Allianz HL D1A: Tipperary finish strongly

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

Tipperary 1-21 Galway 1-16

By Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

All-Ireland senior hurling champions Tipperary were forced to dig deep to make a winning start to their League campaign at a rain-sodden FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday.

A man of the match performance from Jake Morris was instrumental with the captain on the night scoring five of his eight points from play as Tipp pulled clear late on after Galway threatened an upset for long spells.

The All-Ireland champions started with 10 of the side that began against Cork at Croke Park with two players making their debuts in corner back Cathal O’Reilly and corner forward Jack Leamy.

There were also two debutantes on the Galway side with Darragh Neary and Aaron Niland making their senior bows for the Tribesmen looking to make a strong start to the 2026 campaign.

They had the opening score through Rory Burke inside the opening minute before Darragh McCarthy opened his account with the first of four first half frees.

McCarthy and Aaron Niland were off target early in the wet conditions, but the hurling was crisp in the early going with a John Fleming point answered by University of Galway student Sam O’Farrell.

Galway were dominating puckouts and possession and added good scores from Burke and Gavin Lee before McCarthy retorted from play. The tempo quickened as Fleming and Padraic Mannion nudged the visitors in front before Jake Morris added his second to bring the sides level.

Neary and Mannion again gave a confident Galway side a two point lead before Sam O’Farrell hit back with a much needed score for the home side. Jason Rabbitte showed he had the paw of his Dad, Joe, by catching a high ball for Galway’s final point of the half.

Darragh McCarthy’s last two frees brought Tipp level at the break at 0-9 apiece, but Galway had been wasteful with nine wides to Tipp’s four, while only a superb intervention by Cathal O’Reilly denied Aaron Niland an almost certain goal close to half time.

Tipp started the second half with added vigour, scoring three of the first four points, but Galway refused to yield and with Jason Rabbitte impressing at full forward, he was involved in Rory Burke’s 41^st minute goal which edged them back in front.

Indeed, they went two in front on 49 minutes with All-Star Cathal Mannion making an immediate impact, while Fleming scored his third from play, in a half forward line that contributed 1-8 between them while Galway scored just two points from play in the match.

Tipp were struggling in attack but Jake Morris played a captain’s role to bring them level before things became heated after a high challenge on Sam O’Farrell which led to three yellow cards.

The sides were still level on 64 minutes when Morris and Ormond combined to put sub Darragh Stakelum in for the clinching goal as Tipp pulled away in the closing period for a flattering five point win.

Scorers for Tipperary: Jake Morris 0-8 (3fs); Darragh McCarthy 0-7 (6fs); Darragh Stakelum 1-0; Sam O’Farrell, Andrew Ormond 0-2 each; Conor Stakelum, Seamus Kennedy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Rory Burke 1-3; John Fleming 0-3; Padraic Mannion, Darragh Neary, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland (2fs) 0-2 each; Gavin Lee, Colm Molloy 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Cathal O’Reilly, Robert Doyle, Michael Breen; Joe Caesar, Bryan O’Mara, Seamus Kennedy; Willie Connors, Conor Stakelum; Sam O’Farrell, Andrew Ormond, Jake Morris; Darragh McCarthy, Oisin O’Donoghue, Jack Leamy.

Subs: Johnny Ryan for Doyle (25 inj); Darragh Stakelum for Leamy (HT); Josh Keller for Caesar (40); Paddy McCormack for McCarthy (53); Stefan Tobin for O’Donoghue (69).

Galway: Darach Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Cillian Trayers, Darren Morris; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Daniel Loftus; Gavin Lee, Thomas Monaghan; Darragh Neary, Rory Burke, John Fleming; Declan McLoughlin, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland.

Subs: Ronan Glennon for Morrissey (5 inj); Cathal Mannion for Monaghan (42); Colm Molloy for McLoughlin (53); Sean Linnane for Lee (65); Paddy MacCarthaigh for Neary (65).

Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin).