Tipp tear Limerick to shreds

Tipperary 5-11 Limerick 1-7

A crushing 16-point defeat by Tipperary in last night’s Munster U21 HC semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds heralded the end of the road for the Shannonsiders in all major hurling competitions this season.

This latest setback always looked likely after Tipperary hit the front following a devastating spell which yielded three cracking goals midway through the first half.

As events transpired, a shell-shocked Limerick side could make no inroads whatsoever on a truly magnificent Tipperary defence and, as a result, the outcome was never in any doubt.

After a very tentative opening period, which saw the sides level at one point a piece, Tipperary gradually took control primarily because of the excellence of their three outstanding half-backs, David Kennedy, Diarmuid Fitzgerald and Evan Hanley and their most influential midfield pairing of Joe Caesar and Shane McSweeney.

Suddenly and dramatically the pendulum of supremacy swung in Tipp’s favour and the Limerick rearguard which had managed to hold its own early on was ripped asunder with a vengeance.

Frances Devanney exploded into action on the 40 and with full-forward Tony Scroope and wing-forward Michael Farrell turning on the style in a most impressive manner, Limerick were torn to shreds.

Devanney burst through for Tipp’s first goal in the 13th minute; four minutes later Scroope pounced to hit the second and corner-forward Evan Sweeney made it goal number three in the 20th minute.

Limerick, who scored just two points in the first half, were totally devastated by this sensational turn of events and, trailing by 3-5 to 0-2 at the interval, were always left fighting a lost cause.

Not even a point from a free from Niall Moran, 10 seconds after the restart, could inspire a Limerick comeback, even though they had a strong wind to their backs in the second half, which was lashed by thunder showers.

Quite simply, Limerick were a dreadful disappointment on this occasion and their failure to make any impressive whatsoever on the superb Tipperary defence, in which all seven performed heroically, proved to be the catalyst for a resounding defeat. Scroope got his second goal and Tipp’s fourth in the 44th minute and the most promising Burgress full-forward completed his hat-trick eight minutes later.

An off-colour Andrew O’Shaughnessy did manage to grab a late consolation goal for Limerick five minutes from the end, but if ever there was a one-sided contest, this was it. A sorry let-down indeed for the approximate attendance of 8,000.

Scorers: Tipperary; T. Scroope 3-3 (0-3 frees), F. Devanney 1-1, E. Sweeney 1-0, R. Ruth 0-2, M. Farrell 0-2, W. Ryan, P. Buckley, W. Cully 0-1 each. Limerick; A. O’Shaughnessy 1-1, N. Moran 0-4 (0-2 frees), B. Murray, M. O’Brien (free) 0-1 each.,

TIPPERARY: P. McCormack, A. Morrissey, C. O’Mahoney, H. Maloney, D. Kennedy, D. Fitzgerald, E. Hanley, J. Caesar, S. McSweeney, P. Buckley, F. Devanney, M. Farrell, W. Ryan, T. Scroope, E. Sweeney, subs. R. Ruth for Sweeney, D. Sheppard for Ryan, W. Cully for Buckley, D. Morrissey for Fitzgerald, D. O’Brien for Scroope.

LIMERICK: W. Tobin, G. Heagney, S. Barry, J. O’Connor, P. O’Dwyer, M. O’Brien, R. Murphy, J. Ryan, K. O’Mahoney, P. Kirby, A. O’Shaughnessy, N. Moran, E. Ryan, A. O’Connell, P. Russell, subs. K. Breen for O’Connor, M. O’Sullivan for J. Ryan, B. Murray for O’Connell, R. Bennis for E. Ryan, I. Burke for Bennis.

Referee: S. McMahon (Clare).