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Munster SFC Q Final – Tipperary v Limerick
Limerick hold off Tipp challenge
Sunday, 24 May
From the GAA.ie web site
Limerick shrugged off a spirited second-half rally by Tipperary to advance in Sunday’s Munster SFC quarter-final tie at Semple Stadium in Thurles.
Munster SFC Quarter-Final:
Tipperary 1-9 Limerick 1-11
Limerick got a massive boost in the second minute when after Padraig Browne dispossessed Tipperary defender Brian Fox, key attacker Ian Ryan was on hand to find the back of the net. Limerick powered on from that score, with midfielders John Galvin and Jim O’Donovan establishing complete control in the centre.
Ryan and Ger Collins tapped over a free apiece, and then Collins wriggled free to land two fine points to leave Limerick 1-4 to 0-0 ahead by the 10th minute.
Tipperary were struggling in several sectors, with their attack making little impression against a Limerick defence that featured Shane Gallagher and Johnny McCarthy in outstanding form. Limerick kept piling forward and only for some faulty shooting – they struck eight wides during the first-half – would have been further ahead.
Still pointed frees by Collins and Ryan sent them 1-6 to 0-0 in front, before Tipperary finally got off the mark when corner-forward Barry Grogan converted a 32nd minute free. Limerick served notice of their intentions with a strong response, wing-back Patrick Ranahan confidently striding forward to score a lovely point and Cormac Joyce-Power registering a similar effort.
The signs were looking ominous for Tipperary but on the stroke of half-time they got a badly needed boost. Grogan collected a long ball from Hugh Coghlan before turning his man and passing inside to full-forward Brian Coen who palmed to the net.
They may have trailed 1-8 to 1-1 at the interval, but Tipperary mounted a fantastic comeback in the second-half. Coen started to shine in attack and landed two points, with Grogan kicking another from a free.
With Paddy Codd, Hugh Coghlan and Kevin Mulryan all driving them on, Tipperary laid siege to the Limerick goal. Coghlan scored a brilliant point in the 47th minute and another by substitute Aidan Fitzgerald three minutes later left just two between them.
Limerick eventually managed to steady themselves with Stephen Lucey scoring a crucial point in the 55th minute that got them off the mark for the second-half. Grogan scored another free, but a great shot from youngster Joyce-Power restored Limerick’s three-point advantage with just four minutes left.
Tipperary came with a late rally, points by Grogan and Brian Mulvihill leaving just the minimum between them. But an injury-time pointed ’45 by Limerick substitute Kieran O’Callaghan sealed their victory.
SCORERS:
LIMERICK: I Ryan 1-2 (0-2f), G Collins 0-4 (0-2f), C Joyce-Power 0-2, P Ranahan, S Lucey, K O’Callaghan (0-1 ’45) 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: B Coen 1-2, B Grogan 0-4 (0-4f), H Coghlan, A Fitzgerald, B Mulvihill 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: S Kiely; J McCarthy, M O’Riordan, S Gallagher; S Lavin, S Lucey, P Ranahan; J O’Donovan, J Galvin; P Browne, I Ryan, S Buckley; C Joyce-Power, J Stokes, G Collins.
SUBS: K O’Callaghan for Stokes (42), D Phelan for Buckley (49), L O’Dwyer for Ranahan (60), B O’Brien for O’Donovan (60), T Cahill for Joyce-Power (70).
TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; C Morrissey, R Costigan, P Codd; C Aylward, H Coghlan, B Fox; G Hannigan, B Jones; S Carey, P Austin, B Mulvihill; J Tierney, B Coen, B Grogan.
SUBS: C Higgins for Morrissey (20), K Mulryan for Jones (31), A Fitzgerald for Tierney (41), D O’Brien for Austin (51), A Moloney for Coen (blood) (55), Coen for Moloney (57).
REFEREE: Gearóid Ó’Conámha (Galway)
Limerick 1-11 Tipperary 1-09
Report from the RTE.ie web site
Sunday, 24 May 2009 19:27
Limerick withstood a ferocious second half fightback from Tipperary this afternoon to book their place in the semi-finals of the Munster senior football championship.
The Shannonsiders held on for a narrow two-point victory as Tipp’s brave effort fell just short in front of 4,673 spectators at Semple Stadium in Thurles.
A blistering start provided the platform for this Limerick win as Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s men booked a provincial last four showdown with Clare in Ennis on 7 June.
With 30 minutes on the watch, Limerick had stormed into a 1-06 to 0-00 lead and fully 32 minutes of the game had elapsed before Tipp landed their very first point, a free from captain Barry Grogan.
On the stroke of half-time, Grogan set up Brian Coen for a Tipperary goal and that fisted effort from close range was a major fillip for the Premier County as they trailed by 1-08 to 1-01 at the break.
Coen’s goal provided just a glimmer of hope but few could have predicted just how close Tipp would come to snatching victory from the jaws of a demoralising defeat.
Tipp reduced the deficit to just the bare minimum in stoppage time at the end of the game but Limerick hung on to avenge the Division 3 NFL defeat against the same opposition at Kilmallock earlier this year.
