Champions refuse to buckle

Limerick - 1-20 Tipperary 2-14 After extra-time; 1-14 to 2-11 after 60 mins The under-21 grade in hurling has thrown up many fine matches in the past, but even in such august company last night's Munster final replay at Thurles must have a special place.

It mightn't have been sweet and flowing throughout its 70 minutes, but it was excitement of the highest order with the outcome quivering on the line until the very end of extra time in front of an official attendance of 17,505.

And by the end Limerick had produced another stunning comeback to take their third successive provincial title and put themselves in line for an All-Ireland three-in-a-row.

It was tough on Tipperary, who were brought to a replay by a last-minute penalty two weeks ago, and this time were hauled back by 1-1 in injury-time at the end of the regulation 60 minutes.

A point by lively Tipp replacement Mark Burke in injury-time pushed his team four points ahead. It looked a very significant score when, from the puck-out, Andrew O'Shaughnessy launched a pacy solo through the middle of the Tipperary defence and with a man inside to distract the cover, kicked into the left corner of Damien Young's net.

There was still a point in it when Maurice O'Brien - Man of the Match in last year's All-Ireland and who was increasingly impressive as this match wore on - stole down the left wing. Donal Shelley flicked the ball away from him with the clock running down. What looked like a mis-hit lineball from Foley found Kevin Tobin, who dramatically pointed.

In extra-time, Tipp could manage only three more points whereas Limerick doubled that and had Conor Fitzgerald availed of goal chances, the margin would have been greater.

Such was the dramatic fluctuation of the match that a Tipp victory would have been hard on Limerick, who had established a distinctive edge during the second half only to have their world turned upside down by a three-minute scoring blitz half way through, which yielded Tipperary 2-1.

At the start of the evening, the sun shone on Semple Stadium, but not on Limerick manager Dave Keane's selection as he was forced to replace two of his first-choice players, full back Brian Carroll and centrefielder Michael O'Donnell. He was to lose O'Donnell's partner and team captain Peter Lawlor at the interval.

The opening stages gave an indication of how hard it would be to separate the teams. For the first 20 minutes they swapped points up to five apiece.

Already a pattern was emerging of Limerick pressure and opportunity interspersed with more reliable point-taking by Tipperary. Niall Moran, switched to the middle to replace O'Donnell, started well winning ball and moving it quickly.

Eoin Foley, whose penalty had forced the replay, gave another commanding display first at wing back and then at centrefield. His point for the lead in the 21st minute was a glorious cameo, even in the breathless contest that unfolded. Having forced the ball from defence to Moran, he moved onto a quick flip from the centrefielder and heaved a point over from around 50 metres.

Tobin was another major contributor, with four timely points from play, including the leveller at the end of ordinary time.

Tipperary senior Eoin Kelly, fresh from Sunday's disappointment, top-scored for his team, but will be frustrated at the three frees he missed at various stages.

His counterpart Mark Keane fared a little better after a couple of early wides and ended up looking impressively warrior-like in a blood-stained jersey for the concluding half hour.

Limerick had a couple of goal chances early in the second half, but both James O'Brien and Moran couldn't capitalise. This looked decidedly ominous when with a two-point cushion, the champions suddenly got mugged.

Eoin Brislane - subsequently sent off for a second yellow card in extra-time - sent an inviting ball into the square in the 39th minute where it was caught by MacDara Butler and fired into the net to convert the two-point deficit into a lead.

Rocked, Limerick's defence stumbled again within two minutes. This time Butler robbed Eugene Mulcahy and sent in John O'Brien for a second goal.

LIMERICK: T Houlihan; D Reale, E Mulcahy, M Cahill; E Foley (0-4, one free, one sideline), P O'Dwyer, M O'Brien; P Lawlor, N Moran (0-1); C Fitzgerald (0-2), J O'Brien, K Tobin (0-4); P Kirby (0-2), A O'Shaughnessy (1-0), M Keane (0-7, six frees). Subs: R Hayes for Lawlor (half-time), P Tobin for Fitzgerald (43 mins), C Fitzgerald for P Tobin (60 mins).

TIPPERARY: D Young; D Gleeson, P Curran, M Maher; T King, J Devane, K Mulryan; S Maher, E Brislane (0-3, one free); D Shelley (0-2), M Butler (1-0), L Corbett (0-1); E Kelly (0-6, five frees), J O'Brien (1-0), P Morrissey (0-1). Subs: C Ryan for Mulryan (half-time), P Buckley for Brislane (48 mins), M Burke (0-1) for S Maher (58 mins), S Mason for M Maher (60 mins), D McGrath for Morrissey (70 mins), E Brislane for Buckley (70 mins), E Ryan for Shelley (74 mins).

Referee: S McMahon (Clare).