Limerick kept their unbeaten record in the Waterford Crystal Senior Hurling League with a well deserved win over a makeshift Tipperary side at Semple Stadium, Thurles, yesterday.

The loss of John Carroll at centre-half back through injury in the first half was a blow to Tipperary, especially given the serious manner in which Limerick went about their business. After the sides shared eight points in the opening quarter they stamped their authority on the game and led 0-12 to 0-5 at the interval, with Clement Smith prominent in midfield and full forward Brian Begley playing a key role.

Backed by the breeze in the second half, Tipperary scored three points in seven minutes and threatened to overtake their rivals.

Subsequently, Limerick brought Begley outfield to play as an extra midfielder and his influence steadied things down for the Shannonsiders, who fought hard in the closing stages to finish four points clear.

It was an encouraging win for Eamon Cregan's charges, even allowing for the fact that Tipperary had only two of their championship side in action. Apart from Smith and Begley, Brian Geary, David Stapleton and Paudie Reale played their part in Limerick's win.

Tipperary, for whom Conor O'Dwyer, Dermot Gleeson, Eoin Kelly, Lar Corbett and Damien McGrath were prominent, must beat Cork in their next outing to retain an interest in the competition.

LIMERICK: T Houlihan; D Reale, TJ Ryan, P Reale; P Lawlor, B Geary, W Walsh; M O'Brien, C Smith (0-2); D Stapleton (0- 3), P Cahill, J Meskell (0-3); K Tobin, B Begley (0-4), M Keane (0-3). Subs: E Stapleton for O'Brien; D Ryan for Walsh; D Anderson for Tobin.

TIPPERARY: D Rabbitte; C O'Dwyer, P Maher, T Costello; D McGrath, J Carroll, D Gleeson; N Morris (0-2), R Flannery; P Kelly, C Morrissey, D Shelley; A Cleere (0-1), E Kelly (0-5), L Corbett (0-3). Subs: P Ormonde for Shelley; D Hackett for Flannery; E Troy for Carroll; C Carroll for Rabitte; E Corcoran for Hackett.

Referee: A MacSuibhne (Dublin).