Cahill's Tipp prove they can compete with best but boss doesn't want plaudits yet

TIPPERARY 2-23 LIMERICK 2-23

- BY STEPHEN BARRY

DON'T tell Liam Cahill that Tipperary are back.

The Premier chief was in no mood for people getting carried away after a Thurles thriller with Limerick ended in deadlock.

"The currency here in Tipperary will always be silverware," Cahill said, "but the timing of this is different and we have a lot of work to do.

"Today is a stepping stone. The one narrative we don't want coming out is that Tipperary are back, because that's ridiculous.

"There's so much youth in that room, so much experience that's going to have to be replaced at a later stage.

"God knows, maybe not next year, but they're not going to stay around forever. So there's still a lot of work to be done in that regard."

The sides were level 12 times as John McGrath's second goal edged the hosts ahead with seven minutes left before Hawk-Eye ruled out an Adam English equaliser entering four added minutes.

Diarmaid Byrnes and Aaron Gillane's free nudged Limerick ahead but Darragh McCarthy kept his nerve for an eighth point to level in front of a 32,295 crowd.

Limerick were punished for three throw balls, against Tipp's one, by referee Thomas Walsh from the 58th minute onwards. That included the equalising free against William O'Donoghue.