A sterling second half powered Limerick to victory over Tipperary on a 0-30 to 1-23 scoreline at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Seven points from half-back Diarmaid Byrnes and five from wing-forward Aidan O'Connor saw John Kiely’s side earn their first win of the 2025 Allianz National Hurling League.
Tipperary had led by a point at the short whistle thanks to Sean Kenneally’s goal, but Limerick were a different proposition in the second half.
Paddy O’Donovan impressed for a second week in a row with three points in the second half for a Limerick side that lost Kyle Hayes to injury in the first half.
Tipperary had won their opening two games and started with confidence and the two opening scores from Willie Connors and Alan Tynan.
Limerick got on the board with David Reidy and scores from Adan English saw the game level on seven minutes.
Scores from Kenneally and Bryan O’Mara soon restored Tipperary’s advantage but efforts from Gillane and Eddie Stokes brought Limerick back on level terms, before they took the lead for the first time thanks to Reidy.
Limerick started to hit form, with points from Byrnes and O’Connor that saw them lead by 0-09 to 0-06 after 14 minutes.
Hayes went off injured on 24 minutes after colliding with Ronan Maher and with Limerick down to 14, Tipperary took full advantage with McCarthy setting up Kenneally for a devastating goal from a first-time strike.
Ethan Hurley squared the game up with his first touch after replacing Hayes but it was Tipperary that went in at half-time leading 1-13 to 0-15 thanks to a Craig Morgan strike.
A glorious O’Donovan point levelled the game for a sixth time on the restart and Byrnes’ influence grew with a third point to put his side back in front.
Limerick started to gain control in the third quarter, with Reidy helping them to a two-point advantage on 40 minutes.
Byrnes, Lynch and English kept the scoreboard ticking over, while Tipperary kept in touch from McCarthy frees.
Tipperary did manage to make it a one-point contest in the final five minutes but Gillane, Byrnes and Hurley fired Limerick home.
Limerick: S Dowling; F O’Connor, D Morrissey, B Murphy; D Byrnes (0-07, 3f), K Hayes, C Coughlan; A English (0-03), C Lynch (0-02); E Stokes (0-01), D Reidy (0-03), A O’Connor (0-05); A Gillane (0-04, 3f), D Ó Dálaigh, P O’Donovan (0-03).
Subs: E Hurley (0-02) for Hayes (24, inj), M Houlihan for Ó Dálaigh (46), H Flanagan for Stokes (60), D Lynch for O’Donovan (69).
Tipperary: B Hogan; R Doyle, E Connolly, M Breen (0-01); S Kennedy, R Maher, B O’Mara (0-01); W Connors (0-01), C Morgan (0-01); G O’Connor (0-01), J Morris (0-04), A Tynan (0-02); D Stakelum, S Kenneally (1-03), D McCarthy (0-09, 9f)
Subs: C Bowe for Stakelum (46), B McGrath for Kennedy (46), M Corcoran for Morgan (57), J McGrath for O’Connor (64), J Ryan for Connors (64).
Referee: C Mooney (Dublin).
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