Goals from Josh Ryan and Brian Donovan proved to be the difference as Limerick ran out six-point winners over Tipperary at Semple Stadium to book a place in their first Munster final in 12 years.
Both sides were level at half time after Ryan found the net after 12 minutes, but Limerick were by far the better side in the second half with Brian Donovan raising the green flag in the 55th minute to secure a historic win in Thurles.
Victory sets up a Munster SFC showdown against Kerry in Killarney in two weeks' time.
With the Limerick hurlers having all but secured their place in this year’s Munster final, it will be the first time since 1934 that both codes have featured in the provincial showdown in the same year.
The win marks Billy Lee’s five-year anniversary as Limerick manager, and the Newcastle West man’s first Munster SFC semi-final win in charge.
Tipperary had the home advantage, but the momentum seemed to tilt in Limerick’s favour from the get-go, and Billy Lee’s side pointed after just 20 seconds.
Peter Nash linked up well with Cillian Fahy after the Dromcollogher/Broadford midfielder burst through the Tipperary defence to slot over the game’s opening score.
Jack Kennedy – his first of five points – had the two sides level by the fifth minute, before a Sean O’Connor free had David Power’s side ahead for the first time.
The visitors responded immediately, continuing to get off to a flying start, and when Josh Ryan fired raised the green flag in the 12th minute and with the Limerick forwards looking sharp and alert, Fahy added his second point of the evening to give them momentum.
Ryan had put Limerick 1-1 to 0-2 ahead after reacting quickest when Michael O’Reilly saved well from a Brian Donovan shot on goal.
However, Tipperary reacted well to Fahy’s point, which had put Limerick three points clear, with the Premier County scoring the next three points without response with Jack Kennedy (free), Conal Kennedy, and Mark Russell adding to the points tally.
Just shy of the half hour mark, Russell kicked over a superb point to draw the sides level for the second time – the first score for either side in nine minutes.
Limerick created a number of half goal chances but overcooked passes from Hugh Bourke and Adrian Enright let Tipperary off the hook. At the break both sides were level at 1-03 to 0-06 after what can only be described as an incredibly poor display of football. Both sides were level on three separate occasions in the opening 35 minutes.
After the restart, the momentum swung back in Limerick’s favour with Josh Ryan (free) and Adrian Enright pointing to give the Treaty men a two-point lead 10 minutes into the second half.
Midway through the final 35 minutes, Tipperary drew level for the third time through a Jack Kennedy free, but Limerick had other ideas.
With fifteen minutes to go man of the match Brian Donovan burst through a stretched Tipperary defence to blast into the back of the net, giving O’Reilly no chance as Limerick took a well-deserved four-point lead into the final stages.
Tipperary were reduced to 14 in the final two minutes plus five minutes of time added on after Sean O’Connell received a black card in the 33rd minute.
Limerick extended their lead to six by the final whistle to secure their first Munster final appearance since 2010.
Kerry await in the decider on Saturday, May 28th in Killarney after defeating Cork last weekend. Limerick and Tipperary came through Clare and Waterford respectively to set up this last four tie.
Tipperary: Michael O'Reilly; Shane O’Connell (0-01) Jimmy Feehan, Willie Eviston; Sean O’Connell (0-02), Colm O’Shaughnessy, Jack Harney; Conal Kennedy, Mark Russell (0-01); Luke Boland, Jack Kennedy (0-05, 0-02f, 0-03 ’45), Teddy Doyle; Mikey O’Shea, Conor Sweeney (capt.), Sean O’Connor (0-01, 0-01f)
Subs: Liam McGrath for Doyle (temp 33- 36), Steven O’Brien for Boland (half time), Liam McGrath for O’Connor (45), Martin Kehoe for O’Shaughnessy (53), Dean Carew for Eviston (53), Stephen Quirke for O’Shea (63)
Limerick: Donal O'Sullivan (capt.); Sean O’Dea, Brian Fanning, Michael Donovan; Cian Sheehan, Iain Corbett, Paul Maher; Darragh Treacy, Cillian Fahy (0-03); Adrian Enright (0-01), Brian Donovan (1-00), James Naughton; Peter Nash, Josh Ryan (1-01, 0-01f), Hugh Bourke (0-02, 0-01f)
Subs: Robbie Bourke (0-03, 0-1f) for Nash (53), Tommy Griffin for Ryan (60), Killian Ryan for Enright (71), Padraig de Brun for Hugh Bourke (74)
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)
