Confident Limerick march over Tipperary with third straight victory

Tom Clancy in Rathkeale

Limerick 1-18
Tipperary 1-10

Limerick advanced to the last eight of the Tailteann Cup for the second season in a row. This, after a richly deserved win over Tipperary at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale.

Nine different scorers which included 1-4 from young talent Emmet Rigter, helped Limerick over the line. The final margin of eight was created by a strong finish, but in truth, Tipperary were always chasing a more confident looking Limerick.

It is the first time since the Spring of 2020 that the Treaty have secured three wins on the bounce – this following up successes over London and Offaly in recent weeks.

Jimmy Lee’s men led 0-8 to 1-4 at the midway point. The Paudie Feehan goal arriving just before the break but Josh Ryan’s 45′, his second of the half, put Limerick back ahead.

Before that, Limerick were on top, with Danny Neville, Iain Corbett and Tony McCarthy accurate with efforts. There was a couple of half-openings for goals but nothing concrete for the home side.

For Tipperary, who have had a very challenging year, Seán O’Connor was their target man, but they couldn’t serve him enough during an underwhelming team display that was blighted by a trio of casualties through injury during the game.

Scoring the first three points after the resumption, Limerick looked good, however, Feehan and O’Connor as well as Stephen Quirke, cut the gap.

Things could have been different when Feehan saw his powerful effort rebound off the bar, which Limerick turned into an attack. Rigter finished the move and his end to the game saw Limerick over the line.

Scores from Neville, Tommy Childs and Rigter pulled Limerick clear. Rigter, the Newcastle West star, finished left-footed for his third goal in three Tailteann Cup games, after Brian Ahern found Neville who passed to the wing-forward.

Neville tapped over two more scores late on to swell the margin to the largest seen all afternoon.

Monday’s draw will see Limerick travel to Sligo, Fermanagh or Kildare in the last eight clash. Laois proved a hurdle too large at the same juncture 12 months ago.

Scorers for Limerick: Emmet Rigter 1-4 (0-1 mark); Danny Neville 0-4; Josh Ryan 0-3 (0-2 ‘45’s, 0-1 free); Peter Nash 0-2 (0-2 frees); Iain Corbett, James Naughton, Tony McCarthy, Cillian Fahy, Tommie Childs 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Sean O’Connor 0-5 (0-3 frees); Paudie Feehan 1-1; Peter McGarry 0-2; Teddy Doyle ,Stephen Quirke 0-1 each.

Limerick: Josh Ryan; Cormac Woulfe, Séan O’Dea, Paul Maher; Barry Coleman, Cillian Fahy, Tony McCarthy; Tommy Childs, Iain Corbett; Robbie Childs, Emmett Rigter, James Naughton; Cathal Downes, Danny Neville, Peter Nash.  

Subs: Brian Ahern for Nash (54); Jim Liston for Woulfe (62); Colm McSweeney for T Childs (67); Bryan Nix for Naughton (67); Darren O’Doherty for Maher (70).

Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Emmet Moloney, Jimmy Feehan, James Morris; Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, Stephen Grogan; Liam Boland, Stephen Quirke; Conall Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, Kieran Costello; Peter McGarry, Seán O’Connor, Eoghan Power.

Subs: Shane O’Connell for Morris (inj – 10); Conor Cadell for Stokes (inj – 31); Teddy Doyle for J Kennedy (inj – 40); Rory O’Dowd for Boland (52); Mark Russell for McGarry (59).

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)