Allianz NHL Division 1 – Tipperary 2-24 Limerick 0-8

Tipperary defeated Limerick by 2-24 to 0-8 in Round 4 of the Allianz GAA Hurling National League on Sunday at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick.

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Allianz National Hurling League Division 1

Tipperary 2-23 Limerick 0-8

By Cathal Ryan

Tipperary ran riot on Sunday afternoon against a much troubled fourteen man Limerick side in their Division 1 National Hurling League clash at the Gaelic Grounds. It was as early as the 12th minute of the match the crucial incident of the game occurred as referee Michael Wadding dished out a second yellow card to Limerick midfielder Dean Madden for a clip across the shoulder of Tipperary midfielder Shane McGrath. The Ballinahinch man continued without any fuss much like Seamus Hennessy did after the first incident involving Madden but the referee felt it necessary to penalise the Bruff man with a second yellow followed by a red.

Tipperary took control at this point of proceedings and in the 24th minute of the first half Timmy Hammersley latched onto a breaking ball in the inside forward line before manouvering enough space to finish to the net off his right hand side. Eight minutes after the restart half time substitute John O Brien instantly controlled a delivery from the right side of the field. O Brien turned and drove an unstoppable effort from 21 yards to the top corner of the Limerick net that consolidated the Tipperary advantage. This may spell the end of this Limerick experimental side as the general view is that at a meeting arranged for Tuesday night a vote of no confidence will be put forward against Justin McCarthy.

The Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy will look to the positive issues that were attained. They have gained another valuable two points in their attempts to reach the league final and some players got some invaluable game time to put in their claim for regular first team duties before the management. Tipperary started the game brighter and when Madden saw red in the 12th minute Eoin Kelly had registered three points from dead balls as Limerick had failed to register any more than four wides. Corner forward Graeme Mulcahy finally registered for the Shannon side outfit in the 14th minute and repeated the feat in the 19th minute but these were the only scores registered by McCarthy’s men in the first half.

Tipperary on the other hand were in cruise control as Seamus Hennessy picked up two points off his trusty left hand side, Gearoid Ryan and Michael Webster both popped up with a score each and Timmy Hammersley scored a point to follow his 24th minute goal leaving Tipperary leading 1-10 to 0-2 at the half time whistle. The second period began in the same mode as Hennessy with two, Hammersley and John O Brien notched up unanswered points in the first five minutes of the second period. Once O Brien netted in moments later with his fantastic strike the biggest cheers of the afternoon were as Liam Sheedy emptied the bench giving stars such as Shane McGrath and Eoin Kelly well deserved breaks. Next up for Liam Sheedy and Tipperary is a clash against Waterford next Sunday where no doubt a more resolute test will be brought by the Deise to Semple Stadium. Meanwhile Limerick will line out in Tullamore next weekend to face Offaly. This question is will Justin McCarthy still patrol the line for next Sunday’s encounter.

Teams:

Tipperary: Darren Gleeson; Paddy Stapleton, Paul Curran, Conor O Brien; David Young, Padraic Maher, Hugh Maloney; Brendan Maher, Shane McGrath; Seamus Hennessy (0-5), Seamus Callanan, Gearoid Ryan (0-2); Eoin Kelly (0-5,3F,1,65), Michael Webster (0-2), Timmy Hammersley (1-4,1F). Subs: John O Brien (1-2) for S. Callanan (h/t), John Devane (0-2) for S. McGrath (44), Paul Kelly for E. Kelly (44), Michael Heffernan (0-1) for B. Maher (51), Thomas Stapleton for M. Webster (56).

Limerick: Tadgh Flynn; David Lynch, Des Kenny, Shane O Neill; Lorcan O Dwyer, Andrew Brennan, Nicky Quaid; Brian O Sullivan (0-1), Dean Madden; Paul Browne (0-1), James O Brien, Cathal Mullane; Graeme Mulcahy (0-2), Paudie McNamara (0-2, 2F), Alan O Connor. Subs: Peter Harty for C. Mullane (h/t), Anthony Owens (0-1) for A. O Connor (43), Richard McKeogh (0-1) for P. Harty (55), Kieran O Rourke for D. Lynch (58), David O Neill for J. O Brien (64).

