Limerick and Tipperary play out thrilling Munster Senior Hurling Championship draw

Limerick got their Munster SHC campaign off to a 2-23 to 2-23 with Tipperary in a pulsating clash at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

The Mick Mackey Cup holders led by one deep in added time but a late, late free for Tipperary saw the game finish level.

Young guns Darragh McCarthy and Adam English traded blows in the opening minutes but two further strikes by McCarthy saw Tipperary lead 0-3 to 0-1 after 6.

Kyle Hayes, operating at centre forward, and Aaron Gillane soon had Limerick level once again but Jake Morris and Eoghan Connolly saw Tipperary swing the game in their favour.

Diarmaid Byrnes and Shane O’Brien ensured that Limerick weren’t behind for long and the then hit the front with an English goal.

The Doon starlet benefitted from a gorgeous Gillane pass and provided a one handed flick beyond the onrushing Barry Hogan and into the net. That left the score at 1-6 to 0-7 with 18 minutes of the game played.

However, Tipperary responded with Morris and McCarthy squaring the game up for a fifth time. Colin Coughlan and Gearoid Hegarty both then hit the target for John Kiely’s men with Morris responding for Tipperary.

It was the home side that took control in the final stages of the half by hitting six on the trot, three of which came from Connolly frees to give them a 0-16 to 1-10 lead at the break.

Cian Lynch and O’Brien reduced the gap to one at the start of the second half. Alan Tynan struck for Tipp but an O’Brien thunderbolt accounted for Limerick’s second goal that put them one in front.

Barry Nash then put Limerick two clear but a superb John McGrath goal saw Tipperary wrestle into the ascendancy once again.

Two Gillane scores brought Limerick to the front but the game was on a knife edge throughout the second half.

Limerick led by one with seven to play but were hit by another John McGrath goal that saw Tipperary go two clear.

Gillane and Byrnes saw Limerick level the contest for an 11th time. A Gillane free then put Limerick in front but McCarthy ensured the game finished level at full time.

Scorers – LImerick: Shane O’Brien 1-4, Aaron Gillane 0-7 (4f), Adam English 1-3, Kyle Hayes and Diarmaid Byrnes 0-2(1f) each, Colin Coughlan, Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Barry Nash and Tom Morrissey 0-1 each.

Scorers – Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-8 (5f), John McGrath 2-1 Jake Morris and Eoghan Connolly 0-4 (4f) each, Bryan O’Mara, Jason Forde, Alan Tynan, Craig Morgan, Noel McGrath and Seamus Kennedy 0-1 each.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Barry Murphy (Doon), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh, Barry Nash (Na Piarsaigh); Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); Adam English (Doon), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell); Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), Tom Morrissey (Ahane); Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca).

Subs: Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown) for Morrissey (50), Peter Casey for Hegarty (58).

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Joe Caesar, Ronan Maher, Bryan O’Mara; Craig Morgan, Darragh Stakelum; Alan Tynan, Jake Morris, Sam O’Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath, Jason Forde.

Subs: Noel McGrath for Caesar (42), Conor Bowe for Forde (50), Seamus Kennedy for D Stakelum (52), Conor Stakelum for Tynan (68), Sean Kenneally for McGrath (68).

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).