Tipp had secured a glorious promotion to Division 2 under the stewardship of John Evans and hopes were high of a first SFC victory since 2003.
But Limerick are battle-hardened championship campaigners and they shrugged off the disappointment of relegation to Division 4 with this priceless win as O’Sullivan outfoxed his fellow Kerry native Evans.
Limerick also won when the two sides met in last year’s forgettable championship encounter at Fermoy but this was a far superior game.
Right from the start, Limerick launched a blitzkrieg assault on Tipperary and it paid rich dividends after just two minutes when Ian Ryan pounced on a Brian Fox mistake before finding the net.
That goal knocked the stuffing out of a nervous-looking Tipp who could not cope with the sheer power of the Limerick onslaught in sweltering conditions.
Jim O’Donovan and John Galvin lorded the midfield battle for the Treaty men while Padraig Browne’s switch from defence to the half-forward line also worked a treat.
Limerick: S Kiely; S Gallagher, J McCarthy, M O’Riordan; P Browne, S Lavin, P Ranahan (0-01); J O’Donovan, J Galvin; S Lucey (0-01), I Ryan (1-02, 0-02f), S Buckley (c); C Joyce-Power (0-02), J Stokes, G Collins (0-04, 2f).
Subs: K O’Callaghan (0-01, 45) for Stokes (42), D Phelan for Buckley (49), L O’Dwyer for Ranahan (60), B O’Brien for O’Donovan (60), T Cahill for Joyce-Power (70).
Tipperary: P Fitzgerald; C Morrissey, R Costigan, P Codd; C Aylward, H Coghlan (0-01), B Fox; G Hannigan, B Jones; S Carey, P Austin, B Mulvihill (0-01); J Tierney, B Coen (1-02), B Grogan (c) (0-04f).
Subs: C Higgins for Morrissey (21), K Mulryan for Jones (32), A Fitzgerald (0-01) for Tierney (41), D O’Brien for Austin (51).
Referee: G Ó’Conámha (Galway).
Limerick teach Tipp in summer school
Limerick 1-11 Tipperary 1-9
By Fintan O’Toole of the Irish Examiner newspaper
Monday, May 25, 2009
THE deceptiveness of league form was painted vividly yesterday afternoon in Semple Stadium.
Tipperary and Limerick approached this Munster SFC quarter-final from opposite ends of the spectrum, Tipp with the boon of promotion and Limerick with the calamity of relegation.
But in the intense heat of a championship battle, springtime form proved illusory. Limerick’s players have stored up plenty experience of summer football and that proved of immeasurable value in enabling them to stave off Tipperary’s burgeoning side, whose late charge failed to alter the result.
Limerick embarked on a white-knuckle ride to success, which tested the nerves of their supporters in the crowd of 4,673. For the opening half hour they could do no wrong. They totted up 1-6 on the scoreboard, kept Tipperary’s digits at nought and held a singular dominance all over the pitch. And yet when it came to the business of handing out the winning garlands, they were a rickety force, clinging to a 1-10 to 1-9 advantage deep in injury-time and exhaling a huge gale of relief when substitute Kieran O’Callaghan nailed a ‘45 in the 73rd minute that sealed success. The Tipperary camp were an anguished group at the final whistle. They were full of hope and optimism entering this match after league heroics, yet stumbled their way through the opening stages. Within two minutes Limerick registered a goal that was messy in its concession and execution. Pádraig Browne dispossessed Brian Fox near the Tipperary goal and the ball fell to Ian Ryan whose scuffed shot still squirmed into the net. Limerick drove on from there in a determined mood with Ryan kicking a free and impressive corner-forward Ger Collins banged over three points inside the first 10 minutes.
An ample seven-point lead was in Limerick’s possession, but what was more informative was how they were thriving in all critical sectors. They shuffled their cards from the start, Stephen Lucey going to centre-back, Stephen Lavin switching to the wing and Pádraig Browne moving up to wing-forward. All those moves paid off and they were complemented by the serious foothold Limerick gained in the middle of the pitch. John Galvin and Jim O’Donovan lorded the kickouts, and anytime the ball broke Limerick ate up the breaks.
Tipperary’s handling was sloppy and they could not find clear passages against a Limerick defence for whom Shane Gallagher and Mark O’Riordan played with authority.
Barry Grogan did finally get Tipperary off the mark with a 32nd minute free, but a run of points by Collins, Ryan, Pa Ranahan and Cormac Joyce-Power left Limerick 10 points clear. Before half-time Tipperary got a glimmer of hope, Grogan staying calm to wriggle past Johnny McCarthy and when he played it across, Brian Coen was there to palm to the net.
Integral to Tipp’s second-half recovery was sending Kevin Mulryan into action, as the JK Brackens man used his height to disrupt Limerick’s midfield dominance. They received a vital early scoring boost through points from Coen (2) and Grogan, and with the margin down to four, the home support grew.
