Hurling & Camogie

National Hurling League Matchbox: All-Ireland champions Tipperary are scuttled by Limerick

An Aaron Gillane goal helped Limerick to victory over Tipperary on Saturday night Picture by Séamus Loughran
An Aaron Gillane goal helped Limerick to victory over Tipperary on Saturday night Picture by Séamus Loughran An Aaron Gillane goal helped Limerick to victory over Tipperary on Saturday night Picture by Séamus Loughran

National Hurling League

Division One Group A

Tipperary 0-18 Limerick 2-14

JOHN Kiely’s Limerick side produced a brilliant second-half fight-back to overturn a nine-point half-time deficit and claim the two points against All-Ireland champions Tipperary on Saturday night.

Goals from Aaron Gillane and substitute Gearóid Hegarty turned the tide in Limerick’s favour and secured a victory which looked unlikely after Jake Morris’ third point had given the home side a 10-point cushion early in the second-half.

Late scores from Diarmuid Byrnes and substitute Séamus Flanagan gave Limerick some breathing space and they could afford the luxury of losing Will O’Donoghue to a second yellow card in injury-time.

Waterford 1-24 Limerick 3-17

BROTHERS Stephen and Kieran Bennett scored 0-16 between them as Waterford recovered from a disastrous start to edge out Cork at Walsh Park.

Liam Cahill's first competitive game in charge of the Déise looked destined to end in defeat when Conor Lehane and Shane Kingston scored two goals inside the first two minutes, but Patrick Curran's 12th minute major proved to be a turning point as the hosts stormed back to take a 1-13 to 2-8 lead at the break.

Despite registering 17 wides in a wasteful display, Cork almost got something from the game when Kingston's second goal was followed by Damien Cahalane's third point in the closing stages.

Galway 1-24 Westmeath 0-10

CONOR Whelan's first-half goal helped Galway to a big victory over 14-man Westmeath in yesterday’s Division One opener at Pearse Stadium.

With Killian Doyle helping himself to seven first-half points, the visitors only trailed by 0-8 to 1-12 at the break, but the dismissal of Aonghus Clarke following a second yellow card in the 29th minute made it easy for Shane O'Neill's men after the restart.

Joe Canning marked his return from an injury-hit 2019 with 12 points, while the in-form Tadhg Haran chipped in with 0-6 for the dominant Tribes men.

Division One Group B

Laois 2-16 Wexford 2-27

DESPITE early goals from Conor McDonald and Aidan Nolan for Wexford, Laois were handed a lifeline when Mark Fanning dropped Laois ’keeper Enda Rowland’s booming delivery over the line on the stroke of half time.

Wexford were tested by Eddie Brennan’s men in the early stages of the second-half, Ross King pegging it back to a one-point game, but were eventually able to exert their superiority, with 11 different players lofting over points.

Kilkenny 3-21 Dublin 0-18

KILKENNY brushed off Richie Leahy's 26th minute dismissal and the absence of their All-Ireland winning Ballyhale contingent to overwhelm Dublin in the Group B opener at Nowlan Park.

Wing-forward Leahy was given his marching orders for a high tackle on Dublin captain Danny Sutcliffe, but it had no bearing on the outcome as the Cats eased to victory.

Dublin couldn't get any closer than six points in the second-half as Niall Brassil and Alan Murphy extended the hosts' lead. It was all over bar the shouting when Billy Ryan grabbed his second goal 10 minutes from time.

Clare 1-27 Carlow 0-14

TONY Kelly scored 12 points as Clare opened their Division One campaign with a runaway victory over Carlow at Cusack Park.

While just six points, 0-9 to 1-12, separated the sides at half-time, Brian Lohan's men found an extra gear after the restart to run out 16-point winners.

The visitors couldn't have asked for a worse start when Shane O'Donnell scored the only goal inside two minutes. All six Clare forwards had got on the scoresheet by the 18th minute, with Kelly, O'Donnell, Ian Galvin and David Reidy causing endless problems for the overworked Carlow defence.

Martin Kavanagh registered eight of Carlow’s 14 points.

Division 2A

Mayo 0-13 Kerry 2-24

KERRY began their promotion bid from Division 2A with a comfortable 17-point win over Mayo in MacHale Park, Castlebar.

Shane Conway knocked over 11 points for the Kingdom, while Jordan Conway managed 1-3 and Brandon Barrett 1-4 of the total.

Offaly 0-26 Meath 1-21

ANTRIM’S main promotion rivals Offaly survived a scare to begin their campaign with a win over Meath in Birr.

Liam Langton, Seán Cleary and Shane Kinsella had all been in fine scoring form for Offaly in the first-half as they led by 0-18 to 0-10 at the interval.

But inspired by a goal from the excellent Pauric O'Halloran, Meath reduced the deficit to a point in the closing stages before Eoghan Cahill's injury-time free brought relief for the Faithful county.

Division 2B

Roscommon 2-19 Warwickshire 1-10

ROSCOMMON got their Division 2B campaign up and running with a routine win over Warwickshire at Dr Hyde Park on Saturday.

The game was largely over as a contest by half-time as the Rossies had opened up a 10-point lead, 2-10 to 0-6.

Kildare 2-26 London 0-20

DAVID Herity’s Kildare side began their campaign with an emphatic victory over London in Newbridge yesterday. Brian Byrne and Jack Sheridan got the goals for the Lilywhites.