Grogan breaks deadlock

Tipperary 2-13 Limerick IT 3-8:BARRY GROGAN scored four points after coming on as a second-half substitute against Limerick IT yesterday to book Tipperary's place in the quarter-finals of the McGrath Cup.

Prior to Grogan’s 49th-minute introduction, the sides had been level at 2-7 apiece but he produced a remarkable run of scoring to send his team four points clear.

Michael Quinlivan, full-forward on the Tipperary minor team that won the All-Ireland last year, then marked his senior intercounty debut with a well-taken point.

There was still time for Joe Dowling to hit 1-1 before the finish for Limerick IT but Tipperary held out to set up a last-eight meeting with Waterford IT next Sunday, again at the Clonmel Sportsfield.

Tipperary, with Peter Acheson in good form, did it the hard way, however, as LIT led by 2-6 to 2-5 at half-time having trailed by eight points on two separate occasions.

Goals from Conor Sweeney and Philip Austin, from a penalty, had Tipperary in control and leading by 2-5 to 0-3 before Eoghan O’Connor and Séamus Carroll netted for LIT to send them a point clear at the midway point before ultimately being reined in.

TIPPERARY: M O’Donnell; A Morrissey, P Codd, D Lynch; J O’Callaghan, T Ryan, L Egan; E Ryan, H Coghlan (0-1); S Carey (0-1), P Acheson (0-3), B Fox (0-1); C Sweeney (1-0), M Quinlivan (0-1), P Austin (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-1f). Subs: B Jones for Carey (ht), B Grogan (0-4) for O’Callaghan (49), B O’Brien for Sweeney (58), D Butler for E Ryan (60), E Connolly for Morrissey (69).

LIMERICK IT: D Clohessy (Clare); S Bolton (Clare), B Hartnett (Clare), N Gaughan (Sligo); S Malone (0-1) (Clare), D O’Sullivan (Cork), C Talty (Dublin); T McCarthy (Limerick), D Heffernan (0-1) (Offaly); M Hallissey (0-1, free) (Kerry), K Larkin (0-1) (Clare), J Dowling (1-1) (Clare); E O’Connor (1-0) (Limerick), J Burke (0-3, frees) (Clare), S Carroll (1-0) (Limerick). Subs: E Lenihan (Kerry) for Hallissey (60 mins), G O’Gorman (Clare) for Burke (60 mins), S Leneghan (Cork) for Bolton (68 mins).

Referee: J Lynch (Kerry).