Limerick need added extra to claim Munster hat-trick
(After extra-time)
THE circumstances of Limerick's third successive Munster U-21 hurling title win at Thurles last evening were so dramatic that they will remain locked in the memory for a long time.
The game had to be delayed for ten minutes as fans got caught in the evening traffic and, while the official paying attendance was given at 17,505, the actual turn-out seemed closer to 20,000, a remarkable figure for an underage competition.
Darkness was descending on Semple Stadium as Limerick captain Peter Lawlor hobbled up to the presentation podium to receive a trophy which seemed destined for Tipperary when they held a four-point lead (2-11 to 0-13) a minute into added time in normal time.
It looked grim for Limerick but they summoned on the defiant spirit which has served them so well for the past few seasons and surged at Tipperary in a last desperate attempt.
Andrew O'Shaughnessy, who had been curtailed effectively up to then, weaved through the Tipperary defence and booted the ball past Damien Young for a match-saving goal. Suddenly, Limerick pulses began to race again and when Eoin Foley faced up to a sideline, they really did believe that salvation was at hand.
And it was, as Foley's cut found wing-forward Kevin Tobin who steered the equaliser home safely in the 63rd minute to send the game to extra-time. There was fresh energy in Limerick's game through the 20 minutes of extra-time. They out-scored Tipperary by 0-4 to 0-2 in the first period and by 0-2 to 0-1 in the second, although they had a late scare when Eoin Kelly lined up to a 23-metre free. However, his powerful drive was blocked for a '65', which Limerick also successfully defended against before referee Sean McMahon finally ended an outstanding contest.
It was heart-breaking for Tipperary, who lost last year's Munster final to Limerick by a single point.
The sides matched each other point for point up to the 20th minute of the first half when they were deadlocked at 0-5 each. Eoin Foley and Kevin Tobin put Limerick two clear but Eoin Kelly, who had moved out from right corner-forward to engage in more action on the wing, brought it level before half time with two points, one from a free.
Limerick opened a two-point lead early in the second half before being hit by a Tipperary blitz which yielded 2-1 (Macdara Butler and John O'Brien got the goals) in the space of two minutes to give them a 2-8 to 0-9 lead after 41 minutes.
Limerick had lost midfielder Peter Lawlor with a leg injury and with Tipp's confidence growing the three-in-a-row prospects were beginning to fade.
However, Limerick appealed to their emotions for one final effort and were rewarded with a late 1-1 scoring burst.
Tipperary suffered a severe blow in the 73rd minute when Eoin Brislane was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Having expended so much energy, it really was asking a lot of 14-men to save the day against a thriving Limerick outfit and while Tipperary came close, they had to accept more major disappointment for the county.
Damien Young, Dermot Gleeson, Paul Curran, Tom King, Lar Corbett, Eoin Kelly and sub Colm Burke led the Tipp charge but the failure to lock the security gates in normal time cost them dearly.
Eoin Foley gave a man-of-the-match performance at wing-back and midfield for Limerick, while Timmy Houlihan, Damien Reale, Eugene Mulcahy, Maurice O'Brien, Peter Lawlor, Kevin Tobin and Niall Moran also produced exceptional moments.
Limerick now move on to an All-Ireland semi-final with Antrim in Parnell Park on Sunday and while they will take tired limbs to Dublin, manager Dave Keane will have refreshed their minds with talk of the All-Ireland three in a row. On this performance, it's more than a distinct possibility.
MAN OF THE MATCH Eoin Foley.
SCORERS Limerick: M Keane 0-7 (6f); K Tobin and E Foley 0-4 (1f, 1 sideline); A Shaughnessy 1-0; C Fitzgerald and P Kirby 0-2 each; N Moran 0-1. Tipperary: E Kelly 0-6 (5f); M Butler and J O'Brien 1-0 each; E Brislane 0-3 (1f); D Shelley 0-2; L Corbett, M Burke and P Morrissey 0-1 each.
LIMERICK T Houlihan; D Reale, E Mulcahy, M Cahill; E Foley, P O'Dwyer, M O'Brien; P Lawlor, N Moran; C Fitzgerald, J O'Brien, K Tobin; P Kirby, A O'Shaughnessy, M Keane. Subs: R Hayes for Lawlor (ht), P Tobin for Fitzgerald (43), Fitzgerald for P Tobin (start of extra-time).
TIPPERARY D Young; D Gleeson, P Curran, M Maher; T King, J Devane, K Mulryan; S Maher, E Brislane; D Shelley, M Butler, L Corbett; E Kelly, J O'Brien, P Morrissey. Subs: C Ryan for Mulryan (ht), P Buckley for Brislane (47), M Burke for S Maher (57), S Mason for M Maher (start of extra-time), D McGrath for Morrissey (70), E Brislane for Buckley (70), E Ryan for Shelley (74).
REF S McMahon (Clare).
- Martin Breheny