Paddy Codd and Robbie Costigan attacked the ball at will in defence, while Hugh Coghlan gave a rousing display from centre-back. In attack Sean Carey and Brian Mulvihill began to feed on the scraps from the midfield battle and the play started to flow in one direction. Coghlan struck a beautiful point in the 47th minute and then substitute Aidan Fitzgerald scored to leave them 1-8 to 1-6 adrift.
Limerick were listing but were bailed out in the 55th minute when Stephen Lucey strode upfield to point. That failed to deter Tipperary but a lack of thrust in front of goal and some dubious calls by referee Gearóid O Conámha inhibited their challenge.
Grogan clipped over free, but an outstanding score by Joyce-Power left Limerick 1-10 to 1-7 ahead with time dwindling on the clock. Tipperary came with one last surge, a Grogan free and a Mulvihill point sustaining their visions of victory. But parity proved beyond them and O’Callaghan’s late point dashed their hopes.
Scorers for Limerick: I Ryan 1-2 (0-2f), G Collins 0-4 (0-2f), C Joyce-Power 0-2, P Ranahan, S Lucey, K O’Callaghan (0-1 ‘45) 0-1 each.
Tipperary: B Coen 1-2, B Grogan 0-4 (0-4f), H Coghlan, A Fitzgerald, B Mulvihill 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: S Kiely; J McCarthy, M O’Riordan, S Gallagher; S Lavin, S Lucey, P Ranahan; J O’Donovan, J Galvin; P Browne, I Ryan, S Buckley; C Joyce-Power, J Stokes, G Collins.
Subs: K O’Callaghan for Stokes (42), D Phelan for Buckley (49), L O’Dwyer for Ranahan (60), B O’Brien for O’Donovan (60), T Cahill for Joyce-Power (70).
TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; C Morrissey, R Costigan, P Codd; C Aylward, H Coghlan, B Fox; G Hannigan, B Jones; S Carey, P Austin, B Mulvihill; J Tierney, B Coen, B Grogan.
Subs: C Higgins for Morrissey (20), K Mulryan for Jones (31), A Fitzgerald for Tierney (41), D O’Brien for Austin (51), A Moloney for Coen (blood) (55), Coen for Moloney (57).
Referee: Gearóid O’Conámha (Galway)
O’Sullivan: pain of drop fired us up
By Fintan O’Toole of the Irish Examiner newspaper
Monday, May 25, 2009
MICKEY NED O’SULLIVAN emerged wearing a look of broad satisfaction.
There was an anxious build-up to this game with his Limerick team having been squeezed into Division 4 during the league and their opponents Tipperary flying high in comparison.
Yet his side managed to tap into a winning groove and suddenly their season has taken on a whole different complexion.
“You win matches on the pitch, not in the papers,” he was eager to point out. “It was very disappointing to be demoted to Division 4. We were a bit unfortunate but it was a great motivating factor for us. The lads knew they weren’t that bad and they knew they could put it up to Tipperary. They stuck to the game plan and it was an outstanding first half.”
After the splendour of their first-half showing, Limerick were forced into retreat in the second-half.
“At half time, the big danger is you go in with a big lead and it’s very difficult to get their heads right. Perhaps we were too far ahead at half time. The intensity began to drop, Tipperary gathered momentum and it was hard to break. Stephen Lucey’s point was a crucial point.”
On a day of bright spots, the debut of youngster Cormac Joyce-Power in Limerick senior football colours was a notable one.
“Cormac Joyce-Power is just 18 years of age. I was just delighted that we got him over from rugby. He was in the sights of Munster but we cajoled him, held onto him and hopefully we’ll keep him.”
On the opposite side John Evans was forced to reflect on a stirring second-half recovery from his side that came up just short. Tipperary were all at sea in the opening half, yet their manager maintained faith in his players.
“Fair dues to Limerick. They came out of the blocks and literally blew us away in the first 20 minutes. I could see that the team had lost their composure.
“I watched them almost fold but these guys are made of good stuff. In the second half this young team gave value for money. Yes, they were sitting ducks but they dug themselves out of a deep, deep hole and put in a great second half performance.”
Limerick backlash
By Liam Kelly of the Irish Independent newspaper
Monday May 25 2009
TIPPERARY manager John Evans should set up in business as a psychic — because he foretold accurately the response of Limerick to relegation from Division 3 of the National Football League.
Unfortunately for Evans, knowing their poor form in the early part of the year would spur Limerick on, it didn’t prepare him for the onslaught Tipp suffered in this thriller at Semple Stadium.
“We were afraid of Limerick’s backlash and we certainly got it full blown in the first half. They came out from the blocks and they literally blew us away in the first 20 minutes,” he said.
And what an onslaught. The ball was hardly thrown in when Limerick players were swarming around the midfield like bees after honey and when they got the ball it was one-way traffic from the start.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan said part of his team’s pre-match plan was to target the Tipperary full-back line and his tactics worked brilliantly. Limerick pulled most of the forwards back to the midfield area and left room for the pace of Padraig Browne, named at right-half-back but playing much further forward, and corner-forward Ger Collins to exploit.
