There was incredible drama at the Gaelic Grounds as 14-man Limerick defeated Tipperary by 3-16 to 3-14 to book a place in the Munster U21 hurling final.

In the provincial decider in a fortnight's time, John Kiely's side will face their four-in-a-row-chasing neighbours Clare. Pre-match favourites Tipp played their part in an absorbing battle tonight, coming from twelve points adrift after 24 minutes to draw level in the 52nd, but they could never get their noses in front. Ultimately, the losers paid the price for a poor start.

In a gripping encounter that produced 36 scores (and almost as many wides!), the Man of the Match award went to victorious goalkeeper David McCarthy, who pulled off two truly extraordinary saves - one in each half.

Having led by twelve six minutes from the interval, the winners carried a 2-9 to 2-4 advantage into the break. Goals from Cian Lynch and Robbie Hanley had them in the boss seat but a brace of majors from dual star Colin O'Riordan suddenly brought Tipperary back into a game that was threatening to slip through their fingers.

With the wind at their backs, the Treaty County got off to a dream start when senior star Lynch groundstroked the sliothar to the back of the net inside 14 seconds. Ronan Lynch's second converted free made it 1-2 to 0-1 after eleven minutes, with the visitors having passed up on a number of presentable scoring opportunities during those early exchanges.

Na Piarsaigh's Diarmuid Dempsey got on the end of a nice Limerick team move to stretch the gap in the 14th minute and the same player slotted a sublime score three minutes later, which was followed instantly by another from midfielder Darragh O'Donovan (Doon)

The rampant hosts were winning a lot of dirty ball in the middle third and Patrickswell ace Lynch was on hand to clip over the point that left eight between the sides, 1-6 to 0-1. Points were swapped by Bill Maher and Dempsey before another fine Limerick move culminated in Hanley planting a powerful low 23rd-minute shot past Paul Maher to the net: 2-7 to 0-2.

The hosts could do no wrong and Pat Ryan's smashing point from the centre of the field epitomised their first-half efforts. Tipp had been all over the place but, at the other end, five minutes from the break, the multi-skilled O'Riordan replied with a fine individual goal, catching the ball and rounding McCarthy to place it in an empty net.

Midfielder Stephen Cahill pointed to reduce the arrears to eight before O'Riordan hammered home his second goal in the 28th minute. Having trailed by twelve points just a few minutes earlier, the away side were back within five. Glenroe's McCarthy denied John McGrath a third Tipp goal before O'Donovan drilled over his second point. A converted McGrath '65' - his second point - brought the curtain down on an intriguing opening half hour with five between them. There was plenty more to come...

Tipperary hit the first three points of the second half, including a monster free from full back Michael Breen, which made it a two-point match before Dempsey notched his fourth score, 2-10 to 2-7 after 38 minutes.

The wides count mounted at both ends before Limerick centre back Barry O'Connell was sent off for a second yellow card offence. But, on the stroke of 45 minutes, the 14 men pounced for their third goal: Tom Morrissey batting the ball home first time after Dempsey's initial effort had been parried: 3-10 to 2-8.

McGrath (free) and wing back Tomas Hamill pointed to leave a goal between the sides with twelve minutes to go; Morrissey popped over the insurance point in the 50th minute but the Blue & Gold replied with an exquisitely-struck McGrath point from play. Amazingly, the sides were level for the first time in the 52nd minute when Tadhg Gallagher cut in from the right and planted an unstoppable shot into the far corner - 3-11 apiece!

Half-time sub Colin Ryan restored Limerick's lead from a free and an incredible McCarthy diving save denied wing back Ronan Maher a fourth Tipp major. But McGrath nonchalantly converted the resultant '65' to tie the scores up again with just six minutes remaining.

Within seconds of entering the action, substitute Jack Kelliher whacked over a stunning lead point for the 14 men. After Ryan pointed a superb free, Tipp centre back Barry Heffernan replied to leave the minimum between the sides again. Ryan pointed from play and a McGrath free in injury time set up a dramatic finale.

Tipp's chances went up in smoke when full back Breen inadvertently gave away a free deep into added time and also received his second yellow card. No.20 Ryan slotted the resultant free - his fourth point - and the Treaty County progressed to the provincial final. It has been a magnificent Munster U21 HC to date and we still have a Clare-Limerick decider to look forward to on July 30th!

Limerick - D McCarthy; M O'Callaghan, R English, M Casey; D Byrnes, B O'Connell, G Hegarty; D O'Donovan (0-2), P Ryan (0-1); R Hanley (1-0), R Lynch (0-2, 1f, 1'65), D Dempsey (0-4); K O'Brien, T Morrissey (1-1), C Lynch (1-1). Subs: C Ryan (0-4, 3f) for R Hanley, S Finn for M O'Callaghan, L O'Sullivan for R Lynch, J Kelliher (0-1) for K O'Brien, A Gillane for P Ryan.

Tipperary - P Maher; J Peters, M Breen (0-1f), T Fox; R Maher, B Heffernan (0-1), T Hamill (0-1); B Maher (0-1), S Cahill (0-2); B McCarthy, P Shanahan, W Connors; T Gallagher (1-0), C O'Riordan (2-0), J McGrath (0-6, 2f, 2'65). Subs: J Keane (0-1f) for W Connors, J Shelley (0-1) for P Shanahan, A Coffey for B McCarthy, P Maher for T Gallagher.

Referee - C Lyons.

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