Tipperary youngsters claim positive result in championship opener away to Limerick

O'Neills.com Munster U20 Football Championship - Phase 1 - Round 1

Tipperary 3-8

Limerick 0-6

Tipperary turned in a dominant display to open their Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship. The Premier had eleven points to spare over Limerick at a dry Rathkeale.

This was the first of three games for Tipperary in Phase One, with clashes with Clare and Waterford to come – the aim to secure a top two spot and progression to Phase Two.

A brace of goals from Daithí Hogan were neatly sandwiched by a thunderbolt from Paddy O’Keeffe, as the Treaty had no answer for a rampant away side.

Playing against the wind, Niall Fitzgerald’s charges opened up a 1-5 to 0-3 interval lead and from there, it appeared there would only be one winner. It augers well that they restricted their opponents to just five scores – with Evan Curry the only player to land a two pointer on a near perfect afternoon for football.

That was the opening score but the reply from captain Charlie King was swift and when Limerick started kicking half a dozen first half wides, Tipperary benefited.

Tom Llyod notched the only Limerick point in the final 25 minutes of the half. At the other end, Paddy O’Keeffe and Jamie O’Keeffe both kicked pints with Tommy O’Connor assisting both.

Then Moyle Rovers Paddy O’Keeffe turned over a slack home defence. He squared to Hogan who buried to the net to open a four point lead.

The final say of the half was a Hogan free after Limerick failed to give the ball back after a free.

Limerick lost Tom Ryan to a black card in the third quarter and after weathering the storm, they were ready to go back to fifteen. However, with the last play before Ryan returned, O’Keeffe found the net, via the underside of the crossbar after good build-up play from Dylan Cotter.

From here it was something of a stroll for the winners.

They emptied the bench late on and had their third green flag on 57 minutes, with JP Mbokha Tansia’s first involvement to tee the ball up for Hogan who confidently ghosted through the cover to finish low to the net.

The manner off the performance will surely please the management, though it is likely much sterner tests will await later this month.

Tipperary welcome Clare to FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles next Saturday.  The Banner fell to a defeat at the hands of Waterford on home soil, also played on Saturday afternoon.

Scorers for Tipperary: Daithí Hogan (2-2, 0-1f); Paddy O’Keeffe 1-2; Charlie King, Jamie O’Keeffe, Joe Higgins 0-1 each, Ben Carey 0-1f.

Limerick: Evan Curry (0-2, 1 2 pt); Diarmuid Hynes 0-2f; Tom Lloyd 0-1; Tom Ryan 0-1f.

Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore Castleiney), Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials) ; Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers) Charlie King (Ballina), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Darragh O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials); Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials); Ben Carey (Ballylooby Castlegrace), Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels); Daithi Hogan (St. Patrick’s), Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers), Tommy O’Connor (Kilsheelan Kilcash).

Subs used:Shane Ryan for T O’Connor (52); JP Mbokha Tansia for Higgins (56); Cillian Ryan for King, Dayle Hogan for Charles, James Power for P O’Keeffe (all 59).

Limerick: Cian McGrath; Cian O’Sullivan, Cathal Mangan, Paddy Downey; Tom Lloyd, Tommy Ryan, Jack Butler; Tadhg Hourigan, Brian O’Callaghan; Bobby Smith, Tom Ryan, Evan Curry; Diarmuid Hynes, Michael Fahy, Padraic Phelan.

Subs used: Luke Walsh for Fahy (HT), Barry Griffin for Smith (HT); Michael Kilbridge for Downey (41); Aidan O’Shea for O’Callaghan (47); Calum Boyle for Hourigan (56).

Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare)