Munster SHC Semi-Final – Tipperary 3-12 Limerick 1-16

Tipperary defeated Limerick by 3-12 to 1-16 in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final on Sunday June 19th at Semple Stadium Thurles.

MATCH REPORT: 14-man @TipperaryGAA too good for @LimerickCLG in #MunsterSHC Semi-Final>>https://t.co/19chGisbJ1 pic.twitter.com/lzZw6xmIi6

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 19, 2016

Limerick still couldn't get past Tipperary despite John O'Dwyer's sending off https://t.co/oostfmtksw pic.twitter.com/zutOU8oqIe

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) June 19, 2016

Limerick still couldn’t get past Tipperary despite John O’Dwyer’s sending off

By John Fogarty for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Tipperary 3-12 Limerick 1-16

The loss of John O’Dwyer to an early red card didn’t deter Tipperary from confirming a second successive Munster final date with Waterford.

Limerick never looked like making the most of their numerical advantage and it was Tipperary, led by Cathal Barrett in defence, who looked like they had the extra man for large swathes of the game.

O’Dwyer will miss the July 10 final through suspension but this latest victory in front of 25,531 supporters in difficult playing and numerical conditions will give Tipperary plenty of encouragement.

Tom Morrissey’s injury-time goal after Darren Gleeson had saved from another substitute Kevin Downes gave Limerick supporters a small hope but Tipperary saw out the remaining action with little fuss.

Michael Breen, who found the net against Limerick in last year’s corresponding fixture, was given the chance to make amends when after running through he gave a poor hand-pass into Callanan. Dan Morrissey slipped up trying to gather possession and the midfielder’s ground stroke beat Nickie Quaid.

The Limerick goalkeeper was picking the sliotar from behind him again in the ninth minute. After Callanan was set up by Patrick Maher, Breen was quick to react to Quaid’s save and Tipperary were 2-0 to 0-1 up.

The game took a different complexion in the 14th minute when O’Dwyer deservedly saw the line for a strike on Richie English and the next three points came from Limerick. The margin was cut to one but then Callanan followed up with 1-1 in the space of a minute, his goal assisted by Noel McGrath as Limerick were cut open again.

Limerick once more reduced the difference to a solitary point but a brace of scores from Callanan ended the half to leave it 3-5 to 0-11 in Tipperary’s favour.

Scorers for Tipperary: S. Callanan (1-6, 0-3 frees, 0-2 65s); M. Breen (2-1); N. McGrath (0-3); J. McGrath, Pádraic Maher (0-1 each).

Scorers for Limerick: S. Dowling (0-9, 8 frees); T. Morrissey (1-0); D. Hannon (0-2); B. Nash, C. Lynch, G. Hegarty, J. Ryan, J. Fitzgibbon (0-1 each).

TIPPERARY: D. Gleeson; C. Barrett, J. Barry, M. Cahill; S. Kennedy, R. Maher, Pádraic Maher; B. Maher (c), M. Breen; N. McGrath, Patrick Maher, D. McCormack; J. O’Dwyer, S. Callanan, J. McGrath
Subs for Tipperary: N. O’Meara for D. McCormack (60); D. Maher for R. Maher (inj 64); J. Forde for Patrick Maher (69); K. Bergin for B. Maher, D. Quinn for M. Breen (both 70+1).

Sent off: J. O’Dwyer (straight, 14).

LIMERICK: N. Quaid (c); S. Hickey, D. Morrissey, R. English; D. Byrnes, G. O’Mahony, S. Hickey; J. Ryan, P. Browne; G. Hegarty, S. Dowling, C. Lynch; B. Nash, D. Hannon, G. Mulcahy
Subs for Limerick: T. Morrissey for J. Ryan (inj 48); K. Downes for B. Nash (55); J. Fitzgibbon for G. Hegarty (58).

