Tipp finish with a flourish

Tipperary 1-17 Limerick 1-11:HOLDERS TIPPERARY returned from a week-long Spanish training camp to hammer out a six-point win over a disappointing Limerick team in their final Division One outing at Thurles yesterday.

The public passed their verdict on this meaningless game as, with Tipperary already through to the final against Kilkenny and Limerick comfortably safe in mid- table, just 2,603 fans attended.

Tipperary dominated a low-key first half with a string of impressive long-range points. Lar Corbett, John O’Brien, Gearóid Ryan and free-taker Pa Bourke were on target as a sharp-looking home side pulled steadily clear.

Struggling Limerick’s slack shooting saw them accumulate 10 first-half wides. Niall Moran had their first point from a 13th-minute free but at half-time they were 0-12 to 0-4 adrift.

Limerick needed a big second-half effort but, seven minutes after resuming, their fate was sealed when Gearóid Ryan was quickest to react to a long-range Brendan Cummins free to shoot home a Tipperary goal for a 1-12 to 0-5 lead.

There was no way back now for Limerick, but they produced their best hurling in the closing quarter. Niall Moran had a penalty blocked out for a 65 as he sought the goal to ignite their challenge in the 51st minute.

Goalkeeper Brendan Cummins denied Moran a certain goal in the 63rd minute and when Limerick finally found the Tipp net through Paul Browne in the 67th minute, it left them only six points down with three minutes to play.

But the missed chances came back to haunt them, as they finished with a total of 16 wides.

Injuries sustained by Benny Dunne (ankle) and Shane Maher (hamstring) will concern Tipp with the league final so close, and the championship looming.

Fringe players Gearóid Ryan, Thomas Stapleton and Padraig Maher impressed while Larry Corbett, Declan Fanning, and Paul Curran were also prominent.

It was a poor day for Limerick, with six of their 12 scores coming from frees. Niall Moran and Séamus Hickey did their best to inspire their colleagues with Damien Reale, Donal O’Grady and Stephen Lucey, until he retired injured, offering most in response.

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran, C O'Brien; Padraic Maher, D Fanning, S Maher; T Stapleton (0-2), B Dunne; G Ryan (1-3), J Devane (0-1), L Corbett (0-3); P Bourke (0-6, four frees), J O'Brien (0-2), Patrick Maher. Subs: B Maher for S Maher, S Hennessy for Dunne, M Webster for Patrick Maher, T Scroope for O'Brien, M Cahill for Curran (yellow), J Woodlock for T Stapleton.

LIMERICK: B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, S Walsh; M O'Riordan, S Hickey, G O'Mahony; D O'Grady (0-1), P Browne (1-0); M O'Brien (0-1), J Ryan, N Moran (0-9, five frees); D Sheehan, P McNamara, D Breen; Subs:D Moloney for O'Riordan, B O'Sullivan for O'Brien, A O'Shaughnessy for McNamara, R McCarthy for Lucey, T Condon for O'Sullivan, D Ryan for Sheehan.

Referee: D Murphy (Wexford).