Second-half surge sees Limerick into league final

A dominant second-half display ensured that Limerick booked their place in the Allianz Hurling League final after they overcame Tipperary with six points to spare in a feisty affair in TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Peter Casey's goal in the 56th minute helped Limerick secure the 1-28 to 0-25 victory with John Kiely’s men now playing Cork or Kilkenny, who they have defeated in the last two All-Ireland finals, in the final in two weeks’ time.

Level on six separate occasions, the Treaty men, who were four points down at the half time break, began to pull away in the second half, outscoring Tipperary by 1-16 to nine points after restart.

Limerick, who started with eight of the starting 15 from last year’s All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, struggled to find their rhythm in the opening half before Casey found the net for the game’s only goal 14 minutes from time.

Cathal O’Neill - All-Ireland U20 finalist with Limerick last year – opened the scoring just 30 seconds – a sign of things to come.

A minute later, Limerick edged ahead through Barry Murphy, a late replacement for the injured Darragh O’Donovan.

However, two Jason Forde frees without reply had Tipperary level by the fifth minute - it was the first of five separate occasions during the first half that the teams were level.

The sides exchanged points in the opening quarter before three Tipp points in a row from Noel McGrath, Jason Forde, and Alan Tynan saw Liam Cahill’s side open up a three-point lead heading into the last 15 minutes of the opening 35.

Limerick plugged away, but with the game becoming a very end to end affair with little opportunity for Aaron Gillane to add to his free tally, it was Tipperary who took a four-point lead into the break.

Tom Morrissey – top scorer for