1-22 Limerick 2-20

Kyle Hayes records his second of the day to put the minimum between the sides again. The sun is out for the last 10 minutes.

GOAL! Tipperary 2-22 Limerick 2-20 (John McGrath ’62)

64 mins: Tipperary 2-22 Limerick 2-21

John McGrath with a beautiful shot and Nickie Quaid had no chance of keeping that out. That’s a second goal for McGrath today, but their lead has been cut to one by a Gillane free.

65 mins: Tipperary 2-22 Limerick 2-21

Big miss from Alan Tynan. Quaid is then required to come out and clear away a loose ball. He looks ok as he gets to his feet.

66 mins: Tipperary 2-22 Limerick 2-21

Barry Murphy wins a free after fielding a high ball in and Byrnes has a chance to level things once again.

66 mins: Tipperary 2-22 Limerick 2-22

ALL SQUARE!

The hit drops short. A ruck forms, and it comes to English who smacks it over. We’re level again!

70 mins: Tipperary 2-22 Limerick 2-21

Hold on folks!!

Hawkeye intervenes. And that point has been scratched off.

70 mins: Tipperary 2-22 Limerick 2-22

ALL SQUARE!

Byrnes advances and grabs the equaliser. Four minutes of added time to be played.

72 mins: Tipperary 2-22 Limerick 2-23

Limerick lead!

Gillane converts a free in front of the posts. What twists remain in this epic clash?

73 mins: Tipperary 2-22 Limerick 2-23

Tipperary free!

And it’s for another throw ball. This time by Will O’Donoghue. This game has draw written all over it but Tipperary must convert this opportunity.

73 mins: Tipperary 2-23 Limerick 2-23

McCarthy scores!!

What a performance from the youngster to draw the game level again. Only a few seconds left now.

Full-Time! Tipperary 2-23 Limerick 2-23

Tipperary 2-23 Limerick 2-23

Well what about that?

Clare v Cork set the standard for the day and Tipperary v Limerick matched it pound for pound.

A pulsating encounter that could have swung either way and in the end, a draw is a fair measure of that thriller.

John McGrath supplied the two goals for Tipperary. Adam English and Shane O’Brien rattled the net at the other end.

Superb start to the Munster hurling championship. Almost impossible to pick out a champion after all that.

Here is that second John McGrath goal:

GOAL!!! JOHN MCGRATH DOES IT AGAIN FOR @TipperaryGAA!!!

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Well, that’s all from us folks.

We hope you enjoyed all that and that you’re able to catch your breath after all that drama. Until next time, good luck!