Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

TIPPERARY 2-19 GALWAY 0-20

By Shane Brophy at Semple Stadium

Tipperary recorded their first victory in the National League as they saw off Galway in a lively encounter at Semple Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A red card for Galway substitute Jarlath Mannion in the 65th minute proved to be the key moment as the home side outscored the visitors 0-5 to 0-2 in the remaining minutes to keep them unbeaten in division 1A after three games.

Much was made of the fact that Tipperary hadn’t scored a goal in their first two games, but they rectified that inside five minutes as a sublime reverse handpass from Noel McGrath played in Jason Forde who rifled past Eanna Murphy.

Tipperary were very lively in the early going and if they were fully sharp a couple of more goal chances could have presented themselves. Barry Heffernan surged forward to point after Jason Forde and Joe Canning converted frees with Canning adding a 65 shortly after.

John O’Dwyer and Noel McGrath landed fine points from play before the water-break to lead by four. It took until the 21st minute for Galway to score from play through Joe Canning and he added another free to cancel out a second O’Dwyer point.

Robert Byrne landed a long-range point from Tipp before Jason Forde finished off a fine point for a four-point lead. And it was Forde who provided the pass for Noel McGrath to fire home Tipp’s second goal on 30 minutes for a 2-7 to 0-6 advantage.

However, from there to half time it was all Galway as Kevin Cooney, Conor Cooney and Brian Concannon pointed from play, added to a Canning free as the visitors cut the margin to two points at half time, 2-7 to 0-11.

Galway brought their momentum into the second period with Conor Whelan and Conor Cooney bringing them level. A class Noel McGrath point got Tipp going again but the visitors dominated the third quarter with Concannon landing two further points from play for a first Galway lead in the 45th minute.

Tipp’s subs bench made an big impact with Niall O’Meara and Brendan Maher scoring either side of a Canning free before Jason Forde converted a free as Tipp nudged ahead 2-11 to 0-6 at the second water-break.

The home sides defence were superb throughout and they provided a solid platform from where Tipp stretched their advantage with another Forde free and a booming long-range point from Ronan Maher.

Points from Johnny Coen and three from sub Evan Niland kept Galway in with a chance of getting a result but they never threatened a goal and after the red card for Mannion, Tipp pulled clear with John O’Dwyer, and subs Michael Breen (2) and Paul Flynn also getting on the scoresheet as the home side recorded a five-point win and moved to the top of division 1A.

Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 1-5 (0-4 frees); Noel McGrath 1-2; John O’Dwyer 0-3; Ronan Maher, Michael Breen 0-2 each; Barry Heffernan, Robert Byrne, Paul Flynn, Brendan Maher, Niall O’Meara 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning 0-8 (6 frees, 1 65); Evan Niland (2 frees), Brian Concannon 0-3 each; Conor Cooney 0-2; Johnny Coen, Jason Flynn (free), Kevin Cooney, Conor Whelan 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Barry Hogan; Cathal Barrett, Padraic Maher, Barry Heffernan; Robert Byrne, Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher; Alan Flynn, Paddy Cadell; Dan McCormack, Noel McGrath, Dillon Quirke; John O’Dwyer, Jason Forde, John McGrath.

Subs: Niall O’Meara for Quirke (HT); Paul Flynn for J McGrath (HT); Brendan Maher for Cadell (47); Willie Connors for A Flynn (47); Jake Morris for McCormack (54); Michael Breen for N McGrath (60); Brian McGrath for Kennedy (65).

GALWAY: Eanna Murphy; Darren Morrissey, Daithi Burke, Aidan Harte; TJ Brennan, Padraic Mannion, Adrian Tuohey; Joe Canning, Johnny Coen; Joseph Cooney, Jason Flynn, Conor Cooney; Brian Concannon, Kevin Cooney, Conor Whelan.

Subs: Gearoid McInerney for Burke (49); Niall Burke for Flynn (49); Cathal Mannion for Canning (54); Evan Niland for J Cooney (54); Jack Fitzpatrick for Harte (54); Jarlath Mannion for K Cooney (57); Jack Hastings for C Cooney (70).

*_Ref: *_J Keenan (Wicklow)