Tipp make light work of Westmeath

GAA: Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Round 4

 

 

 

Tipperary     3-27

Westmeath   0-16

 

Report: Shane Brophy

 

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Jason Forde (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-14 (9 frees, 1 s-cut); Jake Morris 1-3; Cian Darcy, Seamus Callanan 1-1 each; Ronan Maher 0-3; Alan Flynn, Michael Breen 0-2 each; Mark Kehoe 0-1.

Westmeath: Killian Doyle 0-7 frees, Allan Devine 0-5 frees; Derek McNicholas 0-2; Aonghus Clarke, Ciaran Doyle 0-1 each.

 

It was all too easy for Tipperary who strolled to a twenty point win over Westmeath at Semple Stadium, Thurles yesterday, condemning the Leinster men to the relegation playoff.

It was the All Ireland champions first competitive victory of 2020 with the platform laid in the first half where they held a thirteen point lead at the break with the help of goals from Cian Darcy and Jake Morris.

Westmeath were competitive in the early stages and a Derek McNicholas point from play added to two Killian Doyle frees had them level at 0-3 apiece after ten minutes.

But after that Tipp flexed their muscles with three points in quick succession from Jake Morris and Jason Forde before they pilfered their first goal on sixteen minutes as Seamus Callanan forced goalkeeper Aaron McHugh into an error and Cian Darcy had the task of the easy finish.

Tipp were choking Westmeath’s attempts to work the ball up the field through the hands with Alan Flynn and Michael Breen scoring three points between them before Jake Morris scored the second goal on 27 minutes after good set-up play from Niall O’Meara and Cian Darcy.

All bar one of Westmeath’s first half scores came from Doyle frees as Jason Forde ended a fine half on a high with sideline cut, bringing his tally to nine as Tipp led 2-14 to 0-7 at the break.

Things didn’t get much better for Westmeath shortly after half time when Killian Doyle was sent off for a straight red card after a late pull on Sean O’Brien.

After that, the game petered out with Tipperary easing to a victory with captain Seamus Callanan putting the seal on it with an injury time contribution of 1-1, while Jason Forde finished with a haul of fourteen points.

 

TEAMS - Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Cathal Barrett, Barry Heffernan, Sean O’Brien; Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher, Bryan O’Mara; Alan Flynn, Michael Breen; Jason Forde, Seamus Callanan, Niall O’Meara; Cian Darcy, Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe.

Subs: Craig Morgan for Barrett (44); Noel McGrath for O’Brien (48); Dillon Quirke for Kehoe (48); Paul Flynn for O’Meara (56); Paddy Cadell for Kennedy (66).

Westmeath: Aaron McHugh; Adam Ennis, Tommy Doyle, Conor Shaw; Aaron Craig, Aonghus Clarke, Liam Varley; Cormac Boyle, Robbie Greville; Joey Boyle, Derek McNicholas, Josh Coll; Killian Doyle, Allan Devine, Niall Mitchell.

Subs: Ciaran Doyle for Coll (24); Brian McHugh for A McHugh (HT); Darragh Clinton for Boyle (48); Daragh Egerton for Ennis (58); John McCarthy for Mitchell (62).

Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow)