Premier punish wasteful Limerick

EXTREMELY poor finishing cost Limerick dearly in Semple Stadium yesterday evening in this Munster minor football semi-final.

There is dubious reward for an admittedly more clinical Tipperary, however, as they now advance to meet Kerry, conquerors of Cork, in the final. On the evidence of this encounter, vast improvement will be needed if Tipp are to have any chance in that one.

A sterile first-half performance by that Limerick attack saw them waste the strong wind advantage on what was a sun-kissed evening in Thurles.

Despite an abundance of possession won by midfielders Darragh Bonfil and Cormac Joyce Power (both of whom were members of Munster Senior Cup-winning rugby school Castletroy), four points was all the visitors could manage in that first half-hour, a feat (let’s call it that) matched by Tipp.

The fact that three of Limerick’s points came from 45s by corner-forward Paraic McEnery, the fourth from a free by the same player, tells all that needs to be told.

Tipp’s four points came from the boot of midfielder Alan Moloney, and forwards Damien Lowry, Gavin Ryan, David McGrath and Michael O’Dwyer. Poor football from Limerick and from Tipp, poorer entertainment for what was merely a cosy attendance in this massive stadium.

The second half saw a much improved performance from both sides, but Tipp were the ones who managed to get the scoreboard going. Early points from Moloney (his second) and team captain Conor Sweeney, sandwiched round a similar effort from Limerick centre-forward Eoghan O’Connor, saw them into a one-point lead, before McEnery, with his fifth point from placed balls, tied it up again in the 38th minute. Then came the two decisive scores of this game, the two goals, and two superb efforts they were.

The first came from captain Sweeney, in the 40th minute; David McGrath won a ball about 60m from the Limerick goal, looked up, spotted the run of Sweeney, and centred a superb long pass. Sweeney bore down on goal and a fine strike off the outside of his left boot beat Darragh O’Sullivan in the Limerick goals all ends up — 1-6 to 0-6 in favour of Tipp.

Four minutes later that lead was doubled, this time Darren Lowry in the role of play-maker; another fine long-ball foot pass and this time it was McGrath himself lurking alone inside. Again the finish was emphatic, and even with 16 minutes still on the clock it looked all over for Limerick.

They attempted to rally though and in the final five minutes it was all Limerick, O’Connor most prominent, Joyce Power also involved, but three late goal attempts from close-range frees (all taken by O’Connor) resulted only in frustration — the first rocked the crossbar, was cleared; the other two flew inches over the bar. The story of Limerick’s evening actually — so near, so far.

Scorers for Tipperary: C. Sweeney 1-1; D. McGrath 1-0; A. Moloney 0-2; M. O’Dwyer 0-2 (frees); D. Lowry, G. Ryan, M. Hickey, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: P. McEnery 0-5 (0-3 45’s 0-2 frees); E. O’Connor 0-4 (0-2 frees).

TIPPERARY: J. English; D. Heffernan, S. Russell, K. O’Riordan; T. Hanley, R. Kiely, C. Walsh; A. Moloney, P. Acheson; D. Lowry, G. Ryan, D. Bourke; C. Sweeney (c), D. McGrath, M. O’Dwyer. Subs: M. Hickey (Bourke 46); L. Treacy (McGrath 53); B. O’Hara (Hanley 58); S. Boland (Lowry 60); T. Bourke (O’Dwyer 60+3).

LIMERICK: D. O’Sullivan; T. Barrett, P. Begley, A. O’Sullivan; A. Morrissey, J. Browne, M. Sheehan; D. Bonfil, C. Joyce Power; C. Ryan, E. O’Connor, S. Carroll; E. McEnery, S. Garry, P. McEnery (c). Subs: S. Flavin (Barrett 43); J. Walsh (Ryan 47); T. McCarthy (Morrissey 55); J. Richardson (Garry 60+1); J. Fitzgerald (P. McEnery 60+1).

Referee: G. Lynch (Kerry) — mediocre performance.