Munster SHC: Five-goal Limerick clinch place in provincial final
Aaron Gillane of Limerick celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Round 5 match between Limerick and Tipperary at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile.
Munster Senior Hurling Championshipo
LIMERICK 5-27 TIPPERARY 0-25
By Tom Clancy at TUS Gaelic Grounds
A five-star Limerick set up a Limerick-Cork Munster final, on Leeside, on June 7th, as they swept aside Tipperary at the TUS Gaelic Grounds. A brace of goals for Aaron Gillane and Aidan O’Connor ensured a third straight victory in the Championship.
The Treaty have now qualified for a record extending eight Munster final on the trot, having reached each final since 2019. This was never in doubt during this 17-point pillar to post victory.
Tipperary, who relinquished their All-Ireland crown eight days earlier, were keen to put on a performance, and try to end their winless run over Limerick in the Championship, which stretches back to the round robin series in 2019. However, they failed to match their opponents in the second half as the scoreboard completely ran away from them.
The margin of defeat means Tipperary slump to fifth in the Munster Championship table, below Waterford on scoring difference.
John Kiely opted to start Cian Lynch, who was influential against Waterford last week, while Mike Casey was also trusted form the start, with Shane O’Brien and Barry Nash moved to the bench.
A goal inside the opening fifteen seconds, through Aaron Gillane set the tone for the hosts, who saw all six starting forwards score in the opening half. The Patrickswell blasting low to the corner from distance after creating space from his marker at the throw-in.
Their second goal had a nature of good fortune about it. A 65 was sent in low by Aidan O’Connor and despite the lofted hurley of Gillane, neither him nor a Tipperary defender got a touch, and the ball carried all the way to the net.
Three more points on the trot, including one each for Gearoid Hegarty and defender Mike Casey swelled the margin to eight, 2-6 to 0-4 but the All-Ireland Champions replied with a glut of scores to keep them in the fight.
Stefan Tobin, Darragh McCarthy and Noel McGrath were all accurate, and so too was the lively Jake Morris from the 45m line.
In a contest played in the rising temperature on Shannonside, neither side played with any regularity of dominance.
Again, four in a row brought belief for those who travelled from Tipperary as they found some gaps in the Limerick defence. Liam Cahill had to be impressed by U20 star Stefan Tobin who was a willing option for deliveries, and he notched a brace of scores in the opening half.
Diarmaid Byrnes closed the half with a long-range free, ensuring to cancel out a similar effort form Eoghan Connolly. This gave the men in green a 2-12 to 0-14 advantage at the interval.
There was a trio of goals for Limerick in the second half, as this contest swung completely one direction. A Byrnes penalty, won by Kyle Hayes who was tripped by Connolly, saw Tipperary suffer a black card.
During this time, Aidan O’Connor bagged his second goal before Gillane raised another green flag.
Late scores from Tobin, Connolly and sub Paddy McCormack weren’t enough for the Premier to wipe any of the shine off a top tier Limerick display.
29,069 paid into the Ennis Road venue, with Limerick maintaining their impressive round-robin record on home soil.
Scorers for Limerick: Aidan O’Connor (2-7; 1-0 ’65, 0-5 frees); Aaron Gillane (2-0); Diarmaid Byrnes (1-3; 1-0 pen, 0-2 frees); Tom Morrissey (0-4); Gearoid Hegarty, Cathal O’Neill, Cian Lynch, Shane O’Brien (0-2 each); Adam English, Peter Casey, Mike Casey, Darragh O’Donovan, Barry Nash (0-1 each).Scorers for
Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy (0-7 frees); Eoghan Connolly (0-4; 0-2 frees); Conor Stakelum, Stefan Tobin, Jake Morris (0-3 each); Noel McGrath #(0-2); Ronan Maher, Paddy McCormack, Sam O’Farrell (0-1 each).
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Will O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Cathal O’Neill; Aidan O’Connor, Aaron Gillane, Peter Casey.
Subs: Barry Nash for M Casey (half-time); Tom Morrissey for English (48); David Reidy for P Casey (47); Shane O’Brien for Gillane (58); Colin Coughlan for Hayes (61).
Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Ronan Maher (Capt), Keith Ryan; Eoghan Connolly, Bryan O’Mara, Séamus Kennedy; Conor Stakelum, Alan Tynan; Oisin O’Donoghue, Jake Morris, Noel McGrath; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath, Stefan Tobin.
Subs: Sam O’Farrell for Tynan (42); Joe Caesar for Kennedy (45); Michael Breen for N McGrath (51); Paddy McCormack for J McGrath (54); Jamie Ormond for McCarthy (61); Brian McGrath for K Ryan (temp 68 – full-time)
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
