Tipp prevail vs. stubborn Limerick

Scoreline:

Tipperary 1-12

Limerick 1-11By Pierce O’Reilly

It’s seldom that managers have the courage to bring a goalkeeper from out of town to New York for a game — but Tipp are thankful they did on Sunday at Gaelic Park.

Offaly senior net minder Steven Byrne won’t get much of the credit for Tipp’s win, but his ability to drive the sliotar 80 yards from his goal was one of the main reasons the Premier County held on for victory.

Byrne and Offaly teammates Simon and Barry Whelehan were prominent in every Tipp attack. They latched onto every break around the middle and their man marking of Limerick star Frankie Carroll kept scores to the minimum.

While this game never lived up to its billing, it did provide some individual virtuoso displays. Tom Simms never put a foot wrong at corner-back for Limerick, while substitute Pat Sexton hit two wonderful points after his introduction.

In fact, Sexton almost won the game for Limerick. He was unlucky to hit two long-range frees late in the game to the right and wide.

At the other end, Byrne, Simon Whelehan and Jimmy Lyons gobbled up every Limerick attack. In front of them, John Madden and big Tom Moylan were always dangerous.

Tipperary played the better half in the first half and had a 5-point advantage at the short whistle, 1-9 to 1-4.

Tom Moylan hit their goal after Finbar Flood failed to clear his line. Earlier, Dave Simms had rattled the Tipp net from 30 yard out when a deceiving shot went past helpless Byrne for an unusual goal.

The second half was of note, more for its mistakes than mastery. Both sides hit some terrible wides, while both defenses dominated. Six points on the trot from John Maher, Taghd Callaghan, Frankie Carroll (2) and Pat Sexton (2) put Limerick in front for the first time.

Tom Moylan and Barry Whelehan pushed Tipp back in front and it was there that they stayed.

Limerick had at least six chances to level matters, but on every occasion their wayward shooting let them down.

Tipperary: Steven Byrne, Sean Quirke, Jimmy Lyons, Simon Whelehan 0-1, Sean Shepard, Mark Comerford, Barry Whelehan 0-1, Willie Hackett 0-1, Micheal Stretch, Mike Kennedy, John Madden 0-5, Kevin Kennedy, Tom Moylan 1-4.

Limerick: Finbar Flood, Tom Simms, Seamus Howard, John O’Riordan, Donal Fitzgibbon, Taghd Callaghan 0-1, John Maher 0-1, Alan O’Connor 0-1, Wayne Nash, Frankie Carroll 0-3, Donal Ryan, Brendan Cagney, Dave Simms 1-1. Subs: Pat Sexton 0-4, Dave Dunn, Paul Hanley.