Tipperary needed a performance. That was what they got.
There was a lot of pressure on the Tipperary under-21s on Thursday evening. The lofty hopes and demanding expectations of an entitled hurling county were on their shoulders after their seniors were dumped out of the championship as early as they’ve ever been before.
They played like a team that didn’t have a care in the world. They ran Limerick ragged in front of a giddy Thurles crowd and let everyone know that the Premier County won’t be down for too long.
With Michael Ryan watching on from the stands, the men in blue and gold began the game like ones demented by the heartbreak suffered by their seniors in Munster. The pain of their county didn’t deter them, it inspired them instead.
They never let up once and in reality, Limerick – minus more than ten of the side who fired them to All-Ireland glory last year, never stood a chance.
Ascending star Jake Morris showed why he was on the verge of the senior’s starting XV this year. He set the tone with a well taken early score and that settled the home side into it.
At half-time Tipperary lead Limerick in the BGE Munster U21 Hurling Championship by 0-13 to 0-5. See the highlights from the 1st half here on GAANOW. pic.twitter.com/p0oNypZ9Sg
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 21, 2018
Captain Colin English led by example from midfield. He hit the Shannonsiders to the tune of two points from play in that first half, but his athleticism and drive shone brightly all night.
The real star of the show was half forward Mark Kehoe, however. The Kilsheelan-Kilcash club man was dropped from the county’s senior panel earlier in the year but he gave Michael Ryan plenty of food for thought here.
He raised five white flags from play, but his first touch, his pace and his guile and grace was a cut above every other hurler on the pitch.
By half-time, Liam Cahill’s men held a 0-13 0-5 advantage. The pattern of play in that first half ensured it was an unassailable one.
They picked up from exactly where they left off after the interval. Brother of Noel and John, Brian McGrath continued his domination of Limerick senior star Seamus Flanagan on the edge of the square.
Indeed, Tipperary’s destroyal of the favourites was down to their ability not to negate, but to horse Limerick’s key players out of the game.
Paudie Feehan clawed a puckout over the usually fierce Kyle Hayes one minute, the next, he and Ger Browne combined to knock him out over his own sideline.
Browne’s reaction told of a Tipperary team fired up for this one.
After David Gleeson raced through to score the first goal of the game on 37 minutes, this game was all over bar the shouting.
GOAL for Tipp! David Gleeson finds the net. pic.twitter.com/2CI3EpbMJK
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 21, 2018
Flanagan ended his evening on the bench. Hayes ended his evening with an early shower after he received a second yellow card. Nobody can win a game on their own, but Limerick were never going to take this one with their main men so marginalised and frustrated.
Tipperary will take beating, they went onto win by 1-22 to 1-13.
