Limerick’s case for the defence

LOST in all the hype about Ollie Moran’s two stupendous performances at centre-forward for Limerick in their drawn Munster SHC semi-finals against Tipperary, has been the heroics of the Limerick rearguard.

In the first game, last Sunday week in Limerick, Limerick lost corner-back and captain Damien Reale after just 24 minutes, a second yellow-card offence picked up while marking Tipp danger-man Eoin Kelly.

Trailing 1-4 to 0-5 when Willie Ryan pointed the resultant free, it should have signalled the end of Limerick; instead, it inspired their revival. Young Seamus Hickey changed corners, picked up Kelly, held him to just two points thereafter. Big Stephen Lucey — though picking up yellow himself just two minutes after Damien’s departure — was simply magnificent.