His injury-time point saw the sides finish level in front of 28,353 spectators, setting up a replay date next Saturday at the Gaelic Grounds.

For a while, it looked like John Devane late goal - which pushed Tipperary 2-14 to 2-13 in front – would be enough.

But Limerick, who led by two points at the break, did not deserve to lose out in the Thurles sunshine.

Poor finishing saw Tipp slip two points behind their visitors in the opening half as Donncha Sheehan nipped in for the Shannonsiders' opening goal on 20 minutes.

TJ Ryan rattled the Tipp net on the restart to further boost the chances of Joe McKenna's men spoiling the home side's chances of a comeback.

Ryan, normally a full-back, now a makeshift full-forward, notched an impressive 1-07 for Limerick.

The Premier's Kellys - Paul (0-04) and Eoin (0-07) continued to hit the scoring heights.

Then substitute Ger 'Redser' O'Grady further pushed Tipp back into contention when finding the Limerick goal on 53 minutes with a well-drilled strike.

A second Tipp goal then followed from Devane with two minutes remaining.

Nonetheless, O'Grady forced a deserved replay for next weekend, with both sides sure to want to improve on their stop-start displays.

Tipperary: B Cummins; M Maher, P Maher, P Curran; D Fanning, D Kennedy, E Corcoran; C Morrissey (0-01), P Kelly (0-04); J Devane (1-00), F Devaney, B Dunne; E Kelly (0-07), P O'Brien, L Corbett (0-01).

Subs used: G O'Grady (1-00) for F Devaney; T Dunne (0-01) for B Dunne; D Fitzgerald for E Corcoran; M Webster for C Morrissey.

Limerick: T Houlihan; D Reale, S Lucey, M Foley; O Moran, B Geary, P Lawlor; P O'Grady (0-01), D O'Grady; C Fitzgerald (0-01), N Moran (0-03), A O'Shaughnessy; D Ryan, TJ Ryan (1-07), D Sheehan.

Subs used: P Tobin (0-02) for S Sheehan, M Cahill for C Fitzgerald.

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).