My Favourite Game: Top 10 Limerick Hurling games this Century- 8

With no sport to keep us entertained for the foreseeable future, it is time to get creative and reminisce about all sport has offered us over the years.

As such, I began to examine my favourite hurling games involving Limerick since I first attended the Gaelic Grounds in 2007 as a 10-year-old.

There has been some huge highs and many more lows in Limerick hurling circles over the past thirteen years and for each of the next ten days I will count down my top ten favourite Limerick games.

Earlier this week I went through the honourable mentions, and also;

Number 10.

Number 9.

8.

Limerick 2-26 : 2-14 Tipperary (Munster Final)

30 June 2019 at the LIT Gaelic Grounds

It may seem strange to have Limerick’s biggest Munster final victory in living memory so low on the list but the comprehensive nature of Limerick’s victory meant the game was over as a contest with much time left to play.

While other games on the list rely on late drama, this was Limerick’s most comprehensive performance of my lifetime.

It also saw Limerick hold All-Ireland, League and Provincial honours all at the one time.

After winning the dead rubber tie in the group stage of the Munster championship, a fortnight previously in Semple Stadium Tipperary started the brighter on the Ennis Road.

After fifteen minutes they held a 0-6 to 0-4 lead with Brendan Maher doing an excellent job on Aaron Gillane at full back.

They extended thier lead quickly after with Seamus Callanan’s quick thinking allowing him through for a goal.

Limerick’s response was immediate with three quickfire points. Callanan responded for Tipp once more.

The sides were level on 25 minutes with Gillane evading his man brilliantly before squaring for Peter Casey to fire first-time past Brian Hogan for Limerick’s first goal.

Limerick powered on from here and held a 1-11 to 1-9 lead at the half.

Limerick continued where they left off and Hegarty and Byrnes had them four ahead.

Tipperary would duly respond and a point from Jason Forde, coupled with a John McGrath goal would bring the sides level 1-13 to 2-10.

Limerick didn’t seem to bothered by Tipperary’s latest score and with Peter Casey in flying form Limerick were soon back in the ascendancy with a 1-18 to 2-12 lead.

Kyle Hayes’ goal on 55 minutes would prove the decisive blow as Peter Casey dispossed James Barry allowing the Kildimo/Pallaskenry man in on goal.

From here Limerick cruised to the 12-point win.

Scorers for Limerick: Peter Casey 1-5, Kyle Hayes 1-2, Tom Morrissey and Aaron Gillane (3fs) 0-4 each, Gearoid Hegarty and Diarmuid Byrnes (3fs) 0-3 each, Cian Lynch and Graeme Mulcahy 0-2 each, Barry Nash 0-1.

Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-6 (3fs), Seamus Callanan 1-1, John McGrath 1-0, Ronan Maher 0-2, Dan McCormack, John O’Dwyer, Jake Morris, Jerome Cahill, and Noel McGrath (f) 0-1 each.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Richie English; Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Cian Lynch, William O’Donoghue; Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey; Graeme Mulcahy, Aaron Gillane, Peter Casey.
Subs: Shane Dowling for Hegarty (63), Darragh O’Donovan for O’Donoghue (63), Seamus Flanagan for Casey (66), Barry Nash for Hannon (70), David Reidy for T Morrissey (70+1).

Tipperary: Brian Hogan; James Barry, Brendan Maher Sean O’Brien; Seamus Kennedy, Padraic Maher, Ronan Maher; Michael Breen, Noel McGrath; Jason Forde, John O’Dwyer, Dan McCormack; John McGrath, Seamus Callanan, Jake Morris.
Subs: Niall O’Meara for Breen (HT), Robert Byrne for N McGrath (54), Jerome Cahill for O’Dwyer (61), Barry Heffernan for Barry (62), Mark Kehoe for J McGrath (65).