All-Ireland champions Limerick maintained their winning start to the league with a deserved seven points win over neighbours Tipperary in their first home match at the Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick trailed by a point at the break but pulled away in the second-half, restricting Tipperary to just 0-05 after the break.
Aaron Gillane finished with nine points but it was the strength of the Limerick bench that made the difference, with Peter Casey, Kyle Hayes and Cian Lynch all called upon in the second half.
The teams were level on five occasions in the first half but Tipperary held a narrow 1-09 to 1-08 lead at half-time. Graeme Mulcahy cancelled out Patrick Bonner Maher’s early goal.
Michael Breen’s point after eight seconds wasn’t a sign of things to come and both teams struggled in front of goals in the opening half.
Aaron Gillane missed a free before he levelled proceedings for the first time with another free in the third minute.
Noel McGrath and Diarmaid Byrnes traded scores while Seamus Callanan had two uncharacteristic missed frees before he landed his first from distance in the 19th minute.
Limerick went 0-04 to 0-03 ahead and then in the 23rd minute a wonderful overhead flick from Willie Connors put Patrick Bonner Maher through, and he finished his shot into the bottom right corner of Nickie Quaid’s net.
Jason Forde almost scored a second goal moments later, but he blazed his chance wide. Nevertheless, Tipperary took a 1-04 to 0-04 lead when Robert Byrne scored.
Limerick stuck in the game and they were rewarded for their efforts on the half hour mark. Tom Morrissey sent in a high delivery and the diminutive figure of Mulcahy rose highest to tap the ball into the open goal.
Gillane’s third free drew the sides level for the fourth time one minute later. And although Callanan cancelled that out Gillane struck another point.
Forde and Barry Heffernan scored before Tom Morrissey’s point rounded off the first half scoring and Tipperary were one-point ahead.
But the Limerick half-back line took over on the resumption and they began to show why they went all the way in the All-Ireland championship last year.
Byrnes added a 65 after Mulcahy opened the scoring for Limerick again. Callanan levelled the game for the sixth time but Limerick got on top all over the pitch.
Casey’s arrival in the 45th minute was a huge boost and they showed more energy as Tipperary’s effort waned.
Dan Morrissey drove forward to score an inspirational point seven minutes later and that gave Limerick a 1-14 to 1-11 lead.
Impressive debutant Conor Boylan helped himself to two points and Byrnes got his fourth as Gillane’s points eased Limerick to the win.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Tom Condon, Sean Finn, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes (0-04, 0-02f, 0-01 65), Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey (0-01); Darragh O’Donovan (0-01), Colin Ryan; Gearoid Hegarty, Tom Morrissey (0-02), Conor Boylan (0-02); Aaron Gillane (0-09, 0-05f, 0-02 65), Kevin Downes, Graeme Mulcahy (1-01).
Subs used: Peter Casey (0-01) for Downes (45), Paddy O’Loughlin for Hannon (50), Kyle Hayes for Boylan (57), Pat Ryan for Mulcahy (64), Cian Lynch for O’Donovan (69).
Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Donagh Maher, James Barry, Alan Flynn; Barry Heffernan (0-01), Ronan Maher, Padraic Maher (0-01); Robert Byrne (0-01), Michael Breen (0-01); Dan McCormack, Noel McGrath (0-01), Willie Connors (0-01); Jake Morris, Seamus Callanan (0-05, 0-05f), Patrick Maher (1-00).
Subs used: Jason Forde (0-03) for McCormack (13), Niall O’Meara for Byrne (50), Killian O’Dwyer for D Maher (55), Mark Kehoe for Morris (55), John McGrath for Breen (63).
Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).
