Limerick hold firm in face of tough Tipperary challenge

Limerick put one foot back into the Munster final after a hard-fought seven-point victory over their old rivals from Tipperary.

There were just the two points between the sides, who contested last year's provincial final, at the break but a strong attack in the third quarter pushed Limerick over the line to victory.

Late goals from substitute Conor Boylan and Aaron Gillane in the space of four minutes sealed the win for the All-Ireland champions.

The result all but seals Limerick's place in the Munster decider on 5 June.

The win – Limerick’s fifth in the last six meetings between the two sides - continues a trend of the Treaty men’s dominance in the fixture, with just one championship loss to the Premier County since the round robin was introduced in 2018.

It is the first ever time Limerick have secured victories over Tipperary in four successive years in the championship.

Tipperary were in search of their first Munster win in Limerick since 2015, and they started the brightest.

Ger Browne got them on the scoreboard first from a point from play on two minutes, but Darragh O'Donovan had the sides level from some distance a minute later after a well-timed tackle from the Doon man in midfield.

Limerick went ahead for the first time after six minutes with Diarmaid Byrnes slotting over from just inside the 65-metre line, but John Kiely’s faced a tough Tipperary challenge from here on in.

The game’s first of three goals came after eight minutes: a superb long ball in by Gearoid Hegarty was met by Aaron Gillane before the Patrickswell man raised the green flag.

Aaron Gillane with the opening goal at the TUS Gaelic Grounds Highlights on #TheSundayGame from 9.30pm ⌨️https://t.co/zFt7BjmGM4