As it happened: Limerick hammer Cork, Tipperary defeat Waterford, Clare out
Limerick’s Aaron Gillane and Niall O'Leary of Cork. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie.
Like a ringmaster after Limerick’s win over Waterford, John Kiely called the crowd to roll up and his troop produced quite the show in front of the 42,447 attendance in in TUS Gaelic Grounds.
To read the rest of John Fogarty's match report, click here.
Kyle Hayes named man of the match. Some performance by him and Limerick.
Thanks for following our liveblog across the afternoon as Tipperary beat Waterford and Limerick defeat Cork.
Stay tuned to our website for the best of the analysis and reaction from another big day in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.
Another great score by Peter Casey.
Patrick Horgan hits the crossbar before Robbie O'Flynn sees a goal chance blocked.
Four minutes of added time to be played.
Limerick appear to have had 16 players on the pitch for a brief spell. John Kiely looked to be making a sub but then changed his mind.
Aaron Gillane with a penalty 🎯 for @LimerickCLG against @OfficialCorkGAA in the @MunsterGAA Hurling Championship 🏆 #LIMVCOR pic.twitter.com/w58YIZ9WPS
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 18, 2025
Cathal O'Neill races clear and fires over. Big impact off the bench from O'Neill, looked really sharp.
Robbie O'Flynn for Alan Connolly.
Aaron Gillane wins the penalty and then drills it into the bottom left corner. Game, well and truly, over. Peter Casey then adds a quick score.
Patrick Horgan looks to take the free but a Limerick player won't move. The referee moves it more centrally and Horgan blasts his free into the roof of the net.
Cahalane shown a quick yellow and Gillane fires over the free.
Damien Cahalane on for Niall O'Leary.
Nickie Quaid ----> Gearóid Hegarty. We've seen this before.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 18, 2025
It has been an excellent Limerick display
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Cathal O'Neill splits the posts for Limerick.
Cork close to a goal but Hayes' touch from Coleman's cut drops wide.
Cathal O'Neill and Seamus Flanagan on, Shane O'Brien and Tom Morrissey off.
Patrick Horgan sends a long free wide.
Patrick Horgan scores a long free. Their fans are starting to believe again.
Seamus Harnedy gets his second point of the game shortly after Horgan drops a long free wide.
Patrick Horgan scores yet another free.
Seamus Harnedy with a quick reply for Cork.
Nickie Quaid to Gearoid Hegarty, over the bar. Easy as that. And Aaron Gillane follows quickly with a point of his own.
Brilliant work by Alan Connolly wins Cork a free close to goal. Horgan sends it over. Cork fans feel Kyle Hayes should've been shown a second yellow.
Patrick Horgan adds another free to his tally, his sxith of the afternoon.
Tom Morrissey fires over for Limerick to restore their 15 point lead.
Cormac O'Brien hits two early wides but the second one is brought back for a foul and Patrick Horgan taps it over.
42,477 in TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Second half is underway.
Half-time: In a Leinster goalfest, Kilkenny have beaten Dublin 5-19 to 3-21.
Half-time: That's up there with one of Limerick's most complete halves. Patrick Collins will be able to land plenty of ball down on Brian Hayes in the second half but it's a mountain Cork face 15 points down. Limerick cheered off their team like it was the full-time whistle. The wounded beast is fighting back. John Fogarty
Scorers for Limerick: A. Gillane (1-5, 0-5 frees); A. English (1-2); T. Morrissey (0-4); G. Hegarty (0-2); M. Casey, S. O’Brien, C. Lynch, D. Byrnes, D. Reidy (0-1 each).
Scorers for Cork: P. Horgan (0-4, 2 frees); M. Coleman, R. Downey, B. Hayes, S. Barrett, D. Healy (0-1 each).
36 mins: Limerick 2-18 Cork 0-9 That's half-time. Limerick were sensational in that first half. Cork will have the wind behind them after the break but they'll need more than that to change. Andrew Horgan will be with you for the second half.
34 mins: Limerick 2-18 Cork 0-9 Diarmaid Byrnes steps up from wing-back and fires over his first score of the game. Brian Roche has a response for Cork.
31 mins: Limerick 2-17 Cork 0-8 Kyle Hayes is yellow carded and Horgan scores the free. Gearoid Hegarty is found by Nickie Quaid in acres of space. Easy point for the former Hurler of the Year. Moments later, Tom Morrissey gets his found point of the game after he's found by Adam English.
30 mins: Limerick 2-15 Cork 0-7 Aaron Gillane now has 1-5, his latest point coming from a free.
29 mins: Limerick 2-14 Cork 0-7 David Reidy gets his first point of the game after a tap down from a Quaid puckout.
