Limerick earn Munster minor football silverware with stunning win over Tipperary:
John Keogh Limerick Leader Sport
LIMERICK are phase one champions of the Munster Minor Football championship following a 1-9 to 1-6 win over Tipperary in Mallow this Thursday evening.
A late goal from Darragh Hogan saw Limerick to the silverware after an epic contest that saw Tipperary sub Charlie Grace score 1-1 after being brought on at half time.
Limerick will now play Kerry in the Munster semi-final after they lost to Cork in their quarter-final that also took place this Thursday evening.
Tipperary made the better start to the game with Tadgh White and Liam Freaney seeing them two to the good with five minutes played.
Limerick responded superbly with the next six points. An excellent Cathal Woulfe effort got them on the board and another well-taken point by Padraic Murphy levelled the game.
A well-worked move saw corner back Cian Costelloe put Limerick into the lead for the first time on 12 minutes. An Andrew Lyons free then put John Ryan’s side two to the good.
Full back Callum Buckley then got in on the act with a beautiful score that was followed up by another from Andrew Murphy that saw Limerick 0-6 to 0-2 ahead with 16 minutes played.
Tipperary got their first score in 17 minutes when Freaney bagged his second half and a fine effort from Jamie O’Keeffe saw the score at 0-6 to 0-4 in Limerick’s favour at the break.
The Premier made the better start to the second half as well. Limerick keeper Sam Guerin denied Whyte with an excellent save early in the half but Tipperary were not to be denied moments later.
Charlie Grace found a way past Guerin with a powerful finish for the goal and then followed up with a point to see Tipperary to a two-point lead.
Limerick responded with a couple of quick attacks and an Evan Curry free put one between the teams, before a second from Buckley saw the game squared up for a second time.
Charlie Walsh put Tipperary back in to the lead but Limerick hit back with Hogan’s goal. Limerick forced a turnover on the Tipperary 21-metre line.
Curry took on the ball but was brilliantly denied by Peter Boland but Hogan was on hand to fire in the rebound. Ronan O’Connell then got the insurance point that sealed the victory.
Scorers – Limerick: Darragh Hogan 1-0, Callum Buckley 0-2, Cathal Woulfe, Padraic Murphy, Cian Costelloe, Andrew Lyons (1 free), Adam Murphy and Evan Curry (1 free) 0-1 each.
Scorers – Tipperary: Charlie Grace 1-1, Liam Freaney 0-2, Tadgh Whyte (1 free), Jamie O’Keeffe and Charlie Walsh (1 mark) 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: Sam Guerin (Kildimo-Pallaskenry); Cian O’Sullivan (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Callum Buckley ), Cian Costelloe (Cappagh-Rathkeale); Liam Óg Glynn (Ahane), Cathal Woulfe (Fr Caseys), Cillian Meade (St Senans); Darragh Hogan (Mungret St Pauls), Evan Curry (Athea); Andrew Lyons (Newcastle West), Padraic Phelan (Pallasgreen), Padraic Murphy (Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan); Adam Murphy (Fr Caseys), Aidan O’Shea (Cappagh-Rathkeale), Tommy Glynn (Na Piarsaigh).
Subs: Eoghan Beston (Galbally) for Lyons (42 mins), Ronan O’Connell (Fr Caseys) for Murphy (63 mins), Rory Mullins (Mungret St Pauls) for Hogan (63 mins).
TIPPERARY: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers); Ronan Myles (Ardfinnan), Cillian Ryan (Ballina), Shane Flanagan (Newport); Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials), Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials), Michael Connellan (Clonmel Commercials); Michael O’Reilly (Moyle Rovers), Sean Lewis (Arravale Rovers); Louis Coughlan (Moycarkey Borris), Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Cillian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials); Joey Quinn (Loughmore-Castleiney) Tadgh Hayes (Moneygall), Mark Neville (Fethard).
Subs: Charlie Grace (Ballina) for Neville (h-t), Shane Ryan (Ardfinan) for Fahey (h-t), Charlie Walsh (Fethard) for Whyte (47 mins), Tom Ryan (Moycarkey-Borris) for Freaney (56 mins),
REFEREE: James O’Regan (Cork)