Sport

Kirby out of luck again

Munster Under-21 HC Semi-finals Tipperary 1-16 Limerick 2-11: Pat Kirby, who squandered three late frees for Limerick in their…

Thu Jul 14 2005 - 01:00

Munster Under-21 HC Semi-finals Tipperary 1-16 Limerick 2-11: Pat Kirby, who squandered three late frees for Limerick in their All-Ireland qualifier against Galway at the weekend, was again out of luck at the Gaelic Grounds last evening when he muffed two opportunities to bring his side level with Tipperary in a gripping Munster under-21 semi-final.

Tipperary were ahead 1-15 to 2-11 when his free from the sideline fell short.

He also picked up the clearance and this time was wide of the target.

Tipperary swept upfield and Francis Devanney, one of their senior stars, sent over the insurance point.

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In a tension-packed encounter the teams were level on nine occasions and Tipperary seemed to have made the breakthrough on 29 minutes when the outstanding Darragh Egan swept the ball past Brian Murray to give them an 1-8 to 0-7 advantage.

However, Limerick responded in style immediately on the change of ends when a Kirby free was deflected past goalkeeper Patrick McCormack.

Ryan O'Dwyer eased the pressure on Tipperary but Kirby and Owen Ryan levelled at 1-9 each. Then Brian Murray came to Limerick's rescue with a brilliant save from Tom Fitzgerald.

The hurling was fast and furious and just as Tipperary thought they were about to shade it with two points from Egan and another from Conor O'Brien to make it 1-14 to 1-11, the energetic Kirby carved the opening for Owen Ryan to level with a cracking goal.

Tom Collins put Tipperary back in front and Devanney had the final say.

TIPPERARY: P McCormack; J O'Dwyer, C O'Mahony, B Hanley; C O'Brien (0-2), N Teehan, T Collins (0-1); S McGrath, W Cully; R O'Dwyer, F Devanney (0-3), D Egan (1-5, four frees); T Scroope (0-1), T Fitzgerald (0-1), P Shortt (0-1). Subs: D O'Hanlon (0-1) for McGrath, T Ivors for Shortt.

LIMERICK: B Murray; D Moloney, E Kiely, S Walsh; G Heagney, E Benson, D Breen; B Hanley, M Noonan; P Kirby (1-2, 1-2 frees), P McNamara (0-1), P Russell (0-2); A O'Shaughnessy, A O'Connor (0-4, frees), E Ryan (1-1). Subs: R Hayes (0-1) for Hanley; R O'Brien for McNamara.

Referee: G Hoey (Clare).