Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

Tipperary 0-21 Laois 1-14

By Shane Stapleton at MW Hire O'Moore Park

Colm Bonnar got his competitive reign as Tipperary boss off to a winning start against 14-man Laois at a rain-drenched O’Moore Park.

Jason Forde hit 0-11 points and Mark Kehoe added 0-4 from play, while Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher did the majority of the hosts’ scoring with 1-8.

The Premier had suffered defeat to Kerry in the Munster Hurling League last month, but atoned in this opening NHL clash on a day when Paddy Purcell was sent off.

Forde landed the maiden score of the game, but Laois settled quickly as ‘Picky’ nailed a couple of points inside the opening three minutes.

Their wasteful shooting opened the door for the visitors, however, with five misses in a row being punished by Tipp points through Forde (2), Kehoe and Jake Morris.

The teams then traded white flags before a rush of goal chances excited the crowd.

Jack Kelly sent one attempt from the ’21 at Brian Hogan, while Ben Conroy drew another block from a tight angle before hitting a fresh-air shot with the rebound.

Tipp’s best chance came after Morris, who was sent clear by a Forde stick-flick through the legs, won a penalty which the creator took.

Forde went low, but Enda Rowland got his stick in the way, and the ball flew up and over the bar.

Ger Browne then had a chance but his effort was smothered by a Laois defender, as the Premier pressed ahead by 0-11 to 0-5 heading for the interval.

Morris, Kehoe and Cathal Barrett raised the white flags, but Laois gave themselves hope with frees from Rowland and Maher.

Tipp hit four-in-a-row to start the second half to move 0-15 to 0-8 ahead but Laois looked to have settled with two more frees through Maher.

It was at that stage, however, that Purcell caught defender Craig Morgan with a loose stick into the midriff, with the Rathdowney-Errill man given his marching orders by referee Sean Cleere.

Laois might well have dropped their heads but instead they were given immediate encouragement.

Goalkeeper Rowland dropped a ’65 into the Tipperary square, which Maher diverted to the net — 0-15 to 1-9.

James Keyes came on and necklaced together three points for the hosts, while Kehoe, Michael Breen and ace marksman Forde continued to keep the Premier scoreboard ticking over.

Denis Maher and Browne were both forced into tame goal attempts from dangerous positions late on due to good Laois defending, but it was Tipp who just did enough to see it out.

S****corers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-11 (0-5f, 0-1 pen); Mark Kehoe 0-4; Jake Morris 0-3; Cathal Barrett, Dillon Quirke, Michael Breen 0-1 each

S****corers for Laois: Stephen Maher 1-8 (0-5f); James Keyes 0-3, Enda Rowland 0-3f

Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Cathal Barrett, James Quigley, Craig Morgan; Dillon Quirke, Seamus Kennedy, Barry Heffernan; Alan Flynn, Michael Breen; Dan McCormack, Jason Forde, Ger Browne; Mark Kehoe, Denis Maher, Jake Morris.

Subs: Conor Stakelum for Morris (48); Paul Flynn for D Maher (59); Paddy Cadell for A Flynn (66); Ronan Maher for Heffernan (67); Seamus Callanan for Kehoe (70)

Laois: Enda Rowland; Frank Flanagan, Sean Downey, Donnchadh Hartnett; Podge Delaney, Liam O’Connell, Ryan Mullaney; Jack Kelly, Fiachra C Fennell; Paddy Purcell, John Lennon, Ross King; Ben Conroy, Willie Dunphy, Stephen Maher

Subs: James Keyes for Lennon, Jordan Walsh for Dunphy (49); Ciaran Comerford for King (54); Aidan Corby for Kelly (70)

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)