Cillian Fahy strikes at the death to seal McGrath Cup final place for Limerick

The Dromcollogher Broadford man had the final say in Fethard where a draw was enough to move into the pre season final.

Limerick snatched a late 1-13 to 2-10 draw with Tipperary to book their place in the McGrath Cup final in Fethard Town Park earlier today.

Tipperary struck for an injury time goal that would have been enough but it was Cillian Fahy that grabbed the decisive levelling score to see Limerick into Wednesday’s final.

There they will play Cork or Clare, who meet tomorrow in the Banner.

The sides were level at the half, 1-6 apiece with Davy Lyons getting the final score before the interval.

It was Lyons who kicked off the scoring in Fethard after five minutes following a couple of Tipp wides. Three minutes later Sean O’Connor had the leveller with a free.

Cian Sheehan kicked Limerick back into the lead with a fine score off the left with Adrian Enright following suit minutes later for a two point lead.

Conor Sweeney halved the deficit for Tipp before Limerick struck for the games opening goal after 16 minutes. Holding onto possession for a sustained period, Sheehan picked out Gordon Brown with a brilliant through ball with the Na Piarsaigh man making no mistake firing into the net.

That had Limerick 1-3 to 0-2 in front. Sweeney and Sean O’Connor replied for Tipp but a double of long-range frees from Donal O’Sullivan restored Limerick’s advantage as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark.

But 1-2 without reply followed from the hosts as they took the lead for the first time on 36 minutes when O’Connor buried the ball into the corner of the Limerick net following points from Teddy Doyle and Steven O’Brien.

Lyons had the final say of the half then as they exchanged ends all square.

Liam McGrath began the second half scoring for Tipperary a minute after the restart but Brown replied for Limerick. Cian Sheehan had the Shannonsiders in front with a free with Adrian Enright doubling the advantage.

Sweeney hit back for Tipp briefly but Sheehan’s third of the had Limerick 1-10 to 1-8 ahead with twenty minutes to play. O’Connor found the taregt for Tipp to make it a one point game. Substitute Peter Nash struck over on 54 before Sweeney and O’Sullivan exchanged frees.

O’Sullivan’s point had Limerick 1-12 to 1-10 ahead with ten to play and with conditions worsening, there was no more scores in the remaining period of injury time.

Tipperary thought they had snatched victory and a place in the final when they scrambled to the net but Cillian Fahy’s late intervention was enough for Limerick who await Cork or Clare in Wednesday’s final.

Scorers for Limerick: Gordon Brown (1-1), Donal O’Sullivan (3frees), Cian Sheehan (1f) (both 0-3), Davy Lyons, Adrian Enright (both 0-2), Peter Nash, Cillian Fahy (both 0-2)

Limerick: Donal O’Sullivan, David Connolly, Sean O’Dea, Brian Fanning, Barry Coleman, Iain Corbett, Jack Ryan, Cillian Fahy, Colm McSweeney, Paul Maher, Cian Sheehan, Adrian Enright, Davy Lyons, Gordon Brown, Cathal Downes.

Subs Used: James Naughton, Peter Nash, Dara Noonan, Jim Liston,

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