Limerick did as Limerick do with a powerful second-half proving far too much for Tipperary as they booked their place in the Division 1 HL final at the Gaelic Grounds this evening.
The hosts looked in some trouble at half-time when trailing by four points, 0-16 to 0-12, with Liam Cahill’s Tipp continuing their flying form throughout the spring.
Jason Forde was in scintillating form up front while the Premier machine was humming but as has been the case in recent years under John Kiely, the Treaty really turned the screw after the break to coast home by six points, 1-28 to 0-25.
The battle lines were drawn before throw-in with Alan Tynan and Will O’Donoghue hopping off each other and it was a sign of things to come in a hard-hitting first half where Forde soared.
The Tipp ace couldn’t be touched as he fired over three points from play in the opening half while Tynan, who finished with 0-4 in his best game in a Premier shirt, as the visitors made a statement of intent.
Kiely’s men couldn’t get to the pitch of it with unusual handling errors and a wastefulness in front of the posts that is rare for them but two-time Hurler of the Year Cian Lynch helped drag them back into the game.
The Patrickswell wizard made some huge plays in the second quarter as they steadied the ship while clubmate Diarmaid Byrnes, the reigning Hurler of the Year, started to get his radar in from placed balls.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, Limerick returned from the break a new team with their uncanny ability to adapt to turbulence mid-game shining bright once again.
They were level by the 46th minute, 0-18 apiece, as they savaged Tipp in the tackle with their swift handpassing a sight to behold as they went from one end of the field to the other in fluid motion.
Tipp simply couldn’t get to grips with the green machine and Peter Casey’s 56th minute goal – a kicked effort after an excellent fetch from a Colin Coughlan strike – essentially put the game to bed, 1-23 to 0-20.
It looked like things could get really ugly for Tipp when Limerick tagged on the next three points to stretch the lead to nine but they minimised the damage well and avoided a hammering which could have set their season back significantly.
Tipp had 14 goals up until this point but drew a blank and never threatened Nickie Quaid, although this showing is still a massive improvement on a dismal 2022 and they will head into Munster full of confidence.
As for Limerick, they continue to go from strength to strength with a third League title in five years now in their sights. There is no stopping the green giants right now!
