WATERFORD CRYSTAL CUP PRELIMINARY: Tipperary 2-24 Limerick IT 1-16TIPPERARY MADE a winning start to their 2012 campaign with a hard earned victory over Limerick Institute of Technology in the preliminary round of the Waterford Crystal Cup at Dolla yesterday.

LIT, managed by Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald, made a blistering start and were 1-2 up inside five minutes with the goal coming from Galway star Joe Canning.

A John O’Neill goal in the 14th minute kick-started Tipperary into life as they went on to hit seven points without reply midway through the half.

LIT suffered a major blow in the 49th minute when John O’Keeffe was sent off for a second bookable offence, and a Timmy Hammersley goal in the 63rd minute finally sealed the win for Tipp.

TIPPERARY: D Gleeson; D Maher, P Curran, M Cahill; S Maher, J Coghlan, Padraic Maher; B Maher (0-2), J Woodlock; Patrick Maher, S McGrath (0-3), A Ryan (0-2); P Bourke (0-13, 12f), B O'Meara (0-2), J O'Neill (1-1). Subs: J Ryan for Woodlock (51 mins); T Hammersley (1-0) for O'Neill (60); D Collins (0-1) for McGrath (62); C O'Brien for Cahill (66).

LIMERICK IT: A Fahy; E Glynn, R McCarthy, B Glynn; O Whelan, J O'Keeffe, P O'Brien; P Browne (0-2), E Ryan (0-1); S O'Brien (0-2), S Collins, C Madden (0-1); C McInerney (0-2, frees), J Canning (1-8, 0-6 frees), C O'Connell. Subs: J Hayes for Whelan, S Lambert for Ryan (both half-time); C Nelson for McInerney (63 mins).

Referee: J Sexton (Cork).