February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
This became the second match of the afternoon to be delayed at the start. At least the weather cooperated, allowing the large crowd to sun themselves on this unseasonably warm autumn afternoon.
The delay came as Tipperary called for the Limerick identification cards to be produced. They weren’t, and after much heated discussion, referee Jo Jo Sullivan threw in the slithoar 20 minutes past the appointed time.
When it did get under way, it was an entertaining match. Dave Simms opened the scoring with a Limerick point to spark a 0-3 to 0-0 Limerick start. Tempers nearly boiled over in the early going, but referee O’Sullivan managed to calm things down without any bookings and play continued.
Tipperary’s Wexford weekender, Chris McGrath, shot across the Limerick goal mouth and wide in the 10th minute. The corner forward had better luck two minutes later when he finished to the Limerick goal off John Madden’s setup for Tipperary’s first score.
McGrath’s goal temporarily lifted the defending champions and the sides exchanged points as the score ran to 0-6 to 1-3. But Limerick finished the half with another good patch, outscoring Tipperary by 0-4 to 0-1 in the run up to the break.
Center back Shane McDermott, midfielder Dennis Kelly, and wing forward Paul Murray were instrumental in keeping Limerick in possession, while inside forwards Niall Gilligan, the Clare weekender, and Alan O’Neill, a sanctioned player competing against his home county, were looking like a dangerous combination up front.
Trailing 0-10 to 1-4 with their championship in the balance, Tipperary had 35 minutes to turn the tide. Paul Murray extended Limerick’s lead with a good point, but Tipperary sprung Owen Shorrt on a breakaway. But Limerick keeper Finbar Flood produced a sliding save to thwart the Tipperary corner forward.
McGrath and O’Neill traded points as each team looked to their bench for a jolt. Limerick sent in Mike Stretch for weekender Damien Reale, who was struggling with the flu, while Tipp turned to Trevor Fletcher. Fletcher, thought to be finished for the season, bravely if not wisely decided to give it a go.
The match took a big turn Limerick’s way when O’Neill buried his goal chance off a perfect pass from Gilligan. After Limerick tacked on three more points via Gilligan, Tadgh Callaghan, and Jonathan Deere, Fletcher’s day ended when he was stretchered off the pitch in agony over his knee. Trailing 1-17 to 1-6, Tipperary looked every bit as finished.
But the 2003 champions weren’t about to surrender their title without one last effort. After Moylan of Tipperary and O’Neill of Limerick traded points, John Madden added another for the Premier County. Then Tipperary substitute Kevin Kennedy shook the twines after a great run and pass from McGrath.
Points from Jody Brennan and Moylan brought Tipperary to within 0-5, 1-18 to 2-10, with eight minutes still to play. Gilligan steadied Limerick with a pointed 70 and then set up Simms for another point. McGrath pointed a free and now there were six points in it.
Tipperary looked to have halved it when Kevin Kennedy put the ball in the Limerick goal from Shorrt’s setup. But the umpire crossed the flags and the goal was waved off for a square ball.
Tipperary tried to the end, but their hold on the championship was loosed and next week, barring a successful Tipperary objection, either Limerick or Connecticut will be crowned as the 2004 New York Senior hurling champions.
Man of the Match: Alan O’Neill
Limerick: Finbarr Flood, Justin White, Noel O’Brien, Damien Reale, Shane McDermott, Tadgh O’Callaghan (0-1), Mike Barron, Dennis Kelly, Paul Murray (0-2), Jonathan Deere (0-2), Dave Simms (0-3), Niall Gilligan (0-7, 2, 70’s 4 f), Alan O’Neill (1-5). Subs: Mike Stretch, Vinny Norton.
Tipperary: Tomas O’Meara, Sean Quirke, Denis Ryan, David O’Connor, Owen Cummins, Sean Sheppard, Alan Slattery, Tom Moylan (0-3), John Madden (0-1), Mike Kennedy (0-1), Jody Brennan (0-1), Chris McGrath (1-5), Owen Shorrt. Subs: Tomas Maher, Kevin Kennedy (1-0), Trevor Fletcher.