Tipperary champions Toomevara powered their way to victory over Ahane of Limerick in a thrilling Munster club senior hurling championship first round replay at Thurles yesterday.

Toomevara deserved their win, but they were stretched to the limits by a very committed Ahane side who with better finishing could have triumphed.

Backed by the breeze in the first half, Ahane made the early running, but the accuracy of Tommy Dunne from free kept Toomevara in touch and the sides were level at the end of the first quarter.

Toomevara edged a point ahead in the 16th minute and got a vital break a minute later when Terry Dunne's long delivery sent his brother Tommy clear and he fired home a great goal. Toomevara retained the upper hand up until half-time, at which stage they led 17 to 0-7.

The second half was an intensely competitive, but low-scoring affair. Toomevara were four points ahead in the 49th minute when John Meskill whipped a long free from Ollie Moran to the net to bring Ahane back into the picture.

They continued to press until the finish, but the goal was their last score. Tommy Dunne added a 53rd-minute free to give Toomevara a two-points win.

George Frend, Benny Dunne and Tommy Dunne were the key figures in Toomevara's success. Ahane's shortcomings in front of goal cost them dearly.

The Tipperary champions meet St Joseph's Doora-Barefield in the semi-final, the Clare champions having beat Toomevara in last year's Munster final.

TOOMEVARA: J Cottrell; G Frend, R Brislane, B Dunne; E Brislane, T Delaney, P Hackett; Terry Dunne, B Duff (0-1); P O'Brien (0-1), P King, M Bevans; P McGrath, Tomas Dunne (1-7), J O'Brien (0-1). Subs: A Ryan for Duff; T Cahill for J O'Brien; K Dunne for Bevans.

AHANE: F McCarthy; A Collins, K Herbert, M Fitzgerald; A Smith, O Moran (0-2), C Smith; M Kelly, J Moran (0-2); J Meskill (1-1), S O'Connor (0-1), T Herbert (0-2); J O'Grady, J Morrissey, P Smith. Subs: D O'Sullivan for O'Grady, T Meskill for M Kelly.

Referee: P Moore (Waterford).