Moran's stroke of genius caps fine game

NHL Division One/ Limerick 2-13 Tipperary 0-16: It started with Tipperary showing up a few minutes late, and some of the crowd showing up even later, and ended with a goalmouth scramble more associated with the heights of summer. At this rate, we could yet end up with a league extravaganza.

As a game then this moved swiftly from routine beginnings to a fiery climax. Each team surged and counter-surged and it was no surprise to any of the 5,000-plus attendance when the scores were tied again entering the last 10 minutes - Limerick's 1-12 to Tipperary's 0-15.

Then came the score that decided it, a wondrous strike from Ollie Moran some 25 metres from goal, which zipped to the net so fast Brendan Cummins hardly saw it. Brian Geary had sent in the ball from well inside his own half; in an instant Moran decided to go for goal - connecting with the ball overhead and defying most laws of physics to direct it so decisively.

Moran charged out with arms raised, and it was clear Tipperary would need something similar to save their game.

They very nearly managed it.

John Carroll, Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett all had goal chances in quick succession, and while they could smell the net, they couldn't quite lick it.

Brian Murray was superb in front of goal, and the clean sheet he kept proved vital in Limerick's victory.

Murray in fact was busy right until the final whistle. A late, 20-metre free by Kelly and a later, 65-metre free sent in by Shane Maher, and also touched briefly by Kelly, demanded close attention. A late Tipp goal to draw it wouldn't have been undeserved, yet Limerick's marginally better spirit on the day merited the win.

Andrew O'Shaughnessy hit 1-8, including a first-half goal only slightly less explosive than Moran's, and throughout the field Limerick had players in perfect tune with the game - none more so than defenders Paudie O'Dwyer and Peter Lawlor, midfielder Mike O'Brien, and at certain stages Niall Moran and Barry Foley.

It was Limerick's first league win over Tipperary since 2002 - they drew last year - though it was literally just the goal between them.

Tipperary's Eoin Kelly was in fine form (he hit 0-12), and had the emerging under-21 Danny O'Hanlon been a little more creative with his chances the winning goal might just as easily have gone to the home team.

"Very happy with the result, needless to say," said the smiling Limerick manager, Richie Bennis. "But the performance too, which was always more important than the result. That's really what we came here for.

"Andrew (O'Shaughnessy) was in great form, but then I'd say with Eoin Kelly they must have cancelled each other out, and sure it was touch and go until Moran's goal. And it was a great goal. But they come, and Ollie is capable of them.

"We should make the quarter-finals now, because a good start is very important. And we'll improve again on this, guaranteed. We'll be there at the end. The championship is still what matters, but we'll take the league very seriously as well."

Of course, Michael 'Babs' Keating agreed Moran's goal was crucial. "The goal probably decided it, and Limerick got that break. But it was a very good game for this time of year. A few decisions went against us, like one of those frees from Eoin Kelly. Little things. But you can't condemn players on the 15th of February. But hearing that Dublin drew with Kilkenny they'll come down here hoping to win. So there won't be any easy touch in this league."

The unseasonal excellence of the hurling owed much, no doubt, to the quality of the Nenagh pitch. Scores came thick and fast through the first half, albeit mostly frees, Tipperary going three points clear before Limerick registered their first.

But when O'Shaughnessy raced clear of Paul Ormonde on 14 minutes and banged his shot straight into the net Limerick took the advantage and held it until half-time. They soon went three points clear - O'Shaughnessy's free-taking was unwavering - and it took three late scores from Kelly to draw Tipperary level, 1-7 to 0-10, just on the call for half-time.

Early in the second half Kelly had the chance to put Tipperary back in front, but he went for goal with his 20-metre free, only for Murray to save. That was one of the missed chances Keating referred to, though they still went in front a minute later, through a more judicious Kelly free.

But the visitors were soon back in front with a crucial, and rare, score from play from Barry Foley.

The sides were level again for the fourth time of the half shortly before Moran worked his magic, and as the defining score it could hardly have been more memorable. What a goal.

LIMERICK: B Murray; W Walsh, S Lucey, D Reale; P O'Dwyer, B Geary, P Lawlor; M O'Brien (0-1), D O'Grady; N Moran (0-2), O Moran (1-1), M Fitzgerald; A O'Shaughnessy (1-8, eight frees), S O'Connor, B Foley (0-1). Subs: M O'Brien for Walsh (54 mins), D Ryan for Fitzgerald (61 mins), C Fitzgerald for N Moran (70 mins).

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; E Buckley, P Maher, P Ormonde; E Corcoran, S Maher, D Fitzgerald; S McGrath, C Morrissey; T Scroope, D Egan, L Corbett (0-3); E Kelly (0-12, seven frees, two 65s), D O'Hanlon, P Kelly (0-1). Subs: J Carroll for Scroope (half-time); C O'Mahony for Morrissey (54 mins).

Referee: D Murphy(Wexford).