Tipp up and running with Laois victory

GAA: Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B Round 1

Laois1-14

Tipperary0-21

Report: Shane Brophy at MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Craig Morgan (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Laois: Stephen Maher 1-8 (0-5 frees); James Keyes, Enda Rowland (2 frees, 1 65) 0-3 each.

Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-11 (5 frees, 1 pen); Mark Kehoe 0-4; Jake Morris 0-3; Cathal Barrett, Dillon Quirke, Michael Breen 0-1 each.

Tipperary made a winning start to the National Hurling League with a unconvincing four point win over a Laois side that played much of the second half with fourteen men on Saturday evening.

Played in miserable conditions, Tipp opened the scoring through Jason Forde from play before two points from Stephen Maher gave the home side an early advantage. Forde levelled with a free before Mark Kehoe pointed from play as Tipp looked to work the ball through the lines against the elements in the opening half.

Forde doubled his tally from play before Jake Morris stretched Tipp’s lead to three as Laois were wasteful in front of goal with eight first half wides. However, Stephen Maher was taking the game to Tipp and two points brought Laois back within one.

Tipp keeper Brian Hogan had to be sharp, making saves from Jack Kelly and Ben Conroy but at the other end the visitors greater class told with Forde adding two points before he had a 24th minute penalty saved for a point by Enda Rowland, after Jake Morris had been pulled down in a goal-scoring position, off an exquisite Forde flick.

Morris stretched Tipp’s lead to five and it became six with Forde and Cathal Barrett on target, the latter finishing off a flowing move of four quick passes. However, Craig Morgan was harshly penalised twice to bring Stephen Maher’s first half tally to six with Enda Rowland also on target as Tipp led 0-11 to 0-7 at half time.

Tipp made a strong start to the second half with Forde, Kehoe and Morris all on target in as many minutes to open an eight point lead before Stephen Maher got Laois up and running again.

Maher added another before the home side were reduced to fourteen men on 45 minutes when Paddy Purcell was sent off for an off the ball incident with Craig Morgan, who was a bright spark on the evening for Tipp, along with Cathal Barrett, Jason Forde and Mark Kehoe.

However, before Tipp could take advantage of the extra man, they conceded a goal as Stephen Maher diverted a Enda Rowland 65 to the net and suddenly Laois were back within three on 48 minutes.

Jason Forde and sub James Keyes added a point each for their sides, however, the quality of the game deteriorated in the final quarter with Tipp wasteful with eleven second half wides, fifteen in all.

Michael Breen and Dillon Quirke added their names to the scoresheet as Tipp recorded a four point win with much to improve on ahead of their next game at home to Kilkenny on Sunday week.

Manager Colm Bonnar confirmed afterwards that Ronan Maher will captain Tipperary in 2022, as chosen by the players in a secret ballot.

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

Subs: James Keyes for Lennon (50); Jordan Walsh for Dunphy (50); Ciaran Comerford for King (54); Padraic Dunne for Flanagan (57); Aidan Corby for Kelly (70).

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; Jake Morris, Denis Maher, Mark Kehoe.

Subs: Conor Stakelum for Morris (48); Paul Flynn for Maher (59); Paddy Cadell for A Flynn (65); Ronan Maher for Heffernan (67); Seamus Callanan for Kehoe (70).

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)