Limerick 0-14 Tipperary 1-12
Tipperary kicked the last four points of a tight McGrath Cup contest to turn the tables on Munster rivals Limerick at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale and set up a midweek contest against Kerry.
There was nothing to separate these sides at half-time or the three-quarter mark, but Limerick looked to have done enough down the stretch to secure the victory. They led by three, thanks to Josh Ryan and Cillian Fahy. But, back came Tipperary, Seán O'Connor – who ended with 1-7 – scored from play and a free before Kennedy landed two similar scores in stoppage-time.
Before that, it was 1-5 to 0-8 at half-time, with Ryan's 45 sending them to the dressingrooms level. Limerick had scores from Peter Nash, Darragh Ranahan and Tony McCarthy, while Hugh Bourke landed a pair of frees.
O’Connor had found the net when following a wonderful flowing passing move he punched to the net from close range, which was David Power’s side first score from play on 30 minutes.
Both sides played a raft of new faces but Tipperary will be the happier having held their nerve, with the hosts kicking a hosts of wides down the stretch.
LIMERICK: Aaron O'Sullivan; Seán O'Dea, Mike O'Donovan, Jim Liston; Tony McCarthy (0-2), Darragh Woulfe, Liam Kennedy; Tommy Griffin, Josh Ryan (0-5, three frees, one 45) Peter Nash (0-2, one free), James Naughton (0-1), Barry Coleman; Shane Barry, Hugh Bourke (0-2, two frees), Darragh Ranahan (0-1).
Subs: Darragh Treacy for McCarthy, Liam O'Sullivan for Liston, Cillian Fahy (0-1) for Nash (all h/t), Dara Noonan for Barry, Pádraig De Bruin for Coleman, Robbie Bourke for H Bourke (all 53 mins), Ruairí O'Brien for Woulfe (59), Hugh Bourke for Ranahan (63).
TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Shane O'Connell, Liam Ryan, Jimmy Feehan; Leon Kennedy, Ciarán Cannon, Colm O'Shaughnessy; Conal Kennedy (0-1), Mark Russell; Eanna McBride, Luke Boland, Johnny Ryan; Conor Ryan (0-1), Shane Foley (0-1), Seán O'Connor (1-7, six frees).
Subs: Jordon Moloney for Cannon (35 mins, inj), Jack Harney for J Ryan, Michael O'Reilly for Comerford, Ben Comerford for C Kennedy (all 48), Jack Kennedy (0-2) for McBride (53), Tom Tobin for L Boland (59), D O'Leary for L Kennedy (63), Paul Devlin for L Ryan (66), Donna Hickey for O'Shaughnessy, Jack Buckley for C Ryan (both 71), Jamie Holloway for O'Connell (72).
Referee: C Maguire (Clare).