PRESSURE
Within two minutes, Evans’ side were under pressure and when lively Browne robbed an intended hand-pass to Tipp’s Brian Fox, he cleared the way for Ian Ryan to open the scoring with a goal for Limerick.
But by the 10th minute, Ryan had tacked on a point from a free and Collins was firing on all cylinders, scoring three points, one from a free.
Tipp were reeling and rocking and could have been further behind as Limerick hit the upright and missed with three wides in that time. The wonder of it was that Limerick scored only four more points in the next 25 minutes, and that was due to a combination of Tipperary gradually finding a foothold and some errant shooting.
Tipp managed to break their duck with a 32nd-minute point by Barry Grogan from a free, and then came a minor sensation — a Tipp goal in the last minute of the first half. Grogan cleverly skipped inside a couple of tackles close to goal and crossed for Brian Coen to palm the ball into the Limerick net.
Amazing! Now it was Limerick 1-8, Tipp 1-1 — a difficult, but far more encouraging scenario for the home team facing into the second half.
But Mickey Ned was aware of the danger. “You go in with a lead like that at half-time and it’s very difficult to get the lads’ heads right coming out for the second half,” he said. “We went in with a similar lead in Kilmallock in the league and within 20 minutes Tipperary had it whetted down, so we were very conscious of that today.”
And Tipp did exactly what he feared and scored five points without reply in the first within 15 minutes of the half to reduce the gap to just two points.
Tipp might have been further ahead by then had Limerick’s Patrick Ranahan not brilliantly won possession from Sean Carey when the latter was ready to fire point-blank at goal a few minutes before Coghlan’s point.
Tipp just couldn’t get that extra point or two and when Stephen Lucey broke away for a well-taken score on 55 minutes, Limerick once again held a three-point lead.
“That was a crucial point. Tipp then had to look for a goal and psychologically that put them on the back foot for a while, but all credit to them, they never gave up,” said Mickey Ned.
Grogan got a point for Tipp in the 64th minute, but that was answered by Cormac Joyce-Power (18) and once again the margin was three points.
As the intensity grew, Grogan pointed a 68th minute free but try as they might, Tipp could not get the goal.
Finally they were killed off in injury- time by a ’45’ cleverly won by Collins and scored by Kieran O’Callaghan.
Scorers — Limerick: I Ryan 1-2 (0-2f), G Collins 0-4 (0-2f) C Joyce-Power 0-2, P Ranahan, S Lucey, K O’Callaghan (0-1 ’45’) 0-1 each. Tipperary: B Coen 1-2, B Grogan 0-4 (0-1f); B Mulvihill, A Fitzgerald, H Coghlan 0-1 each.
Limerick — S Kiely; S Gallagher, J McCarthy, M O’Riordan; P Browne, S Lavin, P Ranahan; J O’Donovan, J Galvin; S Lucey, I Ryan, S Buckley; C Joyce-Power, J Stokes, G Collins.Subs: K O’Callaghan for J Stokes (42), D Phelan for S Buckley (49), L O’Dwyer for P Ranahan (60), B O’Brien for J O’Donovan (60), T Cahill for C Joyce-Power (70).
Tipperary — P Fitzgerald; C Morrissey, R Costigan, P Codd; C Aylward, H Coghlan, B Fox; G Hannigan, B Jones; S Carey, P Austin, B Mulvihill; J Tierney, B Coen, B Grogan. Subs: C Higgins for C Morrissey (20), K Mulryan for B Jones (31), A Fitzgerald for J Tierney (41), DO’Brien for P Austin (51).
Ref — G O’Conamha (Galway).
Limerick’s momentum pulls them over line
IAN O’RIORDAN of the Irish Times newspaper at Semple Stadium
MUNSTER SFC FIRST ROUND LImerick 1-11 Tipperary 1-9 : THIS MAY not make the Book of Great Championship Comebacks, but it was an incredible contest nonetheless. Thoroughly roasted in the first half, which had nothing to do with the hot sunshine at Semple Stadium, Tipperary suddenly came alive and turned all the heat on to their opponents.
So they still died of thirst just a few steps short of the well, but at least they died with pride. With all the hype around Tipperary after their rise through the league ranks, there was always the danger of it imploding when they got to the championship stage, which it more or less did for the opening half. Limerick could hardly believe it themselves.
The prize on offer was effectively a place in the Munster final, not that anyone would admit it beforehand. Limerick must still play Clare in Ennis on June 7th, but they can take that as a small step before the leap of playing either Kerry or Cork in the final showdown.
For Tipperary, that prospect, defined by a definite case of stage fright, seemed too much to bear, at least for the opening half hour. Limerick tore into them as if they weren’t even there – and soon established a nine-point advantage which could have been a lot more.
A goal from Ian Ryan after three minutes set them on their way, and from there it went Bang! Bang! Bang! – Ger Collins, Patrick Ranahan and the teenage Cormac Joyce-Power adding points as if for fun.
Tipp made two substitutes and had three bookings before they managed their first score on exactly 32 minutes; a free from Barry Grogan. Yet, they left the field with a hint of things to come when Hugh Coghlan delivered a sweet ball to Grogan, whose short pass to Brian Coen was deftly palmed into the Limerick net.
