Heroic Limerick Survive For A Replay

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Limerick 1-19
Tipperary 1-19

By Dermot Kavanagh

It was like old times at Limerick on Sunday for the first semi-final of the Munster championship.

With sweltering heat (it was 27 degrees at the Gaelic Grounds), traffic congestion, a marvellous match between two highly noticed teams culminated in a nerve tingling finish as 14-man Limerick salvaged the game with a late Pat Tobin goal.

If last Sunday's Dublin vs. Meath clash fired up the football championship, yesterday's game has done likewise for the hurling championships.

While the early stages of the game were fairly muted, once the teams settled and got their second wind in the oppressive conditions the game was as competitive and as high in quality as any of the memorable Munster championship games of the recent past.

Limerick, mainly through the sterling hurling and point scoring ability of Ollie Moran, matched the favourites for the opening quarter.

Then, just as they began to appear the most likely winners (leading by 0-5 to 0-3) Limerick suffered two blows between the 20th and 22nd minutes that looked at worst mortal and at best crippling.

First, Tipperary's bustling John Carroll was allowed through the Limerick defence for a well taken goal.

Then just as Limerick began to pick themselves off the ground came the second sucker-punch.

Team captain Damian Real, the man expected to put the shackles on Tipperary danger man, Eoin Kelly, was correctly sent off for an undisciplined strike on the Tipperary man's arm in full view of the referee.

To their credit Limerick regrouped from those potential disasters and did well to limit further damage as they went in for the break only two points in arrears, 1-9 to 0-10.

Much of the credit for Limerick's defence in the closing minutes of this half must go to defenders Lucy, Geary and particularly Seamus Hickey who was given the daunting task of picking up Eoin Kelly.

Rather ominously for Limerick the opening stages of the second half saw Tipperary at their best.

They used their numerical advantage cleverly and scored some brilliant points without appearing to overstretch themselves.

Despite Tipperary looking the most likely winners at this stage, they were unable to put a gap of more then three points between the teams.

Hurling defiantly, Limerick refused to buckle as the quality of the hurling and the crowds reaction began to reach fever pitch.

To the credit of both teams thirteen consecutive scores from play were taken as the action rotated from end to end.

Despite their best efforts Limerick's chance appeared to have gone as Tipperary, with points from Kelly, Corbett and Ryan again took a three-point lead as the clock passed the 69th minute.

Amidst the almost unbearable tension, Limerick were awarded a free out which Geary lobbed down on the Tipperary 21 metre line.

Ollie Moran made a brilliant catch amidst a flurry of flying hurleys and, having made some ground, hand-passed the ball into the path of sub, Pat Tobin who was unmarked on the edge of the square.

In a flash the ball was resting in the corner of Brennan Cummins' net to the delight of all the Limerick followers and most neutrals, including this observer since, if ever a team deserved a second chance it was the gallant Shannon-siders.

Nine times during the game they were able to level the scores. In the brutally hot conditions every player, and substitute deserved the highest praise for their respective efforts.

So it's on to Thurles next Saturday evening at 7p.m. for the replay.

The question arises as to which team will benefit most from Sunday's encounter? Tipperary will probably feel that they should have been able to hold out against Limerick's 14 men.

To this Observer, the pendulum has swung slightly in Limerick's favour.

While they have to concede home advantage for the replay they know that they can perform at this level and, if they could reduce their tendency to concede needless frees, both in defence and in attack, a place in the Munster final is not beyond their capabilities.

Full credit to referee Diarmuid Kirwan from Cork for a job very well done.