Daithi Hogan and Paddy O’Keeffe were the goalscorers for the Premier County
LIMERICK U20 0-6 (0-1-4) TIPPERARY U20 3-8 (3-8-0)
Tipperary claimed the season’s opening win in the Munster U20 football championship with a convincing 3-8 to 0-6 away to Limerick in Mick Neville Park Rathkeale on Saturday.
Daithi Hogan’s two goals either side of the half along with a strong performance at full forward from Paddy O’Keeffe made the difference in the end, with Niall Fitzgerald’s side the better side over the 60 minutes.
It was a patient start from both camps, with Limerick enjoying most of the possession early on. This was proven by the Treaty side holding a two point advantage after the opening 10 minutes, as Evan Curry opened the scoring a two pointer, before Tom Lloyd added to their tally from close range, while Tipperary captain Charlie King got his side’s opening point.
A well worked move from Tipperary resulted in Paddy O’Keeffe tapping over their second score to reduce the gap, before Jamie O’Keeffe levelled proceedings just a minute later, and the sides were level for the first time.
Clonmel Commercials man Joe Higgins gave Tipperary the lead for the first time after 17 minutes with a lovely outside the boot score and Limerick for the brief time just looked a little bit reserved and lost some of their early momentum.
Tipperary got the games opening goal after 21 minutes thanks to a well worked move in which Paddy O’Keeffe and Dylan Cotter worked their magic to both win possession back and feed the ball over to Dathi Hogan and the St Patrick’s made no mistake in blasting his effort into the net and leaving Limerick with lots of early work to do.
Limerick were creating chances but weren’t adding to the scoreboard, six wides compared to their opponents just two was a reflective sign of who was more consistent with their shooting efforts and needed to improve on that in the second half, albeit against the wind.
Despite Diarmuid Hynes getting the opening score of the half with a close range free, Limerick found themselves reduced to 14 men when Tom Ryan was given a black card for a reckless tackle.
Diarmuid Hynes had a shot off the ground which was comfortably saved by keeper Robbie McGrath, whilst Ben Carey got Tipperary’s first score of the second half after 41 minutes with a free, in what was a tame enough affair.
In a game lacking in the best of quality, Paddy O’Keeffe was certainly a big stand out and he all but sealed victory Niall Fitzgerald’s side the win with a stunning individual goal which came bouncing off the bar and certainly the score of the game.
With just four minutes remaining, substitute JP Mbokha Tansia’s cheeky flick found it’s way onto the path of corner forward Daithi Hogan and he made no mistake to claim his second goal of the game as Tipperary were able to all but see out the victory and the first points in this seasons U20 Munster football championship.
Scorers:
LIMERICK: Evan Curry 0-3 (0-1 2 pt), Diarmuid Hynes 0-2 (0-2 f), Tom Lloyd 0-1
TIPPERARY: Daithi Hogan 2-2 (0-1 f), Paddy O’Keeffe 1-2, Ben Carey (0-1 f), Charlie King, Jamie O’Keeffe and Joe Higgins 0-1 each
Wides:
LIMERICK: 8
TIPPERARY: 7
Teams:
LIMERICK: Cian McGrath (Oola); Cian O’Sullivan (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Cathal Mangan (Croom), Paddy Downey (Oola); Tom Lloyd (Mungret/St Pauls), Tommy Ryan (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Jack Butler (Ahane); Tadgh Hourigan (Pallasgreen), Brain O’Callaghan (Dromcollogher/Broadford); Bobby Smith (Ballybrown), Tom Ryan (Oola), Evan Curry (Athea); Diarmuid Hynes (C) (Mungret/St Pauls), Micheal Fahy (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Padraic Phelan (Pallasgreen).
Subs: Barry Griffin (Monaleen) for Smith (HT), Luke Walsh (Mungret/St Pauls) for Fahy (HT), Michael Kilbridge (Fr Caseys) for Downey (40), Aidan O’Shea (Cappagh) for O’Callaghan (46), Calum Boyle (Fr Caseys) for Phelan (55)
TIPPERARY: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore Castleiney), Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials); Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers), Charlie King (C) (Ballina), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Darragh O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials); Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials), Ben Carey (Ballylooby Castlegrace), Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels); Daithi Hogan (St Patrick’s), Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers), Tommy O’Connor (Kilsheelan Kilcash).
Subs: Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan) for O’Connor (51), JP Mbokha Tansia (Ballina) for Higgins (55), Cillian Ryan (Ballina) for King (59), Dayle Hogan (JK Brackens) for O’Keeffe (59), James Power (Clonmel Commercials) for O’Keeffe (59)
Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare)