Limerick 1-25 Tipperary 2-18
Aidan O’Connor shone brightest as Limerick made hard work of their neighbours Tipperary at TUS Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday evening to be crowned Munster Under 20 hurling champions and march into the All-Ireland final in style.
Diarmuid Mullins’ impressive young guns took a well-deserved seven-point lead into half 1-13 to 1-6 before Tipperary outscored Limerick by three points in the second half.
However, the Treaty men held out for a four-point victory to be named as worthy Munster champions on home soil.
Limerick got off to a flying start with from the impressive and in-form Colin Coughlan was fouled within the first 30 seconds. Aidan O’Connor slotted over the resulting free – an early sign of things to come.
Adam English had Limerick four points ahead within three minutes. The lively Doon half forward was at his very best as he burst through the Tipperary defence to find the back of the net.
Limerick led by five points midway through the first half with John Kirby – son of Limerick legend Gary Kirby – rounding off a dominant period of play from the home side.
However, Kyle Shelly scored a goal in the 17th minute after Tipperary superbly worked the ball through the lines to bring Limerick’s winning margin back down to a two-point lead.
Limerick responded in impressive fashion and the Treaty men took a seven-point lead into the half-time break after scoring five points without response in the last eight minutes of the first half.
Both sides exchanged points in the early stages of the second half, before substitute Colm Fogarty – introduced just five minutes previously – unselfishly squared the ball to Jack Leamy, allowing the Golden-Kilfeacle clubman to score Tipperary’s second goal.
With the momentum now with Brendan Cummins’s side, The Premier County scored three of the next four points to make it a two-point game.
A tense finish followed for Mullins’ side, but Shane O’Brien and O’Connor (free) slotted over in injury time to settle Limerick nerves and secure the Shannonsiders 10th U-20 title and their first since 2017.
Limerick will play the winners of the Leinster final between Wexford and Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final in two weeks’ time.
LIMERICK: Conor Hanley Clarke: Chris Thomas (0-1), Fergal O'Connor, Evan O'Leary; Cian Scully (0-1), Ethan Hurley, Colin Coughlan (0-1): Jimmy Quilty (capt.) (0-1), John Kirby (0-1); Adam English (1-2), Aidan O'Connor (0-9, six frees), Eddie Stokes (0-1); Shane O'Brien (0-5), Patrick Kirby (0-1), Donnacha O'Dalaigh.
Subs: Patrick O'Donovan (0-1) for O'Dalaigh (44 mins), Brian O'Meara for Scully (45 mins), Joe Sweeney for Quilty (54 mins), Patrick Reale (0-1) for Patrick Kirby (55 mins)
TIPPERARY: Paidi Williams; Conor Cadell, Conor O'Dwyer, Luke Shanahan; Cathal Quinn (0-1), James Armstrong, Michael Corcoran; Darragh Stakelum (0-1), John Campion (capt); Josh Keller, Peter McGarry (0-3), Eddie Ryan; Kyle Shelly (1-6, one free), Jack Leamy (1-3, one free), Paddy Creedon (0 3).
Subs: Colm Fogarty for Ryan (34 mins), Sean Kenneally (0-1) for Keller (39 mins), Conor McKelvey for Corcoran (52 mins), Conor Ryan for Shelly (57 mins).
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)
