Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship

LIMERICK 1-17 TIPPERARY 2-12

By John Harrington at the Gaelic Grounds

A tour de force from wing-forward Cathal O’Neill inspired Limerick to a fine come from behind victory over Tipperary in this afternoon’s Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship clash at the Gaelic Grounds.

The Crecora-Manister club-man hit a total of 10 points, six of them from play, and really impressed with his intelligent movement, skillful first touch, and clinical finishing.

Tipperary looked to be in control when two second-half goals in quick succession put them five points ahead, but with O’Neill and Limerick centre-back Emmet McEvoy rampant, the Shannonsiders summoned a very impressive finishing surged.

The match initially took some time to settle into a rhythm, with both teams hitting some poor wides in the opening minutes.

Tipperary were the first to eventually find some sort of groove, as James Devaney and Ryan Renehan clipped over two sweet points to get the off the mark.

O’Neill then began to make his presence known, and three points from him ensured the teams were level at 0-3 apiece by the 16th minute.

Tipperary were still looking that bit sharper though, and had a chance to put their best foot forward when Sean Hayes bustled through on goal and was felled for a penalty by marker Jack Nicholas.

Renehan’s strike went straight down the middle, though, and Limerick keeper Bryan Heavey did well to deflect it over the bar for a point.

Limerick’s strapping full-forward, Bob Purcell, came to life in the latter stages of the first half, hitting two nice points, but Tipp still lead at the break by 0-8 to 0-7.

Points from O’Neill and Colin Coughlan edged Limerick ahead early in the second-half, but then it looked like the game had taken a decisive turn when Tipperary wing-forward Sean Hayes struck for two fine goals in the space of a minute.

Limerick never panicked though. Emmet McEvoy in particular led by example, and with the Limerick half-back line now totally dominant, much of the traffic was now one-way and moving toward the Tipperary posts.

Limerick’s comeback was given a serious surge of momentum when centre-forward Cormac Ryan smashed home a goal after an initial effort from McEvoy was deflected into his path.

And then three points from O’Neill, two of them from play, edge Limerick a point ahead.

The final few minutes were frantic. Three points in a row for Limerick put them two up deep in injury-time, but they had to survive one last scare as a late goal-bound shot from Tipperary’s John Campion was deflected over the bar.

Scorers for Limerick: Cathal O’Neill 0-10 (3f, 1 ’65), Cormac Ryan 1-1, Colin Coughlan 0-3, Bob Purcell 0-2, Bryan Nix 0-1.

Scorers for Tipperary: Sean Hayes 2-1, Ryan Renehan 0-3 (1f, 1’65), James Devanney 0-2, Kian O’Kelly 0-2, John Campion 0-2, Johnny Ryan 0-1, Mikey O’Shea 0-1

LIMERICK: Bryan Heavey; Padraig Harnett, Ben Herlihy, Michael Keane; Eoin O’Mahony, Emmet McEvoy, Jack Nicholas; Dean Kennedy, Barry O’Connor; Cathal O’Neill, Cormac Ryan, Diarmuid Hegarty; Colin Coughlan, Bob Purcell, Bryan Nix. Subs: Seamus Hurley for Dean Kennedy (ht), Patrick Kirby for Diarmuid Hegarty (42), Cian Casey for Barry O’Connor (57), David Riordan for Seamus Hurley (62)

TIPPERARY: Aaron Browne; Conor O’Dwyer, Conor Whelan, Kevin Hayes; Johnny Ryan, Fintan Purcell, Frank Hanafin; Max Hackett, John Campion; Sean Hayes, Devon Ryan, Kian O’Kelly; Jack Lanigan, Ryan Renehan, James Devanney. **Subs: **Mikey O’Shea for Jack Lanigan (39), Kevin Maher for Ryan Renehan (48), Cian O’Farrell for Devon Ryan (54), Eoin Purcell for Kian O’Kelly (57)

Ref: Nathan Wall (Cork)