28 mins: Limerick 2-13 Cork 0-7 Goal for Adam English and then Cian Lynch adds a point. Horgan stems the green tide with a point.
Adam English with a 2⃣nd Goal for @LimerickCLG in a dominant 1st Half against @OfficialCorkGAA in the @MunsterGAA Hurling Championship 🏆 #LIMVCOR pic.twitter.com/AZmLvQ9Glc
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 18, 2025
27 mins: Limerick 1-12 Cork 0-6 Diarmaid Byrnes now on a yellow and a foul. If there is a mercy for Cork, it's on their left wing. Limerick's half-back line is otherwise excellent. Cian Lynch is making the place his playground.
26 mins: Limerick 1-12 Cork 0-6 Robert Downey picks up a yellow card for a foul on Hegarty. Gillane scores the free.
25 mins: Limerick 1-11 Cork 0-6 Shane Barrett gets a point for Cork with the ref playing advantage. Darragh Fitzgibbon follows that with a wide.
23 mins: Limerick 1-11 Cork 0-5 Goal chance for Patrick Horgan but Nickie Quaid saves the shot which was straight at him. Limerick move it down the other end swiftly and Gearoid Hegarty gets a score.
21 mins: Limerick 1-10 Cork 0-5. Patrick Horgan gets his second point of the game from a free. That was for a pull on Alan Connolly by Mike Casey.
19 mins: Limerick 1-10 Cork 0-4 Mike Casey comes raiding forward for a score and then Shane O'Brien adds another for Limerick.
18 mins: Limerick 1-8 Cork 0-4 Brian Hayes gets a badly needed point for Cork. That was their first in 12 minutes but then Adam English gets his second of the game for Limerick. Another goal chance for Limerick, it's stopped on the line but the referee was playing advantage. Aaron Gillane scores the free.
14 mins: Limerick 1-6 Cork 0-3 Tom Morrissey has his third point of the game.
13 mins: Limerick 1-5 Cork 0-3 Eoin Downey pulls Shane O'Brien's jersey and Liam Gordon awards a free. Aaron Gillane knocks it over.
12 mins: Limerick 1-4 Cork 0-3 The classic case of Cork having to weather this storm. They are being made look the much poorer team simply because Limerick are ravenous. Declan Dalton's injury may have rocked them a bit too.
11 mins: Limerick 1-4 Cork 0-3 Aaron Gillane is fouled by Mark Coleman. The Patrickswell man coverts it as well.
7 mins: Limerick 1-3 Cork 0-3 Blow for Cork. Declan Dalton has been forced off with an injury. Brian Roche comes off the bench. Adam English then opens his account.
6 mins: Limerick 1-2 Cork 0-3 After Limerick sprinted off the start line, Cork have settled. Robert Downey adds another point.
5 mins: Limerick 1-2 Cork 0-2 Mark Coleman gets Cork's second point of the day. Then up the other end, Limerick have a goal chance but good last ditch defending from Cork keeps the Treaty out.
4 mins: Limerick 1-2 Cork 0-1 Patrick Horgan gets Cork up and running from a free.
3 mins: Limerick 1-2 Cork 0-0 Rapid start for Limerick. Aaron Gillane finds the back of the net.
Aaron Gillane produces this majestic goal for Limerick as they make a blistering start
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 18, 2025
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2 mins: Limerick 0-2 Cork 0-0 Seconds later Morrissey doubles Limerick's lead.
1 min: Limerick 0-1 Cork 0-0 Slick play by Limerick and Tom Morrissey gives Limerick the lead.
1 min: Liam Gordon throws in the sliotar and they are underway at the Gaelic Grounds between Limerick and Cork.
3:59pm: Tipperary move to five points with a -3 score difference. Cork (3) currently reads +15 and Limerick (3) +6. Clare will be cheering on Cork hoping that they win and effectively make their final round clash with Limerick here a straight knock-out affair. A draw will put the All-Ireland champions out of the championship.
3:47pm: PJ Browne will be taking over shortly to follow the action at the Gaelic Grounds. There are no changes to the announced Cork and Limerick teams. Meanwhile, at half-time in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny are hammering Dublin by 4-12 to 0-10. Kilkenny goals from Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Billy Ryan and Adrian Mullen.
75 mins:Tipperary 1-30 Waterford 1-21 Eoghan Connolly lashes over his third long-range free. Tipp eight clear. Sub O'Donoghue gets another and that's it. Tipp have qualified from Munster. Liam Cahill will be hugely pleased with his team's response to Waterford pulling level with 20 minutes to play.
73 mins: Tipperary 1-28 Waterford 1-21 Seanie Kenneally lofts over from out on the left and Tipp look good now. Ronan Maher lifts another Déise siege with a massive catch.
