National hurling league winners Tipperary proved too much of a handful for Limerick to mark the opening of the new stand and facilities at the Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams facilities and stand.

Liam Sheedy's team remain unbeaten following this 2-18 to 2-12 encounter, which proved another useful learning experience for Limerick this season ahead of their scheduled Munster Championship semi-final tie with Waterford or Clare at Semple Stadium, Thurles next month. Some further challenge games have been lined-up by Limerick, including one with All-Ireland and Leinster champions Kilkenny.

Manager Richie Bennis used the exercise to gauge the current form of several fringe players, including goalkeeper Dave Bulfin, Damian Cosgrave at full-back, half-back Kieran O'Rourke, mid-field pairing James Ryan and Kevin Tobin, and Eoin Ryan in the inside forward line. Ryan proved himself an able deputy to All-Star Andrew O'Shaugnessy on the free-taking front, knocking over placed balls. Old reliables like Mark Foley, Barry Foley, Donie Ryan, Mike O'Brien and Donal O'Grady were introduced for Limerick in the second period.

Goalkeeper Bulfin also was seen to good effect nearing half-time when he bravely denied Seamus Callinan a second Tipp goal. O'Shaughnessy buried a penalty not long after the re-start but the home side, but Callinan recovered from his earlier miss to strike a tremendous 1-4 in the closing-half. Somewhere in between Callinan's salvo, Seanie O'Connor went exceptionally close to scoring a three-pointer for Limerick.

Foley, speaking at the launch of the GAA Hurling Championship, was reasonably upbeat about the prospects of the season ahead. "We would be looking for something to happen again this year because I do think the talent is there," he insisted. "Even though it did not show up in the league, you would hope that when the ground hardens and the ball travels faster that a few of them would show up. "We are looking only at our first round game (against either Clare or Waterford) and we are looking no further than that. But we want to get back to a Munster Final and, if we don't win our semi-final, we have failed in our number one goal for the year. Winning is definitely a habit and it really does bring a team on, and it's a habit we would certainly like to keep."

Surprisingly, Cork have been installed as favourites in the betting for the Munster Championship, followed by Tipperay, Waterford, Limerick and Clare. Limerick are a best-priced 7/1 for provincial glory and 25/1 for a return of Liam McCarthy to the county after a very long famine.

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