Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship – Tipperary 4-15 Limerick 2-18

Tipperary defeated Limerick by 4-15 to 2-18 in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship on Wednesday April 5th at Semple Stadium Thurles.

Dylan O'Shea scores for @LimerickCLG minors v @TipperaryGAA See all the highlights of a great 6 goal contest Mon @ 8pm on #TG4 @MunsterGAA pic.twitter.com/B3qoEhweR7

— GAA 2017 (@GAA_2017) April 7, 2017

#GAA news: Electric Ireland @MunsterGAA MHC wins for @TipperaryGAA and @ClareGaahttps://t.co/e6LNrihPDx

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 5, 2017

Tipp win Electric Ireland Munster MHC thriller

Electric Ireland Munster MHC Quarter-Final

TIPPERARY 4-15 LIMERICK 2-18

Report By Jackie Cahill for GAA.ie

Niall Hoctor came off the bench to net Tipperary’s winning goal in the second minute of stoppage time, as the Electric Ireland Munster and All-Ireland champions got their campaign off to a winning start. Hoctor was the hero as Tipp hit 1-2 in stoppage time to overturn a two-point deficit to win by three.

Limerick were inspired by Paul O’Brien, scorer of 11 points, as they came from eight points down in the second half to hit the front. But Tipp weren’t finished as Anthony McKelvey (free) and Jake Morris landed points before Hoctor struck, profiting Conor Bowe’s good work and pass.

It was rough justice for Limerick, but there’s a fair chance these sides could meet again before the end of the season, based on this evidence. Limerick go into the backdoor series, but Tipp must now wait until the end of June for their Munster Semi-Final. Tipp led by 2-10 to 1-8 at the break, a five-point lead after the sides had been level at 1-8 apiece in the 27th minute.

Tipp finished the half with a run of 1-2 to put some daylight between themselves and the visitors, Anthony McKelvey putting over a free before Conor McCarthy, hugely impressive in the first half, took his tally to 1-3. Deep in stoppage time, Tipp notched their second goal when Andrew Ormond, a recent All-Ireland winner with Our Lady’s Templemore, netted at the second attempt, his lobbed effort finding the net after his initial shot was blocked.

Tipp could consider themselves slightly fortunate to have that interval advantage, as Limerick had battled back from six points down to draw level. By the 16th minute, Tipp were 1-7 to 0-4 clear, and boosted by McCarthy’s goal as early as the sixth minute. The Nenagh Éire Óg player, a late call-up in place of Ray McCormack, burst through after Jake Morris broke a long ball and he flicked the ball past Bryan Curtin after racing through to see the whites of the goalkeeper’s eyes.

Limerick were well served by O’Brien, scorer of four points in the first half, while Dylan O’Shea’s goal three minutes before the break was an equalising score for the Shannonsiders. Ronan Connolly was the creator with a terrific, slaloming run along the right touchline before his pass was finished on the double by the in-rushing O’Shea at the Town End.

Willie Barry came off the bench to net for Tipp just 16 seconds after the restart and that score established an eight-point lead for the hosts, in front of 2,567 spectators. But Limerick, carrying 11 survivors from last year’s squad, were excellent in the second half and O’Shea’s second goal, in the 34th minute, rekindled their challenge.

Limerick kept chipping away at Tipp’s lead and drew level at 2-16 to 3-13 with time running out. With O’Brien landing four points in a row, John Mulqueen’s charges hit the front for the first time in the game, but Tipp came with that late surge to claim the win.

Scorers for Tipperary: Conor McCarthy 1-3, Anthony McKelvey 0-5 (4fs), Andrew Ormond 1-1, Willie Barry and Niall Hoctor 1-0 each, Conor Bowe and Jake Morris 0-2 each, Kieran Breen and Cathal Bourke 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: Paul O’Brien 0-11 (7fs, 1 65), Dylan O’Shea 2-2, David Woulfe 0-3, Dan Minehan and Ronan Connolly 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Eoin Collins; Michael Purcell, Michael Feehan, Jerome Cahill; Craig Morgan, Paddy Cadell, Joe Gunne; Kieran Breen, Bryan O’Mara; Conor Bowe, Jake Morris, Conor McCarthy; Darragh Woods, Anthony McKelvey, Andrew Ormond
Subs: Willie Barry for Woods (h.t.), Cathal Bourke for McCarthy (inj., 40), Brendan Murphy for Gunne (46), Niall Hoctor for Ormond (57)

LIMERICK: Bryan Curtin; Conor Flahive, Conor McNicholas, Ciaran Barry; Mikey O’Brien, Jerome Boylan, Dan Minehan; Michael O’Grady, Rory Duff; Paul O’Riordan, Paul O’Brien, David Woulfe; Ryan Tobin, Ronan Connolly, Dylan O’Shea.
Subs: Ken Byrnes for Tobin (46), Paudie Maher for Minehan (56), Brian O’Grady for O’Riordan (60+2).

REFEREE: Nathan Wall (Cork).

Team News

As Tipperary embark on their Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship campaign, the starting XV to play Limerick in the Quarter-Final in Semple Stadium, tomorrow night, Wednesday April 5th at 7pm, has been announced by manager Liam Cahill.

It includes five of last year’s successful All-Ireland panel with the team lining out as follows;

1. Eoin Collins – Drom & Inch
2. Michael Purcell – Thurles Sarsfields
3. Michael Feehan – Sean Treacys
4. Jerome Cahill – Kilruane MacDonaghs
5. Joe Gunne – St. Marys
6. Paddy Cadell (Capt.) – JK Brackens
7. Kieran Breen – Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams
8. Bryan O’Mara – Holycross-Ballycahill
9. Craig Morgan – Kilruane MacDonaghs
10. Conor Bowe – Moyne-Templetuohy
11. Jake Morris – Nenagh Éire Óg
12. Ray McCormack – Borris-Ileigh
13. Andrew Ormond – JK Brackens
14. Anthony McKelvey – Moycarkey-Borris
15. Darragh Woods – Holycross-Ballycahill

John Mulqueen Limerick minor hurling manager and his management team of coach Anthony Daly (Clarecastle, Clare), selectors Liam Reale (Hospital/Herbertstown), Damien Reale (Hospital/Herbertstown), Liam Lyons (Monaleen) and strength & conditioning coach Darragh Droog (Mungret/St Pauls) has released their starting fifteen and match panel for this Wednesday evening opening Electric Ireland Munster minor hurling championship against Tipperary in Thurles at 7pm.

The Limerick team and match panel is as follows 1. Bryan Curtin (Adare), 2. Conor Flahive (Mungret/St. Pauls), 3. Conor Nicholas (Monaleen) (Captain), 4. Ciaran Barry (Ahane), 5. Mikey O Brien (Doon), 6. Jerome Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), 7. Dan Minehan (Ahane), 8. Michael O Grady (Knockainey), 9. Rory Duff (Mungret/St. Pauls), 10. Paul O Riordan (Bruff), 11. Paul O Brien (Mungret/St. Pauls), 12. David Woulfe (Kilmallock). 13. Dylan O Shea (Garryspillane), 14. Ronan Connolly (Adare), 15. Ryan Tobin (Garryspillane).

16. Jason Gillane (Patrickswell), 17. Gearoid Barry (Kilmallock), 18. Kevin Bonar (Bruff), 19. Ken Byrnes (Old Christians), 20. Calvin Carroll (Patrickswell), 21. David Moloney (Monaleen), 22. Paudie Maher (Patrickswell), 23 Brian O Grady (Kilteely/Dromkeen), 24. Jack Ryan (Doon).

Match Programme