72 mins Tipperary 1-27 Waterford 1-21: Darragh McCarthy points another free from the 45. That's 11 for him.
70 mins: Tipperary 1-26 Waterford 1-21: Six minutes of injury time announced. Six points between them. Bennett goes for goal again from play from miles out. Saved, but Patrick Fitz points rebound. Waterford have enough time not to panic.
69 mins Stephen Bennett has a close-in free for Waterford. Go for goal? He does, and it's blocked.
67 mins Tipperary 1-26 Waterford 1-20: Jamie Barron drives wide from long distance. A 12th wide for the Déise. Next score massive. And that score is a Tipp goal by Oisín O'Donoghue, just in as a sub.
65 mins Tipperary 0-26 Waterford 1-20: A fourth point for Jamie Barron, just four in it, with four to play. Walsh makes an immediate impact with a point. Three in it.
64 mins; Darragh Lyons fires wide from a good position. Dessie Hutchinson off for Waterford. Sean Walsh on.
62 mins: Tipperary 0-26 Waterford 1-18: Darragh Lyons points from a sideline having missed the ball completely with his first swing. Will that ignite another Déise push?
60 mins Tipperary 0-26 Waterford 1-17: Darragh McCarthy adds another free after Jake Morris was fouled.
56 mins Tipperary 0-25 Waterford 1-17: Noel McGrath points for Tipp to go four clear, set up by Darragh Stakelum. Jason Forde points again after a Waterford slip on the puckout. Tipp have responded very well to Waterford drawing level. In Nowlan Park, meanwhile, Kilkenny are 2-8 to 0-9 ahead of Dublin.
55 mins Tipperary 0-23 Waterford 1-17: Kenny fouls McCarthy again, this time a free on the 45. The Toomevara man puts three between them again.
52 mins: Tipperary 0-22 Waterford 1-17: Darragh McCarthy pulled back when through on goal but only yellow for Ian Kenny. McCarthy had lost his hurley. Is that a defence? Has referee forgotten Nicky? McCarthy points the free.
51 mins Tipperary 0-21 Waterford 1-17: A Darragh McCarthy free offers Tipp respite.
50 mins: Tipperary 0-20 Waterford 1-17: Bennett makes no mistake. Level. Noel McGrath on to settle Tipp.
49 mins: Tipperary 0-20 Waterford 1-16: Tipp penalised for a throw. Stephen Bennett fires over. Then another from play. Tipp wobbling. Tipp penalised for another throw.
Tipperary 0-20 Waterford 1-14: Stephen Bennett with a free. He has 1-6 now. Back to four. Jamie Barron quickly adds his third. Déise momentum
Eoghan Cormican says: Andrew Ormond has won three frees along in the second period, two of which have been converted. He's also clipped a third point from play. On just his second championship start, he's arguably the most influential player out on the field.
Darragh McCarthy taps over a sixth free for Tipp. Paddy Leavy replies from play. Pat Fitzgerald on for Kevin Mahony.
Eoghan Connolly with a long-range free for Tipp.
Stephen Bennett replies with a Waterford free. But Kevin Mahony follows up with a 10th wide for Waterford.
Andrew Ormond with another point for Tipp, having a fine game.
And we're up and running for the second period!
Hang on, false start - Sean Stack trots immediately into his umpires after a bit of argy-bargy inside. Tipp corner-back Robert Doyle is yellow carded and we go again. Darragh McCarthy picks up where he left off with another point.
In Limerick, John Fogarty has been an interested spectator in Limerick.
"Incredibly slick play from Tipperary at times. The way they are webbing their passes looks great on TV.
Meanwhile, sprinklers have been on in Limerick. The home team are no fan of a dry pitch. As expected, a massive Cork presence here."
: Stephen Bennett got the first score of the game -- that early goal -- and he bookends the action with the final score of the first period. He knocks over a free to bring the visitors within a puck of a ball as they head in.
Stephen Bennett adds another free and Darragh McCarthy does likewise for Tipp.
Andrew Ormond barrels through and is brought down but the referee indicates he's played advantage and John McGrath taps over for a free. Jason Forde adds another excellent sideline cut to get the Tipp! Tipp! Tipp! chants going.
A letoff for Waterford? No penalty, no black card.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 18, 2025
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Jake Morris nails yet another one, before Bennett slots a free. Waterford needed that.
Nine Waterford wides in 24 minutes, plus a 10th point attempt short. Extremely wasteful on the part of the Déise.
Jake Morris -- who's drifting into the centre, Michael Duignan says -- scores again, before Michael Kiely raises a white flag for Waterford.
Tipp hit the front through talisman Jake Morris.
"Make that Tipp outgunning their opponents by 0-9 to 0-3 since Waterford's flying start. Tipp ahead by one," Eoghan writes.
