Limerick Minor Hurlers suffer last minute defeat to Tipp

The Limerick Minor Hurlers suffered a last minute defeat to last years All Ireland champions Tipperary in the Quarter Final of the Munster Minor Hurling Championship in Semple Stadium in Thurles last night on a scoreline of 4-15 to 2-18.

A last minute injury time goal by Tipperary forward Niall Hoctor sealed the win for the premier county in a thrilling clash.

Limerick will now play the loser of Cork and Waterford in a play of which should be played next month. The winner of this match would then progress on to the Munster semi-final.

Tipp’s Conor McCarthy hit the first goal of the match in the 6th minute. McCarthy who was a late call up to the starting team helped the home side lead 1-07 to 0-4 in the opening 16 minutes.

Soon after this a fantastic run by Limerick’s Ronan Connolly gave his side their first goal of the match as he flew through the Tipperary defence passing the ball of to team mate Dylan O’Shea who rattled the ball to the back of the net and level the scores.

Tipperary did not sit back and got 1-02 before the end of the first half with an Andrew Ormond goal stretching their lead even further.

That flurry of scores meant Tipperary led Limerick 2-10 to 1-8 at half time, finishing the stronger team in the opening 30 minutes.

The premier county came back out at half time all guns blazing and quickly got their 3rd goal of the match after only 20 seconds with Willie Barry hitting the ball pasting Limerick goalkeeper Bryan Curtin.

Limerick need to regroup and they didn’t press the panic button. Instead, they set about making inroads into Tipperary’s lead and two minutes later Dylan O’Shea’s shot found the back of the Tipperary net.

With time running out, brilliant scores from David Woulfe and Paul O’Brien levelled the game for the second time.

O’Brien then struck another superb score to put Limerick ahead for the first time in the match 2-18 to 3-14 going into injury time.

However it was not to be for the Limerick men as Tipp’s Jake Morris levelled the game deep into injury time.

Limerick would have been fully deserving of at least a replay but it wasn’t to be as Niall Hector’s late goal mean Tipperary go through to the next round and Limerick must take an alternative route.

Regardless of the result there are plenty of positives for Anthony Daly to take on to the next game.

Scorers

Limerick: Paul O’Brien 0-11 (0-7 frees, 0-1 65) Dylan O’Shea 2-2, David Woulfe 0-3, Dan Minehan and  Ronan Connolly 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Conor McCarthy 1-3,  Anthony McKelvey 0-5 (0-4 frees), Andrew Ormond 1-1, Willie Barry and Niall Hoctor 1-0 each, Conor Bowe and Jake Morris 0-2 each, Cathal Bourke and Kieran Breen 0-1 each.

Limerick: Bryan Curtin; Conor Flahive, Conor Nicholas, Ciaran Barry; Mikey O’Brien, Jerome Boylan, Dan Minehan; Michael O’Grady, Rory Duff; Paul O’Riordan, Paul O’Brien, David Woulfe; Dylan O’Shea, Ronan Connolly, Ryan Tobin. Subs: Ken Brynes for Ryan Tobin (45),  Paudie Maher for Dan Minehan (56)

Tipperary: Eoin Collins, Michael Purcell, Michael Feehan, Jerome Cahill, Joe Gunne, Paddy Caddell, Kieran Breen; Bryan O’Mara, Craig Morgan, Conor Bowe, Jack Morris, Ray McCormack, Andrew Ormond, Anthony McKelvey, Darragh Woods. Subs: Willie Barry for Darragh Woods (half time), Cathal Bourke for Conor McCarthy (40), Brendan Murphy for Joe Gunne (45), Niall Noctor for Andrew Ormond (56)