All-Ireland SHC Q-Final – Limerick v Dublin

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

Limerick defeated Dublin by 2-18 to 1-17 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final on Sunday in Semple Stadium Thurles.

Limerick fight on as Dublin adventure ends

Limerick 2-18 Dublin 1-17

By Jim O’Sullivan for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Monday, July 27, 2009

IRRESPECTIVE of how it was accomplished, Limerick qualifying for the All-Ireland hurling semi-final after a topsy-turvy campaign was a notable achievement for Justin McCarthy and his players in Thurles yesterday. Courageous and skilful Dublin looked more than capable of victory for a long time but on the day, they were not destined to succeed under the inspired management of Anthony Daly. Ultimately, what decided a cracking contest was a strengthening Limerick challenge which was given an overdue boost by James Ryan’s long-range score in 60th minute which broke the deadlock after the teams had been level for the fifth time. And, while the outcome was to remain uncertain, Limerick opening up a gap with three superb scores from man-of-the-match Gavin O’Mahony put them in a virtually unassailable position with the clock running down.

With questions about their capability being fuelled by uncertain displays against Wexford and Laois, Limerick went into the game under a cloud. And, just as they had the previous week, they got off to a slow start, with Dublin corner-forward Liam Rushe putting the ball in the net almost from the throw-in. Notably, however, after conceding too quick scores – the second from a splendid sideline shot by midfielder Alan McCrabbe – it didn’t take them as long this time to bounce back. O’Mahony put over two points and full-forward Paudie McNamara goaled in the 15th minute. Helped to settle by stronger play in defence – with Damien Reale first to show up well in the right corner and team captain Mark Foley once more highly influential – Limerick became more vigorous in tackling and overall were more competitive. Continuing pressure from Dublin saw them make openings regularly and win frees from which McCrabbe made the most, as well as doing best at midfield until O’Mahony and Donal O’Grady found their form.

The net effect was that the game was delicately balanced with scores level a second time in the 22nd minute. Yet, Dublin were more threatening in attack, with Rushe, David O’Callaghan and David Treacy forming a strong full-forward trio. And, at the other end, the stability in defence was emphasised by a vital save by goalkeeper Gary Maguire when he denied Paudie McNamara a certain goal in the 25th minute. Nearing half-time Dublin enjoyed a three-point advantage, but Limerick were given a lifeline when Brian Murray converted a questionable 34th penalty awarded to Paul Browne to leave the interval score 1-10 to 2-7.

There was little change in the trend of the game on the resumption, with McCrabbe regaining the lead for Dublin from a free. Having trailed five times by a point until a Breen score brought the sides level for a fourth time in the 54th minute, Limerick started to dominate in defence. Stephen Lucey was stronger at full-back, Foley (now on the right), made a lot of clearances and Brian Geary was seen to best effect. But, the biggest contribution came from Seamus Hickey at left half, reserving his best form for the end. Dublin remained in contention thanks to the stubborn play of Joe Boland and captain Stephen Hiney in defence, the reliability of McCrabbe and the probing play of Rushe and O’Callaghan at the heart of their attack. However, their backs were to the wall after an O’Shaughnessy free brought Limerick level and James Ryan’s score gave them the lead for the first time.

Psychologically, that marked a breakthrough and in the concluding 10 minutes the combination of errors and inexperience proved costly for Dublin. The cumulative effect was to see them limited to a single point in the last 13 minutes and deprived at the death of a possible goal when Murray stopped a low ball from substitute Kevin Flynn. By then, Limerick had opened up a four-point gap thanks to Gavin O’Mahony’s accuracy. Considering how difficult Dublin made it for them to get scores all day, it was an impressive feat and fully deserving of a semi-final spot against Tipperary.

Scorers for Limerick: G O’Mahony 0-8 (5f, 2 sidelines, 1‘65’); A, O’Shaughnessy 0-5 (5f); J Ryan 0-4; P McNamara, B Murray (pen) 1-0 each; D Breen 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: A McCrabbe 0-8 (7f, 1 sideline); L Rushe 1-0; D O’Callaghan 0-2; D Sweeney, L Ryan, D Treacy, M Carton, S Hiney (f), S Durkan & R O’Carroll 0-1 each.

Subs for Limerick: O Moran for W McNamara, 31; J O’Brien for Browne, 46; D Ryan for O’Shaughnessy, 72.

Subs for Dublin: S Durkan for McCaffrey, 29; K Flynn for Ryan, 49; P Carton for O’Carroll, 55; S Lambert for Sweeney, 60.

Referee: Michael Wadding (Waterford)
Limerick 2-18 Dublin 1-17

Report from the RTE.ie web site

Sunday, 26 July 2009 19:54

A superb display by Gavin O’Mahoney inspired Limerick to victory against a gallant Dublin at Thurles. O’Mahoney scored eight points, including the last three of an enthralling contest in which the sides were level at the interval thanks to a penalty with the last strike of the half for Limerick’s second goal. Dublin got off to a whirlwind start with a first-minute goal by Liam Rushe following a long-range free, which bounced in front of Limerick goalkeeper Brian Murray and Rushe got the vital touch. Alan McCrabbe scored eight points for Dublin whose lack of experience at this level told in the second half when they had a number of needless wides.

It took Limerick until the 60th minute to lead for the first time. Dublin had a dream start when Liam Rushe goaled inside 30 seconds following a long-range free from Alan McCrabbe. David Sweeney put over a superbly taken point and when Alan McCrabbe had a marvelous point from a sideline, Dublin led 1-3 to a single point for Limerick, a free by Gavin O’Mahoney. O’Mahoney pointed a second free, which was countered by a glorious point by Liam Ryan for Dublin. A third free by O’Mahoney kept Limerick in touch but Dublin continued to dominate and David Treacy put over a sweetly struck point to make it 1-5 to 0-3.

But a glorious two-minute spell for Limerick saw Paudie McNamara make a great catch from Tomas Brady and McNamara raced through to beat Garry Maguire and within a minute, James Ryan scored a point and the sides were level after seventeen minutes with yet another O’Mahony free. Dublin edged back in front with David O’Callaghan’s point, which was cancelled out by a free from Andrew O’Shaughnessy. A superb point from 65 yards by Michael Carton gave Dublin new confidence and goalkeeper Maguire made a marvelous save to deny McNamara a second Limerick goal.

McCrabbe, free, and James Ryan exchanged points before McCrabbe and substitute Shane Durcan had Dublin three points clear again. Just on half time the game took a dramatic turn. As Paul Browne bore down on the Dublin goal, he was deemed to have been hauled down and the Limerick goalkeeper cracked the penalty to the net to make it level, Limerick 2-7, Dublin 1-10 at the interval. Dublin also started the second half in style and had two points inside three minutes from McCrabbe and Stephen Hiney.

O’Mahoney’s sideline point for Limerick was cancelled out by a superb point by Ross O’Carroll and then James Ryan and McCrabbe swapped points. Andrew O’Shaughnessy, free, and David O’Callaghan exchanged points as the tempo stepped up. Limerick hit the front for the first time on the hour mark but fittingly, it was man of the match Gavin O’Mahony who turned the screw on Dublin with the last three points, a 65, a sideline and a free, to put an end to a gallant run by the Dubs.

Scorers: Limerick: G O’Mahoney, 0-8 (5 f, 2 sidelines, 1 65), A O’Shaughnessy, 0-5 (5f), J Ryan, 0-4, P McNamara, 1-1, B Murray, 1-0.

Dublin: A McCrabbe, 0-8, (7f, 1 sideline), L Rushe, 1-0, D O’Callaghan, 0-2, S Hiney, M Carton, R O’Carroll, L Ryan, D Sweeney, D Treacy, S Durcan, 0-1 each

Dublin: G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, S Hiney (capt); M O’Brien, J Boland, M Carton; J McCaffrey, A McCrabbe; R O’Carroll, L Ryan, D Sweeney; D O’Callaghan, L Rushe, D Treacy.

Subs used: S Durcan for McCaffrey, 28, K Flynn for Ryan, 49, P Carton for O’Carroll, 55.

Limerick: B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, M O’Riordan; G O’Mahony, B Geary, M Foley (capt); D O’Grady, S Hickey; J Ryan, D Breen, W McNamara; A O’Shaughnessy, P McNamara.

Subs used: O Moran for W McNamara, 31 mins

Referee, Michael Wadding (Waterford)

Team News

LIMERICK (SH v Dublin) — B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, M O’Riordan; G O’Mahoney, B Geary, M Foley; D O’Grady, S Hickey; J Ryan, D Breen, W McNamara; A O’Shaughnessy, P McNamara, P Browne

DUBLIN (SH v Limerick) –

1 Gary Maguire

2 Niall Corcoran

3 Tomás Brady

4 Stephen Hiney

5 Maurice O’Brien

6 Joe Boland

7 Michael Carton

8 John McCaffrey

9 Alan McCrabbe

10 Ross O’Carroll

11 Liam Ryan

12 David Sweeney

13 David O’Callaghan

14 Liam Rushe

15 David Treacy

Match Preview

They have met just four times previously in the championship, the last coming in 2006 when Limerick won a qualifier tie by 2-16 to 1-13 in Limerick. Prior to that, they hadn’t met since the 1934 All-Ireland final which Limerick won in a replay.

Their last competitive clash came in the National League on March 1 last when Limerick won by 1-11 to 0-12 at the Gaelic Grounds. It was level (0-6 each) at the break but a Niall Moran goal in the second half proved crucial as Limerick edged to victory by two points. Moran scored 1-4 while Andrew O’Shaughnessy hit 0-6 (all frees) for the winners while Alan McCrabbe was Dublin’s top scorer on 0-8 (0-6 from placed balls).

Limerick are seeking to reach the All-Ireland semi-final for the second time in three seasons while Dublin last played in the All-Ireland semi-final in 1948 when they beat Antrim by 8-13 to 2-6. They later won Leinster titles in 1952 and 1961 but advanced directly to the All-Ireland final in both of those years.

Previous Championship Meetings

2006: Limerick 2-16 Dublin 1-13 (All-Ireland qualifiers)

1934: Limerick 5-2 Dublin 2-6 (All-Ireland final) Replay

1934: Limerick 2-7 Dublin 3-4 (All-Ireland final) Draw

1921: Limerick 8-5 Dublin 3-2 (All-Ireland final)

How they got here

Dublin

Kilkenny 2-18 Dublin 0-18 (Leinster final) Dublin 0-18 Wexford 1-13 (Leinster semi-final) Dublin 2-16 Antrim 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final)

Limerick

Limerick 0-20 Laois 1-14 (All-Ireland qualifiers) Limerick 1-13 Wexford 0-14 (All-Ireland qualifiers) Waterford 0-25 Limerick 0-17 (Munster semi-final) Replay Limerick 1-8 Waterford 0-11 (Munster semi-final) Draw

Limerick in All-Ireland quarter-finals

2007: Limerick 1-23 Clare 1-16

2006: Cork 0-19 Limerick 0-18

2005: Kilkenny 0-18 Limerick 0-13

2001: Wexford 4-10 Limerick 2-15

Dublin are playing in the quarter-finals for the first time.