Tipperary survive curveball of Bubbles O'Dwyer's red card
It was an early spike of adrenaline in a game that fizzled out, despite a late, late goal for Limerick. That score cut Tipp’s winning margin to two and they had to throw back another Limerick attack, but the game seemed to be theirs from a long way out. A string of second-half wides by both sides took the tension out of the game and despite being reduced to 14 men, Tipp’s workrate and experience made sure they qualified for the Munster final next month against Waterford.
Add to those qualities their rampaging number nine and you understand why Tipp are many people’s fancy for success in September. Michael Breen’s two first-half goals came when he was bursting onto the edge of the small square in support of his forwards, and he covered the field so impressively that omitting any comparison with Martin O’Neill’s options in the middle of the park requires superhuman restraint.
