Tipperary 1-15 Limerick 2-11 AET

07 Nov 2020

Sweeney and Fox kick the crucial scores as Tipperary overcome Limerick in an extra-time thriller to set up a Munster final showdown on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday

Manager David Power celebrates Conor Sweeney’s stunning equalizer

 

Munster Senior Football Semi-Final

Tipperary 1-15 Limerick 2-11 (AET)

Followers of this Tipperary team have learned over the years that they should never be written off. Numerous times they have come from behind, from what appeared to be an impossible position, to snatch victory and yet today, that belief must have been severely tested at the break as The Treaty led 2-6 to 0-5 having dominated the first half. Whatever was said by David Power and his management team at half-time worked as Tipperary exploded into the second half and reeled in the Limerick lead which culminated with a stunning Conor Sweeney equalizer deep in stoppage time.

But the drama did not end there as the Power’s Tipperary had once again to come from behind to not only level but go in front when Brian Fox kicked over what proved to be the winning score, when a dreaded penalty shootout loomed, to send the Premier to the Munster final on the same weekend as the 100th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. However, despite the heroics, Tipperary have a lot to do if they are to land a first Munster senior crown since 1935.

Conor Sweeney settled any early nerves with a pointed free in the fourth minute and at the water break the sides were level 0-4 apiece with Tipperary coming closest to a goal when a punched Michael Quinlivan effort was brilliantly tipped over by Limerick netminder Donal O’Sullivan. From here to the break however, Limerick dominated and kicked two goals through Seán McSweeny and Cillian Fahy to give them a deserved 2-6 to 0-5 lead.

Conal Kennedy in action today

The introduction of Liam Boland and Brian Fox added bite to the Tipperary attack while the defense held Limerick scoreless up to the second water break. Points from Jack Kennedy, Conor Sweeney (3), Kevin Fahey, Liam Boland reduced the deficit to the minimum before Liam Casey pounced to fist home a crucial goal to give Tipperary a two-point lead.

It looked as if Tipperary would push on to secure the win but Limerick weren’t about to lie down. Having won the McGrath Cup and the Division 4 league title earlier this year the home side were not lacking in confidence and by the 41st minute were leading by one before Conor Sweeney landed one of the finest points you’ll ever see to send proceedings to extra time.

Kevin Fahey had a fantastic game at centre halfback today.

Liam Boland pointed to give Tipperary an early lead in injury time however this was wiped out by two McSweeney and O’Sullivan scores for Limerick. Robbie Kiely ventured forward to level the sides before Brian Fox secured the win with a fine point.

Tipperary now play the winners of Cork and Kerry in tomorrow’s other semi-final.

 

Scorers for Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 0-7 (5 frees); Liam Casey 1-0; Liam Boland, Jack Kennedy (frees) 0-2 each; Kevin Fahey, Robbie Kiely, Michael Quinlivan, Brian Fox 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: Sean McSweeney 1-2; Cillian Fahy 1-1; Donal O’Sullivan, Hugh Bourke 0-2 frees each; Darragh Treacy, Killian Ryan, Tommy Griffin, Cian Sheehan 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Alan Campbell, Jimmy Feehan, Colm O’Shaughnessy; Bill Maher, Kevin Fahey, Robbie Kiely; Conal Kennedy, Liam Casey; Jack Kennedy, Colman Kennedy, Emmet Moloney; Jason Lonergan, Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan.

Substitutes: Brian Fox for Lonergan (HT); Liam Boland for Colman Kennedy (HT); Riain Quigley for J Kennedy (60 inj); Kevin O’Halloran for Moloney (66 inj); Tadhg Fitzgerald for O’Shaughnessy (70); Padraic Looram for O’Halloran (ET); Colman Kennedy for Quigley (7 ET); Paudie Feehan for Fahey (12 ET); Kevin O’Halloran for Boland (18 ET).

LIMERICK: Donal O’Sullivan; Brian Fanning, Sean O’Dea, Paul Maher; Tony McCarthy, Killian Ryan, Gordon Brown; Darragh Treacy, Tommie Childs; Cillian Fahy, Iain Corbett, Adrian Enright; Hugh Bourke, Tommy Griffin, Sean McSweeney.

Substitutes: Padraig De Brun for Enright (HT); Danny Neville for McSweeney (51); Cian Sheehan for Griffin (51); Robbie Childs for Brown (56); Seamus O’Carroll for Ryan (66); Michael Donovan for McCarthy (7 ET); Davy Lyons for Fahy (9 ET); Sean McSweeney for Maher (HT ET).

Ref: Maurice Deegan (Laois)