O'Connor stars as Tipp see off Galway

Gearoid O'Connor scores 1-13 as Tipp make it two league wins from two

GAA: Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B Round 2

Tipperary 1-26

Galway 0-24

Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Gearoid O'Connor (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Gearoid O’Connor 1-13 (1-0 pen, 0-8 frees, 0-1 65); Mark Kehoe 0-3; Willie Connors, Conor Bowe 0-2 each; Jake Morris, Alan Tynan, Craig Morgan, John McGrath, Sean Kenneally, Seamus Kennedy 0-1 each.

Galway: Evan Niland 0-10 (9 frees); Conor Cooney 0-5; Gavin Lee, Conor Whelan, Tom Monaghan 0-2 each; Cianan Fahy, Donal O’Shea, Sean Linnane 0-1 each.

Tipperary made it two wins from two in the National Hurling League after finally seeing off the challenge in a sea-saw battle on Sunday.

Tipp manager Liam Cahill made four changes to the side that defeated Dublin in round 1 with Barry Hogan coming into goal in place of Rhys Shelly, with Michael Breen and coming in the defence for Johnny Ryan while Seamus Kennedy started in midfield for the injured Eoghan Connolly. There was also a first senior appearance for Sean Kenneally who started in place of Andrew Ormond.

As against Dublin, Tipp were quickly out of the blocks and eased into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after nine minutes with John McGrath, Alan Tynan, Jake Morris and two from Gearoid O’Connor as they were mobile and forced Galway into turnovers with the visitors responses from Conor Cooney and Tom Monaghan.

Donal O’Shea responded for Galway before O’Connor and Willie Connors pointed for Tipp who continued to set the pace with Sean Ryan causing problems, a goal chance forcing a deflection from TJ Brennan for a 65 which O’Connor converted before Ryan had a better chance on seventeen minutes with Galway keeper Darach Fahy making a superb save.

Tipp powered on and led 0-11 to 0-5 after twenty minutes but lost Bryan O’Mara and Jake Morris to injury and from there Tipp lost traction, particularly in attack where they struggled to win regular possession while the movement wasn’t as fluent, and as a result, Galway finally had an attacking platform and won the rest of the half 0-8 to 0-5 with Conor Whelan to the fore with two superb points, in a great duel with Michael Breen. Tipp led 0-16 to 0-13 at the break.

Again, Tipp came out of the traps at the start of the second half and rattled off the first five points without reply, including three from play from sub Mark Kehoe who replaced the ailing Morris.

Tipp were eight points in front on 42 minutes but wouldn’t score again for eighteen minutes, by which time Galway had rattled off seven points without reply with Conor Cooney a thorn from play while Evan Niland was unerring from frees.

Conor Bowe ended Tipp’s barren spell but points from Conor Cooney and sub Sean Linnane brought Galway level and the sides were level at 0-23 apiece on 67 minutes when Seamus Kennedy nudged Tipp back on front before Gearoid O’Connor added to bring his haul of white flags to thirteen, adding a goal for good measure in added time from a penalty after sub Conor Stakelum was deliberately hauled down by Sean Linnane who was given a black-card.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan); Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, Capt); Michael Breen (Ballina); Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy), Robert Byrne (Portroe), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill); Willie Connors (Kiladangan), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s); Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy), John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Alan Tynan (Roscrea); Sean Kenneally (Moneygall), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og), Sean Ryan (Templederry Kenyons).

Subs: Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers) for O’Mara (16 inj); Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for Morris (20); Billy Seymour (Kiladangan) for S Ryan (52); Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) for Tynan (61); Patrick Maher for Stakelum (64 blood); Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) for Kenneally (69).

Galway: Darach Fahy; TJ Brennan, Padraic Mannion, Jack Grealish; Ronan Glennon, Shane Cooney, Cianan Fahy; Donal O’Shea, Gavin Lee; Tom Monaghan, Evan Niland, Joseph Cooney; Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, Jason Flynn.

Subs: Darren Morrissey for Brennan (24); Sean Linnane for Glennon (34 blood-HT); Daithi Burke for Glennon (HT); Sean Linnane for S Cooney (45); Jamie Ryan for J Cooney (52);

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)