Limerick 2-18
Tipperary 2-16
SHANE DOWLING’S 2-9 helped Limerick to their first Munster Senior Hurling Championship victory over Tipperary in Thurles since 1973 this afternoon.
The visitors left it late though, scoring 1-2 without reply when it looked as if the Premier County were on course to book a spot in the Munster decider on July 13; Dowling bagging his second of the game to equalise with two minutes to play before Thomas Ryan and Seamus Hickey secured the win.
Man of the match Dowling already had three points to his name when he blasted home a 20m free in the 15th minute to give Limerick a 1-3 to 0-3 lead but Tipperary were back in the game six minutes later when Bonner Maher burst through the visitors’ defence to drill a low shot home.
And it was Tipp who finished the half the stronger with the final four points to ensure the sides went in level at the break; 1-8 apiece.
The sides were still level with 15 minutes to go despite John O’Dwyer scoring Tipp’s second goal of the game ten minutes after the restart.
However, momentum looked to be with the home side when Graeme Mulcahy had a goal disallowed seven minutes from time before Denis Maher made it a three point game with 180 seconds remaining.
Limerick though, despite all their off the field issues this year, weren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet and Dowling, Ryan and Hickey sent them back to the Munster final.
Scorers for Limerick: Shane Dowling 2-9 (1-9f), Donal O’Grady and Kevin Downes 0-2 each, Thomas Ryan, Graeme Mulcahy, Declan Hannon, Seamus Hickey and Paul Browne 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tipperary: Gearóid Ryan 1-2, Seamus Callanan 0-5 (3f), John O’Dwyer 0-5 (1f), Patrick Maher 1-0, Noel McGrath, Niall O’Meara, Denis Maher, Lar Corbett 0-1 each.
LIMERICK
1. Nicky Quaid – Effin
5. Paudie O’Brien – Kilmallock
4. Tom Condon – Knockaderry
3. Richie McCarthy – Blackrock
7. Gavin O’Mahony – Kilmallock
6. Wayne McNamara – Adare
2. Seamus Hickey – Murroe Boher
8. James Ryan – Garryspillane
9. Paul Browne – Bruff
12. Declan Hannon – Adare
11. Donal O’Grady – Granagh Ballingarry
10. Shane Dowling – Na Piarsaigh
13. Graeme Mulcahy – Kilmallock
14. Kevin Downes – Na Piarsaigh
15. Seanie Tobin – Murroe Boher
Subs: T Ryan for Tobin (61), M Ryan for Mulcahy (71).
TIPPERARY
1. Darren Gleeson – Portroe
2. Cathal Barrett – Holycross Ballycahill
3. Padraic Maher – Thurles Sarsfields
4. Michael Cahill – Thurles Sarsfields
5. James Barry – Upperchurch Drombane
6. Brendan Maher – Borris-Ileigh
7. Conor O’Mahony – Newport
8. Kieran Bergin – Killenaule
20. Shane McGrath – Ballinahinch
12. John O’Dwyer – Killenaule
13. Noel McGrath – Loughmore-Castleiney
10. Gearóid Ryan – Templederry Kenyons
14. Seamus Callanan – Drom & Inch
11. Patrick Maher – Lorrha & Dorrha
15. Niall O’Meara – Kilruane McDonaghs
Subs: L Corbett for Barry (55), D Maher for O’Meara (62), C O’Brien for Cahill (65), S Bourke for O’Dwyer (68), T Stapleton for S McGrath (71).
What a match! World Cup me arse!!
Brilliant game, congrats to limerick, took some character to come back after last years disappointment against Clare.
Barry Kelly………….he has to go.every time i see him referring a match i feel like throwing the remote through the telly!The man has got to such a standard where he is actually changing the results of matches.Limerick nearly lost the match today beacause of his dummy decisions.Giving the wrong players yellow cards,giving frees for non existent fouls and then leaving off the most stupid,crazy fouls.And then you got that dis-allowed goal…..puke from him so it was!In fairness to him he isn’t as bad as he was last year for flashin the yellows inda first 10,15mins.He just can’t get anymore big games,he’s ruining them.Limerick just about got over the line after Kelly nearly taking it away from them.Well done Limerick,tipp will still be around for a while to come
We should of been beaten by five but in fairness it was that useless lump of an umpire who told Kelly number 4 in place of 3!
Hahahah.yeah,bang on.He sent off our own beloved Henry last year too
Just back from Thurles and as a Limerick man you just cant beat being there to see the emotion at the final whistle.
Even sweeter than last year as it proved it was no fluke
With those forwards you always have a chance, wierdly, even tho he hit 2-09 i thought Dowling had a quiet enough day from play, the second goal being the exception obviously. He hit some huge frees tho. Hannon was subdued enough as well, which makes the win all the more impressive.
Great match and good to see Limerick come out on top.
Does anyone know why Limericks goal was disallowed?? Even the Tipp fans were scratching there heads…
Because the ref believed that Dowling fouled the defender by interfering with his attempt to catch the ball by using his hurley before knocking it past the keeper. I didn’t see anything wrong with it. It wasn’t massive, and the defender missed it. Clear goal.
In short, a referee that needs to go back tot he school of refereeing.
Thanks Conor
Rte folks couldn’t see sense in it, and 2 replays showed no foul occured.
Somebody said at the start of the year tipp would insert the first nail in Claire’s coffin, tipp would hammer limerick ect, anyone remember who that fella was? Seems to have disappeared.
Poor Claire!
Clare not Claire.
no complaints! Lim deserved it although we were three up with a few mins left! Should never loose it from there! Out backs were brutal for the goal! N mc grath and callinan I dunno how they were left on the field
That ref is so damn dodgy! Nice 1 limerick, but still a long 70 mins to go before ye can celebrate, and with clare, cork or waterford in the other corner the Munster championship is far from over. :D
I think limerick are a serious team there’s definitely an all Ireland in that team.
Goal was disallowed because Dowlings hurl connected with Padraic Mahers faceguard just before he was about to catch the ball.
Bulls–t emmet
Tipp can still make all Ireland. Write them off – NEVER. Kilkenny V Tipp still possible.
Clare may do the double yet, depends on KK’s form now Tipp don’t look very troublesome 2 be quiet honest and clare have an unbelievable panel to take down the rest of the contest
Kk just about beat tipp, is so wide open again this year anyone can win it.
Tipp are back!!!!!
Another cracking hurling competition this year to follow on from the truely vintage year last year. Pundits for some crazy reason have tipp hyped up to dizzying heights prior to this game… How???
They suffered 2 hammerings in the league and just scraped through to quarter finals. Cork like Clare had no interest in latter stages of league as it wes seen as a distraction for championship preparations.
With massive improvements from loais surly now GAA must do something to reward this, which doesn’t include them playing 4 weeks in a row.