Seven points in arrears is far from unattainable in championship fervour, but no one was expecting Tipp to hit off five points without reply in the next 15 minutes – closing the gap to two. Limerick were visibly crumbling under the pressure, but Tipp’s gameplan was simple: get more men forward, play in quick ball, and run at goal.
“After the first half we knew we’d have to produce something special,” commented Tipp boss John Evans, “and in fairness we did that. Maybe after the league we were in a comfort area. Whereas Limerick were in this to save their bloody lives, to be quite honest. But at least we showed we could play some football.”
Limerick rallied, however, with John Galvin regaining his decisive grip at midfield. After 20 minutes of the half they finally hit back with a superb point from Stephen Lucey, who’d moved up to the forward ranks. It turned the momentum, if only briefly.
So, with 10 minutes remaining it was a three-point game and everything was in the melting pot. Tipp could have had a penalty when Coen was dragged down close to the area, but instead they exchanged points before the tension mounted yet again.Another Grogan free was followed by a superb move from Brian Fox to Aidan Fitzgerald, and finished off by Brian Mulvihill – and that made it a one-point game just as the clock spilled into added time.
Limerick just about held their nerve, held up possession, and when Kieran O’Callaghan coolly struck a 45 on 72 minutes it was as good as over. When Tipp’s last-gasp effort for a goal was blocked down it was over.
“All credit to Tipp, they’re an exceptionally good team,” declared a relieved Limerick manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan. “Our lads were very determined coming here and showed that in the first half. But we were so far ahead I think the intensity dropped. That’s the big danger. Tipp gathered momentum and it was hard to break that.”
LIMERICK : 1 S Kiely; 3 J McCarthy; 4 M O’Riordan; 2 S Gallagher; 10 S Lucey (0-1) , 6 S Lavin, 7 P Ranahan (0-1) ; 8 J O’Donovan, 9 J Galvin; 5 P Browne, 11 I Ryan (1-2, two frees) , 12 S Buckley; 13 C Joyce-Power (0-2) , 14 J Stokes, 15 G Collins (0-4, two frees). Subs: 20 K O’Callaghan (0-1, 45) for Stokes (42 mins), 23 D Phelan for Buckley (49 mins), 21 B O’Brien for O’Donovan (60 mins), 18 L O’Dwyer for Ranahan (both 60 mins), 19 T Cahill for Joyce-Power (69 mins).
TIPPERARY : 1 P Fitzgerald; 2 C Morrissey, 3 R Costigan, 4 P Codd; 5 C Aylward, 6 H Coghlan (0-1) , 7 B Fox; 8 G Hannigan, 9 B Jones; 10 S Carey, 11 P Austin, 12 B Mulvihill (0-1) ; 13 J Tierney, 14 B Coen (1-2), 15 B Grogan (0-4, all frees). Subs : 18 C Higgins for Morrissey (20 mins), 19 K Mulryan for Jones (31 mins), 24 A Fitzgerald (0-1) for Tierney (41 mins), 21 D O’Brien for Austin (51 mins).
Referee: G Ó Conamha (Galway).
Munster Senior Football Championship- Match Tracker
Limerick 1-11 Tipperary 1-9
Match Tracker compiled by Ed Donnelly – e-mail comments to ed.donnelly@gaa.ie
Round-up – Limerick are through to a semi-final meeting with Clare after a hard earned two point victory over Tipperary. This game was won by Limerick in the first half as they raced in to a 9 point lead after 29 minutes. By the interval, the lead was 7 points and though Tipperary played very well after the break to reduce the deficit to just one point, Limerick had enough experience to get a couple of important points late in the game to keep their noses in front and ensure they progressed to the semi-final.
LIMERICK: S Kiely; S Gallagher, J McCarthy, M O’Riordan; P Browne, S Lavin, P Ranahan (0-1); J O’Donovan, J Galvin; S Lucey (0-1), I Ryan (1-2, 0-2f), S Buckley (c); C Joyce-Power (0-2), J Stokes, G Collins (0-4, 2f).
SUBS: K O’Callaghan (0-1, 45) for Stokes (42), D Phelan for Buckley (49), L O’Dwyer for Ranahan (60), B O’Brien for O’Donovan (60), T Cahill for Joyce-Power (70).
TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; C Morrissey, R Costigan, P Codd; C Aylward, H Coghlan (0-1), B Fox; G Hannigan, B Jones; S Carey, P Austin, B Mulvihill (0-1); J Tierney, B Coen (1-2), B Grogan (c) (0-4f).
SUBS: C Higgins for Morrissey (21), K Mulryan for Jones (32), A Fitzgerald (0-1) for Tierney (41), D O’Brien for Austin (51).
Referee: G Ó’Conámha (Galway)
FULL-TIME – Tipperary 1-9 Limerick 1-11
72nd minute – Tipperary need a goal to win. 3 minutes of injury time. Barry Grogan has a 14 metre free in front of goal but his shot is blocked. Game over.