Dessie Hutchinson edges Waterford ahead before Darragh McCarthy replies with another good free.
Eoghan Cormican writes from the Semple Stadium shade: 1-3 to 0-1 down as early as the fourth minute, Tipp, in the ensuing 14 minutes, outgunned their guests by 0-7 to 0-2 to draw level. Fine and necessary response.
The sides are level. Andrew Ormond lofts over a good point, his second of the afternoon, to tie it up.
Tipp and Waterford are level in Thurles
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 18, 2025
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John McGrath points and Darragh McCarthy tacks on a free.
Stephen Bennett points after a pursuit from Michael Breen. He steps back like an NBA player and taps it over. This pace can't last in this heat, right?
Tipperary 0-5 Waterford 1-4 Jamie Barron gets the scoreboard clicking for Waterford again. Mark Fitzgerald adds another wide for the visitors however; they're stacking up.
Sam O'Farrell puts Tipp within one point.
Jason Forde cuts a sideline over the bar. Waterford's Stephen Bennett drags a third free wide.
Darragh McCarthy takes Tipp's first free off the day and he makes no mistake. That will settle him down.
Moments later Jake Morris turns it over and Andrew Ormond points. One-score game now.
Kevin Mahony lands a monster point, moments after Jamie Barron opens his account. Waterford have started at a blistering pace.
writes: 11 seconds is all it took Stephen Bennett to surpass Paul Flynn as Waterford's all-time leading championship scorer. Bennett is now 12-218 from 44 games, one ahead of Flynn at 24-181 from 46 games.
What a start from Waterford!
The Déise hit the net immediately. Jamie Barron's weak point effort is gathered by Stephen Bennett and he finds the net.
Michel Kiely adds a point before Jake Morris replies for the hosts.
The teams are back out and we're almost ready to go for throw-in, though we're still seeing images of crowds flooding in the gates.
10-minute delay! Crowd congestion means the game has been pushed back, we're told.
"Crowds still pouring in. Attendance could top 30,000," Eoghan tells us from Thurles.
The teams have gone back out of the heat, into the dressing-rooms.
Here are the teams then for the first, much-anticipated meeting of the afternoon.
checks in from Semple Stadium to confirm that change for Tipp.
"Darragh McCarthy starts in place of Noel McGrath on the Tipperary team. No changes for Waterford."
Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Sam O'Farrell, Ronan Maher, Bryan O'Mara; Willie Connors, Craig Morgan; Conor Stakelum, Andrew Ormond, Darragh McCarthy; Jake Morris, John McGrath, Jason Forde.
Subs: Barry Hogan, Joe Caesar, Sean Kenneally, Seamus Kennedy, Darragh McCarthy, Peter McGarry, Brian McGrath, Oisin O'Donoghue, Johnny Ryan, Darragh Stakelum, Billy Seymour.
: Billy Nolan; Ian Kenny, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly; Mark Fitzgerald, Tadhg de Burca, Gavin Fives; Paddy Leavey, Darragh Lyons; Stephen Bennett, Kevin Mahony, Jamie Barron; Jack Prendergast, Mikey Kiely, Dessie Hutchinson.
Subs: Shaun O'Brien, Patrick Curran, Shane Bennett, Tom Barron, Patrick Fitzgerald, Conor Sheahan, Sean Walsh, Austin Gleeson, Kieran Bennett, Padraig Fitzgerald, Reuben Halloran.
It's Tipp v Waterford in the Thurles sunshine. Brian Flannery and Niall O'Meara look ahead to the game
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 18, 2025
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Derek McGrath is in the house.
The former Déise boss's pre-game column is well worth a read before throw-in.
Some recommended pre-game reading: Eoghan Cormican has an in-depth conversation with former Waterford hurler Brian Greene who was diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer in 2022.
"After the vital opener in Thurles, we'll have live coverage of Kilkenny v Dublin in Leinster and the prize fight between heavyweights Limerick and Cork."
One change to the starting 15 for Tipperary; Darragh McCarthy comes in for Noel McGrath.
: The RTÉ panel are in good spirits with first blood going to Joanne Cantwell who describes Donal Óg Cusack and Anthony Daly as the men from Del Monte.
Listen to Dalo's Hurling Show here.
Hydration? Check. Glutes activated? Check. Energy gels on hand? Check.
Whatever about the players, we're ready for a huge afternoon of championship hurling action.
Adrian Russell here. First up, we'll go puck by puck for Waterford's trip to Tipp from 2pm.
Kilkenny and Dublin throw in at 3pm in Leinster before it's an Alien v Predator-level blockbuster as Limerick and Cork renew their rivalry at 4pm.
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