Limerick in control
Though Tipp were in front with points by Paul O'Mahoney and Gary Morrisson 10 minutes into the game, once Declan White tied up the scores with his second point at 0-2 apiece after the opening quarter, there was only going to be one winner.
Big and strong down the middle of the park, with Tom McLoughlin, Shane Gallagher and Alan Kitson in control, a couple of points from Mark Culhane and John O'Connell powered Limerick into a 0-8 to 0-2 interval lead, though, the standard of football left a lot to be desired.
Culhane stretched Limerick's lead with a free just after the restart but then Tipperary hit their best patch, with Tommy Connors getting a brace of points, their first for 25 minutes. But once excellent wing-back Dave Stapleton set up McLoughlin for a gem of a reply, Limerick were on their way.
Leading 0-11 to 0-4 entering the final quarter, Limerick took their foot off the gas, also losing Stapleton through injury, and Tipperary took advantage without ever looking like winning the game.
Points from substitutes Aaron Devane and Aaron Ryan and a 58th minute goal from Devane were merely a damage-limitation exercise, the goal coming far too late to save the Tipp men.
: Limerick: D. White, M. Culhane (0-2 frees) 0-3 each, J. O'Connell, P. Ryan (0-1 free) 0-2 each, S. Gallagher, T. O'Loughlin, D. Phelan 0-1 each. Tipperary: A. Devane 1-1, T. Connors, A. Ryan (0-1 free) 0-2 each, P. O'Mahoney, G. Morrisson 0-1 each.
: S. Kiely; M. Fitzgerald, D. Galvin, A. O'Rahilly; D. Stapleton, T. McLoughlin, E. Burke; J. Deere, S. Gallagher; B. Slattery, A. Kitson, J. O'Connell; M. Culhane, D. Phelan, D. White. Subs: P. Ryan for Slattery, P. Ranahan for Burke, D. Leahy or Stapleton.
: O. Myers; G. Byrne, P. King, P. O'Doherty; P. O'Flaherty, D. Fahy, S. Mason; K. Maguire, M. Fitzpatrick; G. Morrisson, P. O'Mahoney, T. Connors; P. Whelan, M. Lynagh, E. Costelloe. Subs: A. Ryan for Costelloe, J. Hassett for O'Doherty, B. Cahill for Whelan, A. Devane for O'Mahoney.
: P. Sheehy (Kerry).