Referee: Michael Wadding (Waterford)

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Limerick 0-08 Tipperary 2-24

Sunday, 21 March 2010 18:52

From the RTE.ie web site

Tipperary dished out a heavy beating to Limerick in today’s Allianz NHL Division 1 encounter at the Gaelic Grounds. Justin McCarthy’s men lost midfielder Dean Madden to an early red card and never recovered as Tipp cantered into a 1-10 to 0-02 half-time lead. Timmy Hammersley put his name to the opening goal and Eoin Kelly landed five points. A 44th minute goal from John O’Brien put the result beyond any doubt. Such was the one-sided nature of this game, Tipp boss Liam Sheedy took the opportunity to substitute some key players and rest them for forthcoming fixtures.

For technical reasons the scoreboard failed to work at one end of the Gaelic Grounds but Limerick supporters need not have worried too much as their side slumped to another big defeat and were lucky to escape with the scoreline as it was. The under-fire Justin McCarthy and his management team face a crucial vote at an emergency meeting of the Limerick County Board on Tuesday, but it will require a two-thirds majority to have a managerial change made. The meeting will be behind closed doors. Limerick’s cause on this occasion was not helped when midfielder Madden was dismissed for a second yellow card after 13 minutes for a wild pull on Shane McGrath. He had picked up his first yellow after six minutes for another clumsy tackle. While this added to Limerick’s woes, it did little to add atmosphere to a game in which both sides had eight first half wides.

But while Limerick could manage only two points – both efforts from play from Graeme Mulcahy in the 15th and 19th minutes – Tipperary managed 1-10 with Eoin Kelly getting 0-05 (0-04f). The all-important goal came after 25 minutes when Kelly created the chance for young forward Hammersley who managed to round two defenders before beating Limerick goalkeeper Taghg Flynn. Any slender hopes of even a respectable scoreline evaporated for Limerick eight minutes into the second half when half time substitute John O’Brien blasted home a second goal for Tipp, making it 2-15 to 0-02. Two points in 46 minutes of hurling summed up Limerick’s dismal afternoon up to that stage and while Tipperary continued to pick off points, McCarthy’s charges did manage to score six points in the last 22 minutes, two of them from frees. Sheedy hauled off Kelly, Shane McGrath and Seamus Callanan with 20 minutes remaining as the result was done and dusted.

Despite the heavy defeat, number of Limerick defenders, such as Shane O’Neill, Des Kenny and Nicky Quaid, performed well. But from midfield on Limerick were at sea once Madden had departed. Limerick hit 15 wides, one more than Tipperary but for the latter it was not really a pressing matter. This was certainly one of the most lacklustre games in the National League at this venue and while those in support of McCarthy and his management team will claim that the score was not as bad as in the All-Ireland semi-final when they lost by 24 points to Tipperary, today’s result still adds fuel to the fire surrounding the current row on Shannonside. Tipp boss Sheedy must have been impressed with the performances of Seamus Hennessy who scored six points from play, while Hammersley also made a major contribution with 1-04 (0-01f).

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Hanging on by a thread

By Cliona Foley for the Irish Independent newspaper

Monday March 22 2010

IF Justin McCarthy thought he was under serious pressure walking into the Gaelic Grounds yesterday afternoon, it had multiplied three-fold by the time he left it. His fate as Limerick manager was already hanging precariously on a confidence vote at tomorrow night’s County Board meeting and that thread was stretched further towards breaking by yesterday’s drubbing. One scoreboard on the Ennis Road ground actually wasn’t working and the other helpfully credited the winners with one point less than they had scored. But there was simply no getting away from this: a 22-point hammering by a deeply under-strength Tipperary that will further increase the pressure on McCarthy to step down.

Cynics pointed out that Limerick’s losing margin was actually two points less than the 24-point slaughter they suffered at Tipp’s hands in last summer’s All-Ireland semi-final but that was a game between two very different teams. Most of last year’s Limerick team won’t play for the current management and, in fairness, any hope their inexperienced second-string side had of holding the Munster champions to even half of that evaporated once midfielder Dean Madden was sent off for his second yellow card after just 13 minutes.

