Limerick rally but Tipp U-20s secure vital Munster win

Tipperary 1-15 Limerick 0-16

A storming second half by Limerick came up just short in thrilling Munster Under-20 hurling championship tie at Semple Stadium tonight as Tipperary secured the win they needed to stay in the championship frame.

Tipp looked to have victory secured by half-time as they led 1-9 to 0-2. Their goal came after 27 minutes from Sean Kenneally who caught a high delivery from Joe Caesar, turned his man and blasted home.

Limerick had eleven wides in that first half and they were left to rue such waste as their brave second half effort fell short.

Team vie-captain Patrick O Donovan led the second half Treaty charge and were just two points adrift, 0-13 to 1-12, with five minutes to play and the momentum with them.

The hosts however dug deep in those tense closing minutes with points from Kenneally and Damien Corbett but Limerick, with Limerick finishing with points from O'Donovan and sub Oisin O'Farrell the game in injury time.

A Jack Leamy pointed free in the 63rd minute secured the win for Tipp who face Waterford next week with a win again imperative to qualify for the knock-out stages.

This victory owed much to the efforts of Jack Leamy, Sean Kenneally, Eddie Ryan, James Morris, Joe Caesar and Cathal Quinn.

Limerick are also on three points and face Cork in the next round. Patrick O Donovan was their big threat in attack while Oisin O'Farrell, Shane O'Brien, Cian Scully and Ronan Lyons also had key games.

S O Brien, C Hayes,R Lyons, A Fitzgerald,C Scully(0-1) each);

Tipperary: J O Dwyer; D Slattery, R Doyle, L Shanahan; C Quinn, J Caesar, C McKelvey; J Morris, D Stakelum (0-1); S Kenneally (1-2), E Ryan (0-3), J Leamy (0-7,5fs); P McGarry, T Cahill, D McCarthy.

Subs: D Corbett for McCarthy (44mins 0-1), B