Tipperary 2-18
Galway 0-20
Fintan O’Toole reports from Semple Stadium, Thurles
GOALS EARLY IN the second-half from John O’Dwyer and Seamus Callanan proved crucial in propelling Tipperary to their first points of the Allianz hurling league yesterday afternoon.
In front of 4,176 spectators in Semple Stadium, Tipperary had to withstand a late rally by Galway before late points by captain Brendan Maher and substitute Conor Kenny sealed victory for the Premier.
It was a satisfying afternoon’s work for manager Eamonn O’Shea after he had witnessed his team fall to Dublin by 12 points in their league opener last Sunday. They got to the pitch of this game quicker and were ahead after a high-scoring first-half by 0-14 to 0-11.
Kieran Bergin was the star of the opening period as he shot 0-3 from midfield while Jason Forde and debutant John McGrath, both key members of the UL Fitzigbbon Cup team, also caught the eye.
Galway trailed by five points at one stage approaching half-time but they hung in there with Cathal Mannion, Padraig Brehony and Andy Smith all on target in the opening-half while Jason Flynn struck an exquisite point from a sideline.
Ultimately the game was defined by Tipperary’s two-goal blast. A minute after the restart O’Dwyer rifled a shot to the net after McGrath did well to boot the ball across to him under pressure. In the 45th minute, Tipperary struck once more with McGrath again the provider.
He fired in a low ball while off-balance in the direction of the goal. It looked like Seamus Callanan may have nudged Galway full-back John Hanbury but the referee waved play on and Callanan scooped the ball delightfully over goalkeeper Colm Callanan and into the Galway net.
That pushed Tipperary into a 2-15 to 0-11 lead and they were still in control midway through the half as they enjoyed a 2-16 to 0-13 advantage. But Galway refused to throw in the towel and enjoyed their most productive spell of the game.
They shut up shop at the back and rattled off seven points without reply to leave the away fans in full voice. Joseph Cooney was their trump card after he was switched to attack as he notched some fine points while Mannion, Jonathan Glynn and substitute Brian Molloy were also on the mark as well.
Tipperary saw their lead shaved to three at one juncture but they regained their nerve when they needed it most to close out the game successfully.
Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 1-3 (0-2f), John O’Dwyer 1-1, Jason Forde, Kieran Bergin 0-3 each, John McGrath 0-2, Darren Gleeson (0-1f), Ronan Maher, Gearoid Ryan, Brendan Maher, Denis Maher, Conor Kenny 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Jason Flynn 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1 sideline, 0-1 ’65), Joseph Cooney, Cathal Mannion 0-3 each, Andrew Smith (0-2f), James Regan, Padraig Brehony 0-2 each, Iarla Tannian, Dean Higgins, Brian Molloy, Jonathan Glynn 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY
1. Darren Gleeson (Portroe)
2. Cathal Barrett (Holycross Ballycahill)
3. Paul Curran (Mullinahone)
4. Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty)
5. Michael Breen (Ballina)
6. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. Kieran Bergin (Killenaule)
9. Gearóid Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)
10. Denis Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
11. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
12. Brendan Maher (Borris Ileigh, c)
13. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
14. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)
15. John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
Subs
26. James Woodlock (Drom-Inch) for Ryan (half-time)
20. Conor Kenny (Borris-Ileigh) for Denis Maher (inj) (41)
22. Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney) for John McGrath (55)
23. John Meagher (Loughmore Castleiney) