Allianz HL D1A: Tipperary impress against Offaly

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

TIPPERARY 5-24 OFFALY 1-18

By Kevin Egan at Glenisk O’Connor Park

3-10 from Jason Forde and a Herculean performance from Bryan O’Mara at full-back were among the highlights for Tipperary in what proved to be a comfortable win over Offaly in Tullamore this afternoon, pushing them alongside Cork to the top of the Allianz League Division 1A table.

Liam Cahill’s charges were controlled and precise in the first half, allowing them to cruise through the second while adding three goals, including the second and third instalments of Forde’s hat-trick.

Included in the four changes to the starting Offaly team was the withdrawal of Adam Screeney and Daniel Bourke, with Johnny Kelly deploying Ciarán Cleary and Brian Duignan in the full forward line to give a meaningful physical threat in that sector.

To an extent that worked, with Eoghan Cahill, Brecon Kavanagh and Ben Conneely foraging and tackling well in the middle third to keep Offaly competitive for the opening 20 minutes.

However while Tipperary are still some way off championship fitness, their hurling was incredibly crisp and accurate and more than any other single factor, that allowed them to build up a five-point half-time advantage. At no point did they over-run or overpower Offaly, but in a game where errors led to big scores, Tipp made precious few.

After a competitive start when the first four points were shared equally, this was in evidence as Offaly were turned over and ruthlessly, clinically, Andrew Ormond and Josh Keller combined to set up Paddy McCormack for a superb low finish.

Tipp briefly moved five points clear before a route one clearance broke off Cleary and fell perfectly for Duignan to beat Barry Hogan for close range, and even after Tipp hit three of the next four points, Offaly kept in the game.

Another turnover was to prove fatal to whatever lingering hopes Offaly might have had however. Ben Miller looked to have completed a good turnover win but then ran into trouble and was dispossessed, setting Andrew Ormond through on goal.

Miller pulled Ormond down, drawing a black card and a penalty, duly rifled to the top corner by Jason Forde.

Liam Hoare and Cathal King pointed to reduce the gap to five by half-time but with the breeze set to favour Tipperary after half-time, that was never likely to be reeled in and without ever having to engage their higher gears, Tipperary quickly moved out of sight.

After hitting three wides to start the second half – contrasting starkly with just one in the opening 35 minutes – John McGrath’s goal opened the second half scoring, and an Offaly reply was never likely with O’Mara marshalling his square with incredible authority.

In what proved to be a quite lifeless spell of hurling, Darragh Stakelum, Conor Stakelum and Jack Leamy all picked off nice points but the engine of Tipp’s scoring display was Forde, who was precise from dead balls as well as firing in two late goals to add to Tipperary’s scoring difference.

Scorers for Offaly: Brian Duignan 1-2, Eoghan Cahill 0-4 (0-2f), Daniel Bourke 0-3, Oisín Kelly 0-2, Liam Hoare 0-2f, Dan Ravenhill 0-1, Cathal King 0-1, Luke Watkins 0-1, Adam Screeney 0-1f, Ben Conneely 0-1.

Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 3-10 (1-0 pen, 0-5f, 0-2 65s), John McGrath 1-1, Paddy McCormack 1-0, Conor Stakelum 0-3, Jack Leamy 0-3, Josh Keller 0-2, Darragh Satkelum 0-2, Conor Martin 0-1, Gearóid O’Connor 0-1, Noel McGrath 0-1

OFFALY: Liam Hoare; Ruairi Kelly, Ben Miller, Patrick Taaffe; Dan Ravenhill, Ben Conneely, Brecon Kavanagh; Luke Watkins, Colin Spain; Ross Ravenhill, Eoghan Cahill, Conor Doyle; Oisín Kelly, Ciarán Cleary, Brian Duignan.

Subs: Cathal King for Watkins (31), Daniel Bourke for R Ravenhill (half-time), Ter Guinan for Doyle (half-time), Adam Screeney for Kelly (43), Sam Bourke for Conneely (61 to FT, temp), Daniel Hand for Spain (62)

TIPPERARY: Barry Hogan; Cathal O'Reilly, Bryan O'Mara, Johnny Ryan; Conor Martin, Craig Morgan, Seamus Kennedy; Willie Connors, Conor Stakelum; Josh Keller, Andrew Ormond, Gearóid O'Connor; Jack Leamy, Paddy McCormack, Jason Forde.

Subs: John McGrath for McCormack (half-time), Darragh Stakelum for Keller (half-time), Noel McGrath for Ormond (46), Adam Daly for Morgan (51), Cathal English for C Stakelum (61).

Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).