Tipp exit hurling league following heavy defeat to Galway
GAA: Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Galway 3-21
Tipperary 3-13
By Shane Brophy
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Evan Niland (Galway)
SCORERS – Galway: Evan Niland 0-14 (13 frees); Conor Whelan 2-0; Brian Concannon 0-4; Cathal Mannion, 1-0, Conor Cooney, Johnny Coen, Jason Flynn (s-cut) 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Jason Forde 1-5 (0-2 frees, 0-2 65s); John McGrath 2-1; Cian Darcy 0-2; Ronan Maher, Padraic Maher, Dillon Quirke, Seamus Callanan, Michael Breen 0-1 each.
Tipperary exited the National Hurling League as they were over ran by Galway in the second half at Pearse Stadium.
Galway came from seven points down at half time to win by eight, helped by the elements, but all through they played the better hurling with Tipperary again sluggish as they were against Waterford with few players, if any, winning their individual battles.
Tipperary got off to the perfect start with a John McGrath goal inside three minutes but the visitors failed to build on it with a strong wind behind them, only adding a further three points up to the 21st minute when McGrath scored his second goal, reacting quickest to a break ball in the square to finish well from a very acute angle.
However, Galway were playing the more crisper hurling and working the ball well into the breeze where they forced Tipperary into the concession of thirteen first half frees, seven of which were converted by Evan Niland with the wing forward and Brian Concannon their only scorers from play in the half.
Tipperary found a some flow in the run up to half time with Jason Forde, John McGrath and Cian Darcy landing points from play before Forde goaled on 35 minutes following a flowing passing move involving Padraic Maher, Seamus Callanan and Cian Darcy who picked out Forde inside and buried past James Skehill for a 3-7 to 0-9 half time lead.
A Conor Whelan goal five minutes into the second half put Tipperary on the back foot as the lead appeared insufficient in the elements. However, good scores from Padraic Maher, Dillon Quirke and Michael Breen kept the visitors noses in front until the 54th minute when the impressive Brian Concannon scored his third from play.
Tipp were under the cosh and a superb goal from Conor Whelan three minutes later put Galway in firm control and with Evan Niland unerring from frees, they pushed six clear before a Cathal Mannion goal on 65 minutes ended the game as a contest with Jason Forde’s free on 68 minutes the only score Tipperary managed in the last twenty minutes of playing time.
TEAMS – Galway: James Skehill; Darren Morrissey, Gearoid McInerney, Paul Killeen; Padraic Mannion, Shane Cooney, Fintan Burke; Johnny Coen, Aidan Harte; Cathal Mannion, Conor Whelan, Evan Niland; Brian Concannon, Jason Flynn, Conor Cooney.
Subs: Sean Loftus for Killeen (25); Adian Tuohey for S Cooney (46 inj); David Burke for P Mannion (56); Niall Burke for Flynn (56); Kevin Cooney for Concannon (67).
Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Paul Maher, Barry Heffernan, Ronan Maher; Seamus Kennedy, Padraic Maher, Alan Flynn; Noel McGrath, Ger Browne; Jason Forde, Seamus Callanan, Dillon Quirke; John McGrath, John O’Dwyer, Cian Darcy.
Subs: Sean O’Brien for Paul Maher (48); Michael Breen for Browne (48); Paul Flynn for O’Dwyer (57); Dan McCormack for Quirke (58); Jerome Cahill for Darcy (69).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
Attendance: 5,750.