Tipperary dished out a heavy beating to Limerick in today's Allianz NHL Division 1 encounter at the Gaelic Grounds.

Justin McCarthy's men lost midfielder Dean Madden to an early red card and never recovered as Tipp cantered into a 1-10 to 0-2 half-time lead.

Timmy Hammersley put his name to the opening goal and Eoin Kelly landed five points. A 44th minute goal from John O'Brien put the result beyond any doubt.

Such was the one-sided nature of this game, Tipp boss Liam Sheedy took the opportunity to substitute some key players and rest them for forthcoming fixtures.

For technical reasons the scoreboard failed to work at one end of the Gaelic Grounds but Limerick supporters need not have worried too much as their side slumped to another big defeat and were lucky to escape with the scoreline as it was.

The under-fire Justin McCarthy and his management team face a crucial vote at an emergency meeting of the Limerick County Board on Tuesday, but it will require a two-thirds majority to have a managerial change made. The meeting will be behind closed doors.

Limerick's cause on this occasion was not helped when midfielder Madden was dismissed for a second yellow card after 13 minutes for a wild pull on Shane McGrath. He had picked up his first yellow after six minutes for another clumsy tackle.

While this added to Limerick's woes, it did little to add atmosphere to a game in which both sides had eight first half wides.

But while Limerick could manage only two points - both efforts from play from Graeme Mulcahy in the 15th and 19th minutes - Tipperary managed 1-10 with Eoin Kelly getting 0-5 (0-4f).

The all-important goal came after 25 minutes when Kelly created the chance for young forward Hammersley who managed to round two defenders before beating Limerick goalkeeper Taghg Flynn.

Any slender hopes of even a respectable scoreline evaporated for Limerick eight minutes into the second half when half time substitute John O'Brien blasted home a second goal for Tipp, making it 2-15 to 0-2.

Two points in 46 minutes of hurling summed up Limerick's dismal afternoon up to that stage and while Tipperary continued to pick off points, McCarthy's charges did manage to score six points in the last 22 minutes, two of them from frees. Sheedy hauled off Kelly, Shane McGrath and Seamus Callanan with 20 minutes remaining as the result was done and dusted.

Despite the heavy defeat, number of Limerick defenders, such as Shane O'Neill, Des Kenny and Nicky Quaid, performed well.

But from midfield on Limerick were at sea once Madden had departed. Limerick hit 15 wides, one more than Tipperary but for the latter it was not really a pressing matter.

This was certainly one of the most lacklustre games in the National League at this venue and while those in support of McCarthy and his management team will claim that the score was not as bad as in the All-Ireland semi-final when they lost by 24 points to Tipperary, today's result still adds fuel to the fire surrounding the current row on Shannonside.

Tipp boss Sheedy must have been impressed with the performances of Seamus Hennessy who scored six points from play, while Hammersley also made a major contribution with 1-4 (0-1f).