Tipperary end their long barren Munster Championship run at Limerick’s expense

Tipperary 2-14 Limerick 1-11 The black card was the hot topic of conversation in Limerick on Saturday as Tipperary claimed a first victory in the Munster senior football championship since 2003.

Tipp lost the services of defender Ciarán McDonald with less than 10 minutes gone but Limerick goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan somehow remained on the pitch after conceding a second-half penalty.

O’Sullivan hauled Ian Fahey to the ground but escaped with a yellow card from referee Anthony Nolan.

It was a strange decision, particularly in light of Nolan’s option for black in the case of McDonald.

To make matters worse, O’Sullivan saved Barry Grogan’s 41st-minute penalty but Tipp still managed to cruise to a six-point victory nonetheless.

Tipp manager Peter Creedon insisted that McDonald’s black card, for hauling back Ian Ryan, was “harsh enough”.

Both he and Limerick counterpart John Brudair were in agreement, however, that O’Sullivan should have seen black for his offence.

Brudair reflected: “The first one with Ciaran McDonald, it’s a tough decision for him to have to take, 10 minutes into a championship game, that’s the risk of the black card. With Donal, you’d probably say that he should have got a black card as well. Sometimes, I think the refs are going to give a penalty and they think that’s punishment enough for the incident.”

Black card

Brudair revealed: “We actually prepared our (sub) goalie to come on at the time - we thought he (O’Sullivan) would get a black card.

Creedon said: “I thought Ciaran’s black card was harsh enough in comparison to some ones that went on for Limerick afterwards. That’s the danger. Sometimes with the lesser teams the referees find it easier to make a call.”

The application, or lack thereof, of the new rule somewhat overshadowed a fine performance by Tipperary.

A six-point success was chiselled out in front of 2,216 spectators at the Gaelic Grounds and while what was once a 10-point margin in the second half reduced to four in the closing stages, Tipp were never unduly troubled after hitting the front in the opening half.

Barry Grogan rolled home a fortuitous 10th-minute goal following a goalkeeping error and Philip Austin’s brilliantly taken effort three minutes after half-time settled the tie.

The writing was on the wall for Limerick following Grogan’s goal and at half-time, Tipp were 1-7 to 0-6 clear having played against the breeze on a beautiful evening for football.

Limerick didn’t register a score from play until the 34th minute when Ian Ryan slotted over and although Eoin Hanrahan lashed home a 62nd minute penalty, the hosts played second fiddle throughout.

Tipp were simply dominant all over the field and the presence of all three half-backs on the scoresheet was testament to their attacking intent.

LIMERICK: D O'Sullivan; S O'Dea, C Moran, J McCarthy; I Corbett (0-1), S Lucey, P Browne; T Lee, D Tracey (0-1); M Brosnan, C Sheehan, S Buckley; E Hanrahan (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-3 frees), G Collins (0-1), I Ryan (0-4, 0-3 frees). Subs: J Riordan for Sheehan (28 mins), J Galvin for Brosnan (28 mins), P Ranahan for Browne (40 mins), G Hegarty for Tracey (55 mins).
TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; G Mulhair, P Codd, C McDonald; C O'Riordan (0-1), R Kiely (0-1), P Acheson (0-2); S O'Brien, G Hannigan (0-1); P Austin (1-2), I Fahey, B Fox (0-1); C Sweeney (0-1f), M Quinlivan (0-1), B Grogan (1-4, 0-3 frees). Subs: J Coghlan for McDonald (b/c, 10 mins), B Mulvihill for Fahey (56 mins), S Grogan for O'Brien (57 mins), C Dillon for Austin (66 ).
Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow).