**Allianz Hurling League Division 1A: Tipperary 1-23 Dublin 0-12  **

By Jackie Cahill at Semple Stadium 

Tipperary crushed Dublin by 14 points in Thurles this evening to signal their Allianz Hurling League Division 1A intent.

Michael Ryan’s first competitive game in charge of the Premier County resulted in a big Semple Stadium win.

Tipp may have opted out of the pre-season Munster Senior League but were quickly into their stride against the disappointing Sky Blues, with Jason Forde hitting 1-5 from play in front of 5,105 spectators.  

For Dublin and their manager Ger Cunningham, this was a setback following Walsh Cup glory as Tipp dictated the terms of engagement right from the start.

Tipp had the breeze at their backs in the opening half and wasted no time getting down to business.

By half-time, the hosts were 1-9 to 0-3 clear and Forde hit the 13th minute goal, breaking onto loose ball before firing a low strike past Conor Dooley, who had done brilliantly within the first 25 seconds to keep out John McGrath.

A new, direct approach from Tipp was evident but they spoiled much of their good work by registering 10 first half wides.

Still, Tipp had the scoreboard ticking over with regularity as Dublin struggled to create much.Paul Ryan, whipped off at half-time, sent a couple of scoreable frees wide while other efforts from teammates dropped short.

Noel McGrath, starting a competitive game for Tipp for the first time since his successful battle with cancer last year picked off a gorgeous first half score on a night when his brother John also did well. 

*** 

**Scorers for Tipperary: **J Forde 1-5, J McGrath 0-7 (5f), C Kenny & J O’Dwyer 0-3 each, Pádraic Maher & N McGrath 0-2 each, D Fitzelle 0-1. 

Scorers for Dublin: D Treacy 0-3f, N McMorrow 0-2, D Plunkett, E Dillon, D O’Callaghan, P Ryan (f), M Schutte, D O’Connell & C Cronin 0-1 each. 

TIPPERARY: D Gleeson; C Barrett, T Hamill, M Cahill; B Maher, J Barry, Pádraic Maher; M Breen, D Quinn; D McCormack, Patrick Maher, J Forde; N McGrath, C Kenny, J McGrath. Subs: D Fitzelle for Patrick Maher (47), J Gallagher for Breen (58), J O’Dwyer for McCormack (58), J Meagher for B Maher (66), L Ryan for Quinn (67). 

DUBLIN: C Dooley; J Boland, E O’Donnell, O Gough; C O’Callaghan, C Crummy, S Barrett; N McMorrow, J McCaffrey; D Plunkett, E Dillon, D Treacy; D O’Callaghan, P Ryan, M Schutte. Subs: C Cronin for Ryan (h.t.), D O’Connell for Plunkett (48), O O’Rorke for O’Callaghan (59), F McGibb for McCaffrey (63) 

**Referee: **C Lyons (Cork).