Tipperary were in flying form as they defeated Limerick IT by 2-24 to 1-16 in the Waterford Crystal Cup semi final at Dolla on Sunday afternoon.

Pa Bourke showed an unerring accuracy from placed balls, scoring 0-13 in total, 12 of these coming from frees. In fairness to the students, they kept with their more illustrious opponents until the last ten minutes when Tipped pulled away.

Limerick IT started brightly and their forwards were causing problems for the Tipp defence, especially Joe Canning, who looks back to his best but then the home side hit seven points without reply as Bourke got into his stride, while the first goal of the game came when John O'Neill rifled to the net after 14 minutes.

Further points by Shane McGrath, Adrian Ryan, O'Neill and Bourke put Tipp into a sic-point lead by the 24th minute. The students were dealt a blow just moments earlier when Tipp native John O'Keeffe was dismissed for a second yellow card.

However, the students battled back into the second despite their numerical disadvantage and the gap was down to five points, before Tipp substitute Timmy Hammersley scored their second goal of the game on 63 minutes.

Tipperary: D Gleeson; D Maher, P Curran, M Cahill; S Maher, J Coghlan, Padraic Maher; B Maher (0-1), J Woodlock; Patrick Maher, S McGrath (0-3), A Ryan (0-2); P Bourke (0-13 12f), B O'Meara (0-2), J O'Neill (1-1). Subs: J Ryan for Woodlock (51); T Hammersley (1-0) for O'Neill (60); D Collins (0-1) for McGrath (62); C O'Brien for Cahill (66).

Limerick IT: A Fahy; E Glynn, R McCarthy, B Glynn; O Whelan, J O'Keeffe, P O'Brien; P Browne (0-2), E Ryan (0-1); S O'Brien (0-2), S Collins, C Madden (0-1); C McInerney (0-2f), J Canning(1-8 6f), C O'Connell. Subs: J Hayes (Limerick) for Whelan (h-t); S Lambert (Galway) for Ryan (h-t); C Nelson for McInerney (63).

Ref: J Sexton (Cork). Tweet

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