Tipp Surges Into Final

All Ireland SHC Semi-Final
Tipperary 6-19 Limerick 2-7

By Denis O'Brien

Tipperary are through to their first All Ireland final in eight years after trouncing Limerick in last Sunday's one sided semi-final at Croke Park.

Going into this match carrying a heavy favorite's tag, Tipp proved worthy winners after completely overwhelming and outclassing a poor Limerick side. The Treatymen struggled throughout to come to grips with the blue and gold's lethal goal scoring ability while they also failed to make any real impression of their own upfront.

The writing was on the wall for Limerick after five minutes when Tipp's Eoin Kelly lashed home the first of his side's six goals, however, the game was over as a contest when Noel McGrath and Pat Kerwick followed with two more by the end of the first quarter.

Taking a thirteen point lead into half time, Tipperary, unlike in recent outings when in a similar position, drove on in style. They shot three more goals from ace corner forward, Lar Corbett to complete a mammoth 24-point rout.

Limerick despite getting two goals of their own in the second half looked anything but a senior inter-county team

Their defense was porous especially their over-run full back line while their limited forwards never got a look-in from a tight-marking Tipp defense.

Going into the last quarter with the game in the bag, the manner in which Tipperary hungered for more scores signaled they mean business and that they should not be taken lightly when coming up against champions Kilkenny in the final on September 6th.

Early on both sides with a pair of wides looked nervous but Tipperary as they have done in each of their games up to now struck an early blow with a goal after only five minutes.

John O'Brien sent in a low delivery to his full forward line and full back Stephen Lucey came out to meet it but missed and his marker Eoin Kelly made no such mistake. Left one-on-one with Brian Murray, Kelly gave the Limerick goalkeeper no chance when sending a rasper into the let corner of the net for a fine finish.

After further wides from both camps, O'Brien, a former Boston player, sent over a lovely point after Seamus Hickey unwisely batted the ball straight into his path.

Despite Tipp's four-point lead, Limerick had the lions share of possession with their half back line and to a lesser extent their midfield on top and they delivered plenty of ball into attack. Further wides from Limerick exemplified inexperience but a fine point on the 9th minute under the Hogan Stand from corner forward David Breen finally got the Treatymen on the board.

When put under pressure Tipp's first touch and striking of the ball out of defense early on was poor yet Limerick's forwards were limited in their ability to capitalize.

Then Tipperary's attack struck again when Lar Corbett easily moved around corner back Mark O'Riordan before hand-passing to the waiting Noel McGrath and the brilliant 18 - year old batted to the net from the edge of the square.

Two minutes later Tipp had another goal after defender Mark Foley, who was having a fine game, muffed a catch in a dangerous position, only for the inrushing and influential Pat Kerwick to gather and drive forward before putting the ball between Murray's legs for Tipperary's third goal of the half.

A brace of frees from Conor O'Mahoney and Eoin Kelly extended Tipperary's advantage with Limerick now facing a huge task already 13 points adrift.

The sides exchanged points but any chance that Limerick had of making any impression were scuppered when forward Niall Moran was substituted. He had come into the game with a hand injury and despite early wides, he looked Limerick's only hope but ironically he was subbed after scoring the last point of the first half.

Tipp showed no letup after the break as five points in succession saw them in complete control of a game that had long since deflated as a contest.

Limerick ace Andrew Shaughnessey's first touch was very poor throughout but in his only input in the game, he made a good run on goal and was adjudged to have been brought down and a penalty was awarded by referee, Brian Gavin. Limerick goalkeeper, Murray came up to take it and he struck past Brendan Cummins's right side for a good goal.

Limerick grabbed another major four minutes later when a through-ball to Brian O'Sullivan opened the Tipperary defense and the substitute beat Cummins in the left corner.

The margin was back to 13 and it looked like Limerick might reduce the deficit further but Tipp hammered the door shut with two killer goals.

The first came after Noel McGrath collected a high ball far too easily and passed to Corbett who blasted home from close range. Then the brilliant McGrath with a delightful flick, robbed a defender to fire over a peach of a point before acting as provider once more for Corbett to set up his side's fifth goal of the afternoon.

Entering the last five minutes with the game having descended into challenge match proportions, a fine four-man Tipperary move that included McGrath, ended with Lar Corbett bulging an empty net yet again.

Tipp were head and shoulders above Limerick who with the aid of a favorable draw, could be considered lucky to have reached a semi-final.

Tipperary looked impressive and their inside forward line of Corbett and McGrath were particularly dangerous even though Eoin Kelly returned just the one score from play.

The win sets up an intriguing final date with Kilkenny in what will be one of the most keenly awaited All Ireland Hurling final in years.

The last time these two great rivals met was in the final of 1991 with Tipp coming out on top by four points. This time the stakes could not be higher with the Cats going for a historic four-in-row and a hungry Tipperary team out to stop them. Watch out for a final preview in the coming weeks.

Teams & Scorers:
Tipperary: B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Maher, P Curran; D Fanning, C O'Mahoney (0-3, 65', 2f), B Maher; J Woodlock, S McGrath; P Kerwick (1-2), S Callanan (0-3), J O'Brien (0-1); N McGrath (1-3), E Kelly (1-6, 0-6f), L Corbett (3-1). Subs: B Dunne for S McGrath (55 mins), G Ryan for Woodlock (61), M Webster for Kerwick (62), P Kelly for E Kelly (64), W Ryan for Corbett (67)
Limerick: B Murray (1-0, pen); D Reale, S Lucey, M O'Riordan; S Hickey (0-1), B Geary, M Foley; D O'Grady, G O'Mahony (0-2, 1f); J Ryan, N Moran (0-1), P Browne; D Breen (0-1), P McNamara, A O'Shaughnessy (0-1,f). Subs: J O'Brien for Moran (32 mins), Ollie Moran for (HT) for Browne, B O'Sullivan (1-1) for Ryan (48), M O'Brien for McNamara (56), S Walsh for Lucey (61)
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly)