Jack Leamy's late frees see Tipperary overcome Limerick in Champions Under Lights challenge

The match was in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

WIN'S A WIN: A late pair of Jack Leamy frees saw Tipperary hold on for a one-point victory over Limerick. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Champions Under Lights challenge: Tipperary 1-21 Limerick 0-23

A late pair of Jack Leamy frees saw Tipperary hold on for a one-point victory over Limerick in the Champions Under Lights challenge at Fethard Town Park in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

Liam Cahill’s All-Ireland champions built up a six-point interval lead with the wind and were never headed, although Limerick pulled level with three minutes remaining.

Then, Kevin McCarthy and Brian Óg O’Dwyer won frees to complete Leamy’s 0-10 haul. Limerick created enough chances to win, but must tune up their shooting after spraying 18 wides.

The second of the Champions Under Lights double-header on the Fethard Town Park 4G was played over 30 minutes a half.

The goalkeepers were notable selections as 2019 All-Star Brian Hogan returned between the Premier posts after three years abroad. Meanwhile, Poc Fada champion Colin Ryan was recalled, having last figured in the forwards for the Treaty in 2019. Both advanced their chances with first-half saves.

The wides became the defining factor early on as Limerick struggled to find their radar into the wind. Their third wide, in just the second minute, saw Donnacha Ó Dálaigh hit the side-netting after good work by Shane O’Brien. Tipp got in at the other end, but Ryan made a diving save from Paddy Creedon.

The first 18 minutes featured 17 wides, with the Treaty striking 11 of those. In total, they missed 11 of their first 12 shots, with Oisín O’Farrell breaking their duck at the ninth attempt in the 10th minute.

Tipp took time to settle, too. It was 0-3 to 0-1 at the first-quarter mark before the scores began to flow more freely. O’Brien and Aidan O’Connor levelled, but Tipp tagged on five of the next six points, including efforts from Seán Kenneally, Darragh Tynan, Darragh Stakelum, and McCarthy.

They exchanged goal chances with Seán Casey blocking from Kenneally and Hogan saving from Colin Coughlan.

Kenneally hit the net 27th minute after a good full-forward line combination involving Creedon and Leamy for a 1-11 to 0-8 half-time lead.

A Leamy brace extended their advantage to eight before Limerick lifted their game with four consecutive points, led by O’Connor and O’Brien.

O’Dwyer fizzed a goal chance over and Creedon added 0-2 to restore Tipp's six-point cushion.

Limerick scored seven of the next eight to level, including a brilliant Dylan O’Shea pair from wing-back and Robbie O’Farrell’s second.

McCarthy and O’Connor traded points before Leamy did the business with his late frees. O’Brien pulled it back to one before missing a late levelling opportunity.

Scorers for Tipperary: J Leamy (0-10, 8 frees); S Kenneally (1-1); D Stakelum, P Creedon, K McCarthy (0-2 each); J Caesar, B Óg O’Dwyer, B Seymour, D Tynan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Limerick: A O’Connor (0-8, 5 frees); S O’Brien (0-4, 1 free); O O’Farrell, R O’Farrell, D O’Shea (0-2 each); D Langan, C Coughlan, E Hurley, D Ó Dálaigh, P O’Donovan (0-1 each).

TIPPERARY: Brian Hogan; J Ryan, D Nolan, R McCormack; D Tynan, J Caesar, M Cawley; P McGarry (capt), D Stakelum; J Fogarty, B Seymour, K McCarthy; S Kenneally, P Creedon, J Leamy.

Subs: C Ryan for Cawley (39), B Óg O’Dwyer for Seymour (39), A Daly for McGarry (46), A Hall for Kenneally (46).

LIMERICK: C Ryan; V Harrington, S Casey, E Stokes; D Langan, C O’Neill (capt), C Coughlan; A English, E Hurley; O O’Farrell, A O’Connor, H Flanagan; D Ó Dálaigh, S O’Brien, P O’Donovan.

Subs: R O’Farrell for Flanagan (h-t), J Fitzgerald for Hurley (43), D O’Shea for Coughlan (43), C Thomas for Harrington (43), F Fitzgerald for English (50), D Ferland for Ó Dálaigh (50), M Fitzgerald for Langan (50), J English for O O’Farrell (50), F O’Brien for Ryan (53), J Coughlan for O’Neill (53).

Referee: N O’Toole (Waterford).