After that there was only ever going to be one result; their fourth league loss in a row this season with by far the heaviest margin. Limerick’s backs battled to the bitter end but their forwards were only able to score two points in the opening 45 minutes and Tipp’s defenders, with Paddy Stapleton operating as the spare man, barely broke a sweat. McCarthy, emerging from the dressing-room flanked on all sides by members of his backroom team, was equally tightly marked by the media afterwards but answered queries on the run, not hanging around long enough for anyone to get in a heavy tackle.

“On Tuesday night, Justin … ” “Ah no, no. I’m not talking about Tuesday night,” he interrupted swiftly, while quipping: “That’s another night” over his shoulder with a chuckle. It is a night expected to feature some very long knives but one man not sticking them into McCarthy yesterday was Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy. We’ve all heard of ‘mercy killings’ and Sheedy pulled off what could only be described as two ‘mercy subbings’ when he withdrew Shane McGrath and Eoin Kelly 10 minutes into the second-half, after John O’Brien had just scored Tipp’s second goal with a 20-yard rasper.

Afterwards Sheedy was particularly empathetic, saying: “Ah the sending-off made a difference. It was very early in the game and it was always going to be tough on Limerick after that.” Shane O’Neill, who starred for South Liberties in their run to last year’s All-Ireland intermediate club final, did indeed do a fantastic job on Kelly, holding him to a point from play in his 0-5 by half-time when Tipp led 1-10 to 0-2. Limerick’s other corner-back David Lynch also did very well until he let Timmy Hammersley goal after 25 minutes. McCarthy described their defenders as getting “a baptism of fire” but agreed that they actually battled it like the bravest of firefighters.

Andrew Brennan and Nicky Quaid were strong in the half-backs and, ridiculous though it may sound given the scoreline, their defence gave as good as they got for long periods. Limerick also could have no quibble with Madden’s dismissal. He picked up his first yellow after six minutes so his decision, eight minutes later, to contest a ball that McGrath had already caught brilliantly, was ill-advised and ref Michael Wadding made the right call. But with their forwards wasteful of the rare enough chances they did create — the only thing Limerick won all day was the wide tallies, 15 to Tipperary’s 14 — their gutsy defenders were under a constant barrage, and when O’Brien rifled Tipper’s brilliant second goal after 45 minutes, the floodgates opened.

“I think Tipp will be the team that’ll go a long way this year,” McCarthy suggested, but Sheedy would admit he couldn’t judge his side on this one. Padraic Maher was imperious at centre-back and McGrath, who had hands like glue, was brilliant in midfield. But apart from Seamus Hennessy, who scored 0-6 from play, the rest of Tipperary’s forwards were far too wasteful and will need to sharpen their sights before facing Waterford next week. On his full county debut Hammersley scored 1-3 from play and his Clonoulty’ clubmate John Devane (0-2) did well when he came on but some of Tipp’s shot selections were dubious at times. As for Limerick, who next face Offaly, the mood locally seemed to be reflected by the elderly man walking past the Gaelic Grounds who said: “The quicker those lads from Ard Scoil Ris grow up the better!”

Scorers — Tipperary: T Hammersley 1-4 (0-1f), S Hennessy 0-6, J O’Brien 1-2, E Kelly 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65), G Ryan, M Webster, J Devane 0-2, M Heffernan 0-1. Limerick: P McNamara (0-2f), G Mulcahy 0-2 each, B O’Sullivan, P Browne, R McKeogh, A Owens 0-1 each.

Tipperary — D Gleeson; P Stapleton, P Curran, C O’Brien; D Young, P Maher, H Maloney; B Maher, S McGrath; S Hennessy, S Callanan, G Ryan; E Kelly (capt), M Webster, T Hammersley. Subs: J O’Brien for Callanan (h-t), J Devane for S McGrath (44), P Kelly for Kelly (45), M Heffernan for B Maher (51), T Stapleton for Webster (55).

Limerick — T Flynn; D Lynch, D Kenny, S O’Neill; L O’Dwyer, A Brennan, N Quaid; B O’Sullivan, D Madden; P Browne, J O’Brien, C Mullane; G Mulcahy, P McNamara, A O’Connor. Subs: P Harty for Mullane (h-t), A Owens for O’Connor (43), R McKeogh for Harty (55), K O’Rourke for Lynch (58), P Russell for O’Brien (65).

Ref — M Wadding (Waterford).

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Another day, another drubbing for Limerick hurlers

From the Irish Times newspaper

Tipperary 2-24 Limerick 0-8

ANOTHER BIG beating for Limerick hurlers as Tipperary strolled to a 22-point victory is sure to spark demands for an end to the crisis which has gripped the county for the past five months. That Limerick were reduced to 14 players after only 13 minutes had a bearing on the outcome but, even so, the lack of experience was evident from early on. Limerick’s cause was not helped when Dean Madden was dismissed for a second yellow card after for a wild pull on Shane McGrath. Limerick could manage only two points in the first half – both from Graeme Mulcahy from play – while Tipperary scored 1-10, with Eoin Kelly getting 0-5 (four frees) to have the visitors leading 1-10 to 0-2 at the end of a miserable half.

The goal came after 25 minutes when Kelly created the chance for Timmy Hammersley, who rounded two defenders before beating Tadhg Flynn. Any slender hopes of even a respectable scoreline evaporated for Limerick eight minutes into the second period when half-time substitute John O’Brien blasted in a second goal for Tipperary. While Tipperary picked off points at will, Limerick did manage six points in the last 22 minutes, two of them from frees. Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy hauled off Eoin Kelly, Shane McGrath and Shane Callanan with 20 minutes remaining. While defenders such as Shane O’Neill, Des Kenny and Nicky Quaid did well for Limerick, from midfield on, they were at sea once Madden departed. Limerick hit 15 wides, one more than Tipperary, but for the latter it not not really matter.

LIMERICK: T Flynn; D Lynch, D Kenny, S O’Neill; L O’Dwyer, A Brennan, N Quaid; B O’Sullivan (0-1), D Madden; P Browne (0-1), J O’Brien, C Mullane; G Mulcahy (0-2), P McNamara (0-2, frees), A O’Connor. Subs: P Harty for Mullane (half-time), A Owens (0-1) for O’Connor, R McKeogh (0-1) for Harty (55 mins), K O’Rourke for Lynch (60 mins), P Russell for O’Brien (65 mins).

TIPPERARY: D Gleeson; P Stapleton, P Curran, C O’Brien; D Young, P Maher, H Moloney; B Maher, S McGrath; S Hennessy (0-6), S Callanan, G Ryan (0-2); E Kelly (0-5, four frees), M Webster (0-2), T Hammersley (1-4, one free). Subs: J O’Brien (1-2) for Callanan (half-time), J Devane (0-2) for McGrath (44 mins), P Kelly for E Kelly, (45 mins), M Heffernan (0-1) for Maher (53 mins), T Stapleton for Webster (67).

Referee: M Wadding (Waterford)

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Team News

The Tipperary Senior Hurling team to play Limerick in Sunday’s Allianz GAA Hurling National game at Pairc na nGael has 8 changes from the team which started against Galway last Sunday. Darren Gleeson, Paul Curran, Diarmaid Fitzgerald, David Young, Hugh Maloney, Gearoid Ryan, Micheal Webster and Timmy Hammersley all come into the side. David Young will make his National League debut and Timmy Hammerlsey starts after an impressive debut as a substitute against Galway.

1. Darren Gleeson (Portroe)

2. Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh)

3. Paul Curran (Mullinahone)

4. Diarmaid Fitzgerald (Roscrea)

5. David Young (Toomevara)

6. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)

7. Hugh Maloney (Nenagh Éire Óg)

8. Brendan Maher (Borris–Ileigh)

9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)

10. Seamus Hennessy (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

11. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)

12. Gearóid Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)

13. Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone) Captain

14. Micheál Webster (Loughmore Castleiney)

15. Timmy Hammersley (Clonoulty Rossmore)