Referee: J. McGrath (Westmeath)

PREVIEW: @TipperaryGAA v @LimerickCLG in @MunsterGAA SHChttps://t.co/AZ2U6SrvAF pic.twitter.com/GmNOmdj5xD

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 17, 2016

Ticket Information
Adult Covered Stand: €30
Adult Uncovered Stand: €25
Adult Terrace: €20
Student’s/OAP: Purchase Adult tickets and receive a €10 concession at designated turnstiles prior to entry
Under 16’s: €5

Click here to purchase tickets

Team News

Patrick Maher returns to @TipperaryGAA team for @LimerickCLG clash in @MunsterGAA SHChttps://t.co/1AzcSq0IKu pic.twitter.com/0fuWylDyr2

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 17, 2016

The Tipperary Senior Hurling team to play Limerick in the Munster Championship Semi-Final in Semple Stadium on Sunday next, June 19th at 4pm has been announced by manager Michael Ryan.

There is one change in his side which sees Patrick Maher from Lorrha Dorrha return for his first full start since injury ruled out his starting inclusion in Tipperary’s recent league run.

The team lines out as follows;

1. Darren Gleeson – Portroe
2. Cathal Barrett – Holycross-Ballycahill
3. James Barry – Upperchurch-Drombane
4. Michael Cahill – Thurles Sarsfields
5. Seamus Kennedy – St. Mary’s
6. Ronan Maher – Thurles Sarsfields
7. Padraic Maher – Thurles Sarsfields
8. Brendan Maher (Capt.) – Borris-Ileigh
9. Michael Breen – Ballina
10. Dan McCormack – Borris-Ileigh
11. Patrick Maher – Lorrha-Dorrha
12. Noel McGrath – Loughmore-Castleiney
13. John O’Dwyer – Killenaule
14. Seamus Callanan – Drom-Inch
15. John McGrath – Loughmore-Castleiney

Limerick Senior Hurling Team Announced: https://t.co/qxfjG2tU7h

— Limerick GAA (@LimerickCLG) June 16, 2016

Limerick senior hurling manager TJ Ryan and his management team has released their starting fifteen for this Sunday’s Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final clash with Tipperary. With a 4pm throw in at Semple Stadium Thurles, TJ Ryan’s fifteen will be as follows, 1. Captain Nickie Quaid (Effin), 2. Tom Condon (Knockaderry), 3. Dan Morrissey (Ahane), 4. Richie English (Doon), 5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), 6. Gavin O Mahony (Kilmallock), 7. Seamus Hickey (Murroe/Boher), 8. James Ryan (Garryspillane), 9. Paul Browne (Bruff), 10. Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), 11. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), 12. Barry Nash (South Liberties), 13. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock), 14. Declan Hannon (Adare) and 15. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell).

TIPPERARY v LIMERICK
They have met 67 times in the championship – 65 in Munster, one in the All-Ireland semi-final (2009) and one in the All-Ireland qualifiers (2004) with the results standing as follows: Tipperary 34 wins; Limerick 23 wins; Draws 10.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
2015: Tipperary 4-23 Limerick 1-16 (Munster semi-final)
2014: Limerick 2-18 Tipperary 2-16 (Munster semi-final)
2013: Limerick 1-18 Tipperary 1-15 (Munster semi-final)
2012: Tipperary 2-20 Limerick 1-19 (Munster quarter-final)
2009: Tipperary 6-19 Limerick 2-7 (All-Ireland semi-final)

MOST RECENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Tipperary 4-23 Limerick 1-16 (2015 Munster semi-final)
Seamus Callanan scored 2-5, John O’Dwyer 0-7 and Jason Forde 1-3 as Tipperary romped to victory in the Gaelic Grounds before going on to take the title when beating Waterford in the final.

2016 CHAMPIONSHIP
Limerick are having their first outing in this year’s championship while Tipperary beat Cork by 0-22 to 0-13 in the quarter-final.

DID YOU KNOW?
This will be the 15th championship clash between the counties in the new Millennium with Tipperary having won eight times (2015-2012-2009-2006-2005-2004-2002-2001), Limerick three times (2014-2013-2007) while there were three draws (twice in 2007 and once in 2005) in the previous 14 games.

THE ROAD AHEAD
The winners will play Waterford in the Munster final on July 10; the losers enter the All-Ireland qualifiers on July 2.