71st minute – Limerick earn a 45 metre free which is pointed by Kieran O’Callaghan – Tipperary 1-9 Limerick 1-11
70th minute – POINT – Brian Mulvihill scores a point from play to leave just a point in it – will we see extra time today? Tipperary 1-9 Limerick 1-10
69th minute – SUBSTITUTE – Thomas Cahill replaces Cormac Joyce-Power on the Limerick team as Barry Grogan hits the post with a 25 metre free from in front of the goal.
67th minute – POINT – Barry Grogan points a free from 20 metres -Tipperary 1-8 Limerick 1-10
65th minute – POINT – Cormac Joyce-Power scores a good point from play for Limerick to put his side in front again by 3 points – Tipperary 1-7 Limerick 1-10
63rd minute – POINT – Barry Grogan points a 13 metre free after Aidan Fitzgerald is fouled – Tipperary 1-7 Limerick 1-9
60th minute – SUBSTITUTES – double substitution for Limerick – Bobby O’Brien and Lorcan O’Dwyer replace Jim O’Donovan and Patrick Ranahan
57th minute – Tipperary have kicked 3 wides since their last score. Have Limerick done enough to stem the tide. It’s a warm day in Thurles as both sides begin to tire.
56th minute – Tipperary have made a good comeback but are still 3 points in arrears – can they sustain the momentum to complete the comeback or will Limerick now steady the ship? All to play for.
55th minute – POINT – Stephen Lucey gets Limerick off the mark in the second half with a good point from play – Tipperary 1-6 Limerick 1-9
50th minute – SUBSTITUTE – Damien O’Brien replaces the injured Philip Austin on the Tipperary team
49th minute – POINT – Aidan Fitzgerald scores a good point for Tipperary – just 2 points in it now – Tipperary 1-6 Limerick 1-8
48th minute – SUBSTITUTE – Dermot Phelan replaces Seanie Buckley on the Limerick team.
46th minute – POINT – Hugh Coghlan makes a good run up field and from under the New Stand he kicks a great point to put just 3 points between the teams – Tipperary 1-5 Limerick 1-8
44th minute – Ger Collins hits a wide for Limerick who are now under pressure to add to their half-time tally of 1-8. They need a score to settle their team and stem the Tipperary comeback.
43rd minute – Tipperary have come out in the second half with a much better attitude and game plan and are now just 4 points down. Sean Carey looked like he would have a goal chance a moment ago but he lost possession at the vital time when under pressure.
42nd minute – POINT – Brian Coen scores a good point for Tipperary after a long run by Christopher Aylward – Tipperary 1-4 Limerick 1-8
41st minute – SUBSTITUTE – Kieran O’Callaghan replaces Jason Stokes on the Limerick team.
40th minute – SUBSTITUTE – Aidan Fitzgerald replaces James Tierney on the Tipperary team
39th minute – POINT – Barry Grogan points a 20 metre free after Brian Mulvihill was fouled. Tipperary 1-3 Limerick 1-8
38th minute – POINT – Brian Coen takes a pass from Barry Grogan and puts the ball over the bar. Tipperary 1-2 Limerick 1-8
36th minute – Tipperary engineer an early chance but Kevin Mulryan’s shot for a point goes wide.
Second half throw-in – the second half is underway and Limerick win the throw-in.
Half-Time analysis – Limerick are 7 points up at the interval and deservedly so. From the throw-in, the Shannonsiders have been the more aggressive team, winning all the 50-50 battles and putting Tipperary under serious pressure in defence. Limerick are a bigger team and they are making this count, especially around midfield. Tipperary’s late goal from Brian Coen gives them some hope but Tipperary will need a massive improvement in the second half if they are to make a comeback.
Attendance – the attendance in Semple Stadium today is 4,673
HALF-TIME – Tipperary 1-1 Limerick 1-8
34th minute – GOAL – a lifeline for Tipperary? Hugh Coghlan sends in a long ball to Brian Grogan who showed good composure to beat his man before setting up Brian Coen who hit the ball in to the net with his hands from close range. Tipperary 1-1 Limerick 1-8
33rd minute – POINT – Limerick’s Cormac Joyce Power scores a good point from play – Tipperary 0-1 Limerick 1-8
33rd minute – POINT – Limerick respond immediately with a point from play by Patrick Ranahan – Tipperary 0-1 Limerick 1-7
32nd minute – POINT – Tipperary are off the mark at last – Barry Grogan points a free to reduce the lead to 8 points. Tipperary 0-1 Limerick 1-6
31st minute – SUBSTITUTE – Kevin Mulryan replaces Brian Jones on the Tipperary team.
29th minute – POINT – Ian Ryan points a 13 metre free for Limerick – Tipperary 0-0 Limerick 1-6
28th minute – YELLOW CARD – Brian Fox is booked after conceding a free which could very easily have been a penalty.
27th minute – Sean Carey kicks Tipperary’s fourth wide – still no sign of a score but Limerick’s possession has dried up somewhat up front.
24th minute – a good chance for Tipperary to open their account but Barry Grogan’s shot drops in to the goalie’s hands.
22nd minute – POINT – Ger Collins points a free for Limerick – 8 points up now – can Tipperary respond? Tipperary 0-0 Limerick 1-5
22nd minute – YELLOW CARD – Hugh Coghlan is booked for Tipperary as he concedes a free.
21st minute – YELLOW CARD – Philip Austin is booked for Tipperary
18th minute – SUBSTITUTE – Christopher Higgins replaces Conor Morrissey on the Tipperary team.
17th minute – Limerick engineer a good goal chance but Padraig Browne’s shot goes badly wide. Should have done better. 7 wides for Limerick – they are totally dominating the opening quarter of the game – can Tipperary get off the mark before it is too late?
16th minute – Tipperary have settled a bit better but still don’t have a score to show for their efforts.
12th minute – Tipperary win a free in a scoreable position but James Tierney puts it wide.
11th minute – goal chance for Tipperary – their first surge up field in the game. Christopher Aylward sets up Philip Austin and his first time shot goes narrowly wide. Tipperary need a score to settle.
10th minute – POINT – Ger Collins scores another point for Limerick – Tipperary 0-0 Limerick 1-4
9th minute – Limerick are really up for this game, Tipperary look nervous. Limerick is totally dominant at half-back and midfield so far.
8th minute – POINT – Ger Collins scores a good point from play for Limerick – very one-sided at present as Limerick are winning all the key battles – Tipperary 0-0 Limerick 1-3
6th minute – POINT – Ian Ryan points a 14 metre free after Padraig Browne is fouled – Tipperary 0-0 Limerick 1-2
5th minute – POINT – Ian Ryan points a free for Limerick from about 40 metres out – Tipperary 0-0 Limerick 1-1
4th minute – goal chance for Limerick – a long ball in to the Tipperary square is mis-judged and Padraig Browne’s punch hit the side net. It’s all Limerick thus far.
2nd minute – GOAL – Limerick get off to an excellent start with a goal from Ian Ryan after Brian Fox loses possession in defence. Tipperary 0-0 Limerick 1-0
1st minute – Seanie Buckley kicks an early wide for Limerick.
Throw-in – the game is on and is won by Tipperary before Hugh Coghlan wins an early free.
3:24pm – Tipperary win the toss and Tipperary captain Barry Grogan elects to play in to the Killinan End of the ground, against the breeze in the first half. Both teams are warming up – all to play for now as a good crowd has descended on Thurles this afternoon in anticipation of a good match.
3:20pm – no changes on either team
LIMERICK (SF vs. Tipperary) – Sean Kiely; Shane Gallagher, Johnny McCarthy, Mark O’Riordan; Padraig Browne, Stephen Lavin, Pa Ranahan; Jim O’Donovan, John Galvin; Stephen Lucey, Ian Ryan, Seanie Buckley (capt); Cormac Joyce-Power, Jason Stokes, Ger Collins.
TIPPERARY (SF vs. Limerick) – Paul Fitzgerald (Fethard); Conor Morrissey (Clonmel Óg), Robbie Costigan (Cahir), Paddy Codd (Killenaule); Christopher Aylward (Clonmel Óg), Hugh Coghlan (St. Vincents), Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty); George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers), Brian Jones (Arravale Rovers); Sean Carey (Moyle Rovers), Philip Austin (Borrisokane), Brian Mulvihill (Moyle Rovers); James Tierney (Golden/Kilfeacle), Brian Coen (Fethard), Barry Grogan (Aherlow – Captain)
3:16pm – Tipperary players take the field
3:09pm – Limerick players take the field
3:05pm – both sets of primary game players line up to form a guard of honour for the Senior teams. A warm day in Thurles – fitness could be a factor as well as the good use of substitutes last in the game.
3:00pm – It’s just 30 minutes to go now before the throw-in as both teams make their final preparations before taking the field. The Junior game was a lively affair with Limerick coming from 5 points down to defeat 14 man Tipperary by 4 points – 0-15 to 1-8.
Click for more details of the Junior game
1:00pm – the calm before the storm. Semple Stadium is looking resplendent in the warm sunshine after a week of wet weather. A small group of die-hards is in the Stadium at present as the Junior teams warm-up ahead of their match at 1:15pm. We look forward to a good Senior game here today as Tipperary hope to build on an impressive League campaign while Limerick seek to continue their recent dominance over the Premier County in the Championship. Team news to follow in advance of the game.
Match Tracker
A new feature of the Munster GAA web site will be the inclusion of a Match Tracker for a number of the upcoming Munster Championship matches starting on Sunday next with the clash of Tipperary and Limerick in the Munster Senior Football Championship. Log on to the web site from 3:00pm onwards for up to the minute updates of every score and incident from Sunday’s match.
The Munster Senior Football Championship commences on May 24th with the meeting of National League Division 3 champions Tipperary welcome Limerick to Semple Stadium, Thurles at 3:30pm in a repeat of last years fixture. This game will be preceded at 1.00pm by the meetings of the same counties in Junior Football.
