GAA
Under John Kiely, Limerick have dominated the fixtures between the Munster rivals, winning each of the last four and five of the last six since 2018.
Limerick travel to Thurles to take on Tipperary in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship for the first time since 2019 this Sunday afternoon.
The defending Munster champions will have their backs to the wall as results elsewhere prior to throw in could leave them in a must win position.
However, under John Kiely, Limerick have dominated the fixtures between the Munster rivals, winning each of the last four and five of the last six since 2018.
Tipp’s most recent success came in the 2019 round robin stage of the Munster championship with Limerick getting their revenge a fortnight later in the provincial final.
However, that was the last meeting of the sides in Semple Stadium and ahead of the clash in the same venue on Sunday, recap the last five clashes between the counties.
Tipperary 1-22 : 0-21 Limerick (Munster Hurling Championship)
16 June 2019 in Semple Stadium
Assured of their place in the knockout stages, a much changed Limerick side fell to a rejuvenated Liam Sheedy and Tipp in the final round of the 2019 Munster championship.
The changes affected Limerick’s rhythm with John Kiely’s side out of sorts in the opening half. Despite this, Tipp struggled to pull away from the visitors.
Jason Forde did give them a four point advantage after 23 minutes which they retained for a 0-12 to 0-8 lead at the break.
Graeme Mulcahy’s introduction gave Limerick a boost as they got the first couple of scores of the new half. But Seamus Callanan would get his customary goal quickly after to reassert Tipp’s dominance.
Limerick did battle but could not get within three of Tipp as the sides traded scores throughout the second period. Tipp would go six clear heading into additional time with Limerick grabbing the final two scores of the day which would act as little more than consolation.
Results elsewhere meant the sides would meet again a fortnight later in the Munster final at the Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick 2-26 : 2-14 Tipperary (Munster Hurling Final)
30 June 2019 in the Gaelic Grounds
Limerick were in irresistible form in front of a packed Gaelic Grounds to claim a first Munster title since 2013 as they put Tipperary to the sword in the second half.
After the win in Thurles two weeks previously, Tipperary picked up where they left off as Seamus Callanan’s goal midway through the half gave them a 1-6 to 0-4 advantage.
Limerick were level after 25 with Peter Caesey flicking Aaron Gillane’s clever pass past Brian Hogan. The sides picked off a number of scores each before Limerick pulled two clear, 1-11 to 1-9 at the half time whistle.
Limerick moved four clear to start the half but Tipp were level with 26 to play after John McGrath goaled.
The Shannonsiders didn’t seem perturbed by the setback and made light work of Tipperary from here on in. The gap was three on 54 minutes when Kyle Hayes grabbed Limerick’s second goal of the day to give them daylight at 2-18 to 2-12.
Nickie Quaid would save at point blank range from Callanan as Limerick rattled off six successive scores. In the end the margin was 12-points as the Limerick faithful once again stormed the Ennis Rd pitch.
Limerick 3-23 : 2-17 Tipperary (Munster Hurling Semi-final)
November 1st 2020 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Limerick got one over on Tipperary in a stormy Páirc Uí Chaoimh in November of 2020. Limerick got the perfect opportunity to put their talents and athleticism on show against a Tipperary side that struggled to keep up.
It was the free-taking ability of Jason Forde and the early goal from Jake Morris’ after 20 minutes that kept Tipperary in the game, however it did little damage to the well oiled machine that was the Limerick defence.
Tipperary enjoyed a period where they trailed by a mere point, however that was short lived as Aaron Gillane found the back of the Tipperary net. Limerick kept their foot on the gas until half-time, outscoring Tipp by 8 points to 3 to lead by 1-17 to 1-8 at the break.
In the second half, the efforts of Niall O’Meara and Jason Forde narrowed the gap to a manageable 6 points. However, the wind was taken out of Tipperary’s sails as the Limerick attack pilled on the pressure. Regardless of John McGrath’s goal for Tipp, the substitutions of David Reidy, Seamus Flanagan, and Pat Ryan gave Limerick an extra gear to keep Tipp pinned back into their own half.
The fresh legs of David Reidy and Seamus Flanagan saw Limerick’s lead extend and the clock approach full-time. The dominant Limerick side sealed the final scoreline of 3-23 to 2-17 over a bland Tipperary.
Limerick 2-29 : 3-21 Tipperary (Munster Hurling Final)
18 July 2021 in Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Limerick produced one of the great comebacks as a third quarter-blitz swung a tantalising Munster final with John Kiely’s men securing a three-in-a-row with a 2-29 to 3-21 victory in a sun soaked Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
That outcome seemed highly unlikely as Tipp took the game to Limerick, leading by ten at the break.
Goals from Jake Morris and John O’Dwyer had Limerick shellshocked as they struggled against the Tipperary tide.
And retreating to the dressing rooms, Tipp’s lead was not only 2-16 to 0-12 but full deserved.
However, Limerick came out a different team and by the second waterbreak, the lead had been evaporated as they outscored the premier county 1-10 to 0-1 in seventeen exquisite minutes.
Seamus Flanagan set out the stall, pouncing for Limerick’s first goal after Aaron Gillane’s effort had been well stopped. That had Limerick 1-22 to 2-17 ahead at the final break.
Then up stepped Kyle Hayes with a contender for best goal of all time with a stunning solo effort that began on his 65′ and finished with the Kildimo Pallaskenry man batting to the net.
That effort completely took the wind from the Tipp sails as Limerick cruised over the line to retain their title for the third successive season in devastating fashion.
Limerick 3-21 : 0-23 Tipperary (Munster Hurling Championship)
8 May 2022 in the TUS Gaelic Grounds
Limerick made it three Munster championship wins on the trot in the TUS Gaelic Grounds as they beat Tipperary 3-21 to 0-23. It was also a fourth successive win over the Premier and booked Limerick’s passage to the All-Ireland series prior to their final round game with Clare.
The Shannonsiders left it late to secure the win with goals in the final quarter from Aaron Gillane and Conor Boylan spoiling any chance of an upset.
Gillane goaled early in the first half but Tipp seemed primed and ready for the Limerick challenge as they led 1-9 to 0-14 at the interval as they sought a first win of the campaign under Colm Bonner.
Diarmaid Byrnes eventually levelled for Limerick with less than ten to play before the pair of goals killed off the Tipperary challenge.
With five to play, Seamus Flanagan picked out Conor Boylan for his first championship goal that pushed Limerick six in front. Gillane then rounded out the goalscoring in the final minute of normal time, again fetching over his man before supplying the desired finish.
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