Few sparks as Tipperary prevail

NHL Division One B: Tipperary 2-21 Limerick 1-12 Even allowing for the fact that it's February, this match struggled to justify its existence before 4,500 oppressed spectators at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

The general ennui was lifted by some stylish forward play by Tipperary's Eoin Kelly and Benny Dunne as well as an exhibition of long-range free taking by Kelly's brother Paul before half-time. But overall it was excruciating stuff.

Limerick threatened a contest after a poor start but fell away in the second quarter while Tipp almost casually fired over a flurry of points. It took them from level terms to a 0-17 to 0-5 lead within 20 minutes either side of half-time.

With the match having left them floundering, Limerick's composure was gone and the remainder of the afternoon was amorphous and unengaging.

The strange thing about it from Tipperary's perspective is that there was plenty to vex manager Ken Hogan. Apart from Kelly and Dunne, his starting forwards failed to ignite.

Brian O'Meara had to leave the field after only 10 minutes with a neck injury, Séamus Butler and Redser O'Grady were replaced after anonymous afternoons and even Shane Maher - promising last week - failed to raise a gallop.

Limerick had some extenuating circumstances. Selector Damien Quigley said afterwards the loss of centre back Peter Lawlor after 31 minutes had been a severe setback but in truth the team's reversal of fortune was well under way by then.

"It was bad news from our point of view," said Quigley afterwards. "It looks like a serious hand injury but obviously the X-ray will show the extent of the damage."

He was at a loss to explain the team's poor display and anxious to look to the future. "We'll train tomorrow night as usual. Our focus is on the Munster championship so it's early days yet but it's disappointing so far. It's disappointing from a morale point of view but it's a long year and we have to keep going."

The roots of yesterday's problem lay at centrefield where only eventual replacement Niall Moran competed to any effect. In the first half, though, Paul Kelly and Eddie Enright ran the show, starving Limerick's initially threatening forwards and putting huge pressure on their opponents' defence.

In addition the critical phase before half-time was marked by a sequence of fouls in the centre of the pitch, all of which Paul Kelly ruthlessly exploited with six converted frees in 15 minutes.

Benny Dunne was by now swooping through the ruins of Limerick's defence and picking off points - he had four by half-time, at which point Tipp led by 0-16 to 0-5.

There was little change after the break.

Dunne cut in for a shot that John Cahill saved but the rebound fell for Dunne's brother Tommy - on as a replacement at full forward - who put away the goal.

From the puck-out Donie Ryan capitalised on a mistake by David Kennedy to fire in a quick-riposte goal for Limerick.

In the final quarter Tipperary were present in body only and managed only two scores, both from Eoin Kelly - a goal from a penalty and a pointed free.

"This was a different game and we consolidated our position just before half-time," said Hogan afterwards. "Our long range shooting was very good, Paul particularly on the frees. We didn't want to come down and end up with two defeats on the bounce with a trip to Wexford coming up because we never had a great record going down to Wexford.

"Limerick, like ourselves, are looking towards a goal. I know that Pad Joe's trying a number of players and is gearing up towards the championship because Pad Joe was always a championship man so I feel that Limerick have a lot more in reserve."

Perhaps the best news of the day was that full back Philip Maher was back playing with his club after last year's cruciate ligament injury. Martin Maher was also on the comeback trail from injury.

"We're hoping that Philip and Martin come through all right today," said Hogan, "because we're a bit short in the full-back line."

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; J Devane, D Kennedy, M Phelan; E Corcoran, J Carroll, D Fitzgerald; P Kelly (0-6, all frees), E Enright; B O'Meara, S Maher, B Dunne (0-6); S Butler, G O'Grady, E Kelly (1-9, goal from penalty and six frees). Subs: L Corbett for O'Meara (10 minutes); T Dunne (1-0) for O'Grady (33 mins); P O'Brien for Maher (60 mins)

LIMERICK: J Cahill; D Reale, TJ Ryan, M Cahill; M O'Brien, P Lawlor, M Foley; P O'Reilly, C Carey (0-1); D Ryan (1-0), J O'Brien (0-1), S O'Connor; D Sheehan (0-1), A O'Shaughnessy (0-5, all frees), P Tobin (0-2). Subs: B Geary for Lawlor (31 mins); N Moran (0-2) for O'Reilly (33 mins); P O'Reilly for M O'Brien (half-time); C Smith for Carey (46 mins); M McKenna for Ryan (65 mins).

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).