Brilliant Byrnes points the way as Limerick finally pull away from Tipp
Cian Lynch of Limerick in action against Michael Breen of Tipperary during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Limerick and Tipperary at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Pic: Seb Daly, Sportsfile
Diarmaid Byrnes produced seven points as Limerick eventually saw off Tipperary in an entertaining if low intensity Division 1A, Round 3 contest in TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Two of the Patrickswell man’s points came in the closing stages where Limerick had enough to shoo their neighbours away in front of the 11,213 crowd.
Like so many times in their battles with John Kiely’s Limerick, Tipperary were up at the break but found themselves behind by the middle of the second half. The difference here was there was no drift and they were just two in arrears in the 53rd minute. Shane Dowling was also forced to deny an admittedly tame goal attempt by Seánie Kenneally in the 48th minute.
Four Darragh McCarthy frees in 10 minutes were vital in Tipperary staying with Limerick. The last of them on the hour mark made it a one-point game. Diarmaid Byrnes and McCarthy swapped placed balls prior to Aaron Gillane stretching the margin to two points in the 68th minute.
Ethan Hurley landed his second point before Byrnes whistled over scores, one from play and the other a placed ball, to seal Limerick their first points of the campaign.
Scores had come thick and fast in the early moments, three points a piece inside the first six minutes and that rate of a score a minute lasted until the 19th minute.
Tipperary were marginally better in the opening 10 minutes with an array of scorers and they were clever with some of their puck-outs. However, four Limerick points without reply put them three points ahead by the 15th minute.
Aidan O’Connor was enjoying himself and the home side pushed four ahead in the 18th minute only for Tipperary to strike back with a bounce, the second of them a Jake Morris effort after Ronan Maher had stopped Kyle Hayes with a thundering hit.
Hayes left the field injured seconds later and Tipperary jumped into the lead in the 25th minute when Kenneally fired a sweet shot to the net without taking the ball to hand.
Michael Breen had sent in a diagonal ball which broke down from a contest between Kenneally and Dan Morrissey. McCarthy picked up the breaking ball and hand-passed it inside to Kenneally to double the sliotar to the net.
Tipperary went as far as two ahead themselves in the 27th minute. Limerick rued a goal chance spurned by an overcooked Donnacha Ó Dalaigh stick pass to Aaron Gillane.
Still, Limerick continued to push and a Cian Lynch point, another score from play converted without taking the ball to hand, tied the game for a fifth time. Alan Tynan’s second point ensured Tipp took the half-time lead, 1-13 to 0-15.
D. Byrnes (0-7, 3 frees); A. O’Connor (0-5); A. Gillane (0-4, 3 frees); D. Reidy, P. O’Donovan, A. English (0-3 each); C. Lynch, E. Hurley (0-2 each); E. Stokes (0-1).
D. McCarthy (0-9, frees); S. Kenneally (1-3); J. Morris (0-4); A. Tynan (0-3); W. Connors, M. Breen, B. O’Mara, G. O’Connor (0-1 each).
S. Dowling; B. Murphy, D. Morrissey, F. O’Connor; D. Byrnes, K. Hayes, C. Coughlan; A. English, D. Reidy; A. O’Connor, E. Stokes, C. Lynch (c); A. Gillane, D. Ó Dalaigh, P. O’Donovan.
: E. Hurley for K. Hayes (inj 24); M. Houlihan for D. Ó Dalaigh (47); H. Flanagan for E. Stokes (66); D. Lynch for P. O’Donovan (68).
B. Hogan; R. Doyle, M. Breen, E. Connolly; S, Kennedy, R. Maher (c), B. O’Mara; W. Connors, C. Morgan; A. Tynan, G. O’Connor, J. Morris; D. McCarthy, S. Kenneally, D. Stakelum.
B. McGrath for S. Kennedy, C. Bowe for D. Stakelum (both 46); M. Corcoran for C. Morgan (57); J. McGrath for G. O’Connor, J. Ryan for W. Connors (both 65).
C. Mooney (Dublin)
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