Team News
LIMERICK (SF vs. Tipperary) – Sean Kiely; Shane Gallagher, Johnny McCarthy, Mark O’Riordan; Padraig Browne, Stephen Lavin, Pa Ranahan; Jim O’Donovan, John Galvin; Stephen Lucey, Ian Ryan, Seanie Buckley (capt); Cormac Joyce-Power, Jason Stokes, Ger Collins.
Subs: Conor Ranahan, Mike Crowley, Lorcan O’Dwyer, Thomas Cahill, Kieran O’Callaghan, Bobby O’Brien, Andrew Lane, Dermot Phelan, Eoin Hogan, Gary Egan, Diarmuid Carroll, Maurice Carrig, Conor Mullane, Jimmy Barry Murphy, John Mullane.
TIPPERARY (SF vs. Limerick) – Conor Morrissey and Brian Fox in defence and James Tierney in attack will make their championship debuts for the Tipperary Senior Footballers against Limerick in Semple Stadium on Sunday, May 24th:
1 Paul Fitzgerald (Fethard)
2 Conor Morrissey (Clonmel Óg)
3 Robbie Costigan (Cahir)
4 Paddy Codd (Killenaule)
5 Christopher Aylward (Clonmel Óg)
6 Hugh Coghlan (St. Vincents)
7 Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty)
8 George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers)
9 Brian Jones (Arravale Rovers)
10 Sean Carey (Moyle Rovers)
11 Philip Austin (Borrisokane)
12 Brian Mulvihill (Moyle Rovers)
13 James Tierney (Golden/Kilfeacle)
14 Brian Coen (Fethard)
15 Barry Grogan (Aherlow) Captain
Admission Details
Admission is by payment at the turnstiles. Adult price is €20, Students and Senior Citizens will be admitted for €10 on production of current valid photographic ID while Juveniles (U16) will be admitted free of charge. Munster GAA will be issuing free flags to all juveniles attending the games.
Fixture details
SUNDAY MAY 24th, 2009
Munster GAA Senior Football Championship
Tiobraid Arann v Luimneach at 3.30p.m.
At SEMPLE STADIUM, THURLES
Reiteoir: Gearóid O Conamha (An Gaillimh)
Snippets
Tipperary will take on Limerick in the first round of the Munster Senior Football championship at Semple Stadium next Sunday. The meeting comes twelve months after the sides met at Fermoy when we lost narrowly, 1-8 to 1-5.
This will be the 32nd meeting between the teams with Tipperary winning 20, Limerick 9 and there were two draws. The last time Tipp defeated Limerick in the Munster championship was in 1998. The final score read 1-13 to 1-12. Next Sunday’s venue will bring a sixteen year wait since the sides last met in the famous arena. The outcome resulted in another victory for Tipp, 3-18 to 3-12.
Match Preview
Semple Stadium: Limerick v Tipperary, 15.30
From the GAA.ie web site
Tipperary have rarely been in better shape going into a Munster Senior Football championship campaign. Their second promotion in a row in the Allianz National Football league means they will play Division Two football in 2010 while their win in the Division Three final over Down was the icing on the cake.
However, the Mourne Men failed to frank John Evans’ teams form in the first round of the Ulster Senior Football, fading badly in the closing stages against a very limited Fermanagh side.
If you add the fact Tipperary, who have failed to win a provincial match since 2003 and only beat Limerick by a point in the league in March then the clash with Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s men, who were surprisingly relegated from Division Three, takes on a whole new life.
The question is can Tipperary carry league form into the championship? It is a notoriously difficult thing to do. Wexford did it last year, winning Division Three before going on to contest an All-Ireland semi-final.
Tipperary are unlikely to scale the same heights the men from the land of strawberries and new potatoes did but if they get past Limerick they only have to overcome Clare if they are to contest the Munster decider against either Cork or Kerry.
Stephen Kelly’s loss to Limerick is a huge one while John Evans’ coming side are at full strength after Ciaran McDonald (shoulder), Brian Fox (wrist) and Sean Carey (hand) all shook off recent injuries.
However, Limerick seem to hold the aces in terms of physical strength in the forward division with Jason Stokes named at full-forward, a line ahead of Ian Ryan who will operate on the ’40.
If Tipperary can shackle these two and negate the impact the impact of dual players Stephen Lucey and Mark O’Riordan then their wait for a Munster championship win could be over.
The Premier County are at home and are sure of some decent support at Semple Stadium given their recent heroics but it may not be enough to bring them over the line.
Limerick: Limerick: S Kiely; S Gallagher, J McCarthy, M O’Riordan; P Browne, S Lavin, P Ranahan; J O’Donovan, J Galvin; S Lucey, Ian Ryan, S Buckley (Capt); C Joyce-Power, J Stokes, G Collins.
Tipperary: P Fitzgerald; C Morrissey, R Costigan, P Codd; C Aylward, H Coghlan, B Fox; G Hannigan, B Jones; S Carey, P Austin, B Mulvihill; J Tierney, B Coen, B Grogan (Capt).
Verdict: Draw
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