THE Limerick U20 hurlers have been beaten by Tipperary in the final round of their Munster Championship campaign at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday evening.

Evan Loftus’ side were beaten on a scoreline of 4-20 to 2-8, which brings the curtain down on their 2026 Munster Championship run. 

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The opening score of the contest came after two minutes via a Robert O’Farrell free for the hosts. The visitors would reply instantly with the raising of a green flag through wing forward David Costigan.

Cathal Dennehy would notch Limerick’s second point of the game minutes later but Tipperary would reply in kind through Robbie Ryan. 

O’Farrell continued to be accurate through placed balls and brought the contest back to one after a blistering opening eight minutes with the scoreboard reading 1-1 to 0-3 in favour of the visitors. 

Brendan Cummins’ side would score three on the bounce in the minutes that followed through Ormond, Fitzpatrick and Costigan to stretch their advantage to three. 

A well taken goal on the quarter of an hour mark from full forward Ormond put the Premier County in a commanding 2-4 to 0-4 lead. 

Both sides were guilty of some poor wides as the half progressed but the visitors were able to quietly build on their lead as they half came to a close. 

Fitzpatrick and Ormond were a constant thorn in the Limerick side and the pair combined for a flurry of points to give their side a 2-10 to 0-4 lead with half time fast approaching. 

Stefan Tobin added his first score of the game in first half injury time to give Tipperary a 13 point lead at the interval. 

O’Farrell notched the first pointed effort of the second half but the visitors managed to raise their third green flag of the day on 38 minutes when Costigan was able to tap into an empty net after Charlie Ryan’s effort came crashing off the crossbar, rebounding kindly into Costigan’s path. 

Limerick responded through a goal of their own moments later when substitute Dara Ferland blasted home from close range. 

The hosts added a second goal minutes later when wing back Jack Cosgrove waltzed through the Tipperary rearguard to finish smartly into the back of Paddy McCormack’s net, to leave the scoreboard at 3-13 to 2-5. 

Just when it looked as if the hosts were beginning to build some momentum in the contest, Cormac Fitzpatrick raised a fourth green flag for the visitors after 45 minutes, 4-14 to 2-5. 

Brendan Cummins’ charges were able to keep their Limerick counterparts at bay for the remaining quarter of an hour with some relentless forward play.

Fitzpatrick and Ormond, who were immense throughout, kept the scoreboard ticking over for their side as the contest came to a close.

James Coughlan, who assumed free taking duties for the hosts in the second period, slotted over some fine efforts from distance throughout the second period but it wasn’t enough to mount any form of a comeback for Limerick against a formidable Tipperary outfit who have a Munster final to look forward to against either Clare or Cork. 

Referee Seaghan Walsh drew the contest to a close with a final score of 4-20 to 2-8 in favour of the Premier County at a sunny TUS Gaelic Grounds.

SCORERS: LIMERICK: Robert O’Farrell 0-4 (2f), Jack Cosgrove 1-0, Dara Ferland 1-0, James Coughlan 0-2 (2f), Cathal Dennehy, Eoin Brosnan 0-1 each  

TIPPERARY: Cormac Fitzpatrick 1-9 (8f), David Costigan 2-2, Jamie Ormond 1-3, Shane Cleary 0-2, Robbie Ryan, Stefan Tobin, Eoghan Doughan 0-1 each

LIMERICK: Alex Kearns (Na Piarsaigh), John Murray (Patrickswell), Jack Dwane (Kilmallock), Sean Duff (Mungret St Paul’s), Jack Cosgrove (Ahane), Eamon Richardson (Doon), James Coughlan (Ballybrown), Conor Ryan (Ahane) (C), Aidan O’Connell (Doon), John O’Connor (Ahane), Darragh Gleeson (Adare), Killian Begley (Mungret St Paul’s), Robert O’Farrell (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Eoin Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh) SUBS: Dara Ferland (Monaleen) for Killian Begley (28 minutes), Oran Crowley (Staker Wallace) for John Murray (HT), Michael Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohermore) for Aidan O’Connell (HT), Patrick Kearney (Adare) for Darragh Gleeson (HT), Michael Leo (Knockainey) for Conor Ryan (59 minutes).

TIPPERARY: Paddy McCormack, Cathal O’Reilly, Evan Morris, David Ryan, Adam Ryan, Euan Murray, Shane Cleary, Charlie Ryan, Sam Rowan, Stefan Tobin, Tiarnan Ryan, David Costigan, Robbie Ryan, Jamie Ormond, Cormac Fitzpatrick SUBS: Eoghan Doughan for Tiarnan Ryan (HT), Patrick Ryan for Sam Rowan (37 minutes), Oisín O’Donoghue for Robbie Ryan (45 minutes), Jack Hayes for Jamie Ormond (47 minutes), Jake Donellan Houlihan for Adam Ryan (50 minutes). 

REFEREE: Seaghan Walsh (Waterford)