Seven-points victory gets Tipperary Under 20 footballers moving in the right direction

Tipperary 3-13 Limerick 2-9

Tipperary bounced back from their Round 1 defeat to Clare with a seven-point victory over Limerick in the Dalata Hotel Group Munster Under 20 Football Championship at Páirc na nGael, New Inn.

Having played into the wind for the opening half they trailed by six points, 2-6 to 1-3, at the short whistle, but a big second half performance has them back in contention for one of the top two places needed for to qualify for Phase 2.

The home side got off to the perfect start with a Charlie Walsh goal inside the opening minute and when Liam Freaney kicked a two-point free from near the sideline in the eighth minute, they led by four. However, for the remainder of the half they played second fiddle to the Treaty men, who outscored them 2-5 to 0-1, as they took a six-point advantage to the dressing room.

Dylan Cotter came on at midfield at half-time, allowing Seán Griffin to revert to the edge of the square for the second period and this change significantly tightened up the defence, which had been under pressure, especially during the second quarter when they conceded two goals following long balls into the goal area.

Tipperary were quickly into the action following the restart and a two-pointer from Charlie Walsh, coupled with a two-goal burst from Liam Freaney at the beginning of the third quarter, restored a lead that they held until the final whistle.

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The home side made the better start, despite playing against the wind. Gaining possession out around the midfield area, Liam Freaney cut open the Limerick defence with a piercing run before offloading to Charlie Walsh and the Fethard clubman made no mistake, tucking his shot into the far corner of the net for the opening major inside the first minute.

Cian Costelloe pulled a point back for the visitors, but it was the home side that was looking the more dangerous. Wayward shooting in attack and some handling errors meant that Tipperary were unable to convert possession onto the scoreboard.

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However, Liam Freaney kicked a two-point free from out near the sideline to put four between the sides after eight minutes.
Andrew Lyons, with the goal at his mercy, kicked over to pull a point back before Aidan O’Shea, who had been moved to the edge of the square from midfield, fielded a long range effort from Liam Glynn, turned his marker and slotted home a goal from close range, bringing the sides level for the first and only time.

Limerick quickly added two minors from open play, courtesy of Conor Ó Longaigh and Andrew Lyons to go two points clear coming up to the 20th minute.

Limerick were in cruise control and Andrew Lyons converted a two-point free to stretch the lead out to four with seven minutes remaining before the break. Liam Freaney kicked his third point from a placed ball before Aidan O’Shea again got on the end of a long ball from the midfield area to crash home his second major. This gave the visitors a 2-6 to 1-3 advantage at the break.
After the restart Tipperary rejigged their defence, with Seán Griffin moving back to the edge of the square and Dylan Cotter coming into midfield.

They upped the tempo and intensity throughout the field and this was reflected on the scoreboard. Charlie Walsh kicked an early two-pointer and Liam Freany cancelled out an Andrew Lyons minor to cut the deficit to four by the 37th minute. A good team move from midfield ended with Liam Freaney being hauled down in the area, but the resulting penalty kick from Mark Neville just skimmed the crossbar. Andrew Lyons again pushed Limerick’s lead out to four from a placed ball, but a Liam Freaney goal at the start of the final quarter, following a run through the centre by Dylan Cotter, cut the lead to the minimum.

Tipperary’s third goal came at the end of a four-man move upfield, started by Dylan Cotter and taken up by Shane Ryan, who offloaded to the in-running Charlie Walsh, who in turn set up the in-form Freaney, who beat Cian Purcell from close range.

Tipp were in total control over the final ten minutes, plus added time. Charlie Walsh kicked a two-point free, Dylan Cotter added one from open play and James Power followed up with a two-pointer, before Cotter closed out the scoring with his second point in added time.

This was the result that Tipperary needed before they travel to Lemybrien to play Waterford on Good Friday for the remaining Phase 1 game, where a victory should be enough to get them through to Phase 2.

Scorers: Tipperary: Liam Freaney (2-4, 1x2ptf, 1f), Charlie Walsh (1-4, 1x2pt, 1x2ptf), James Power (0-2, 1x2pt), Dylan Cotter (0-2), Mark Neville (0-1 pen).
Limerick: Andrew Lyons (0-7, 1x2ptf, 3f), Aidan O’Shea (2-0), Conor Ó Longaigh (0-1), Cian Costelloe (0-1).

Tipperary: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers), Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers), Danny Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Jack Kearney (Ballyporeen), Gavin Neville (Fethard), Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials), Oran Gahan (St Patrick’s), Sean Griffin (Upperchurch Drombane), Liam Kiely (Fethard), Liam Freaney (captain, Kilsheehan Kilcash), John Cronin (Moyle Rovers), Mark Neville (Fethard), Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan), Charlie Walsh (Fethard).
Subs: Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels) for Danny Morris (HT), Philip O’Dwyer (Upperchurch Drombane) for Mark Neville (42), James Power (Clonmel Commercials) for John Cronin (42), Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials) for Liam Kiely (42), Ciarán Kelly (Arravale Rovers) for Shane Ryan (55).

Limerick: Cian Purcell, Cian O’Sullivan, Owen Dee, Danny McCarthy, Samuel Colgan, Conor Mangan, Cillian Meade, Aidan O’Shea, Evan Curry, Conor Ó Longaigh, Liam Glynn, Cian Costelloe, Andrew Lyons, Padraic Phelan (captain), Shane O’Grady (Oola).
Subs: Fintan McNamara (Rathkeale) for Shane O’Grady (TS 4-7), Fintan McNamara for Shane O’Grady (HT), Michael Mulcahy for Cillian Meade (42), Barry Griffin for Cian Costelloe (51), Paudie Hennessy for Samuel Colgan (51), Seán Holland for Liam Glynn (60).

Referee: James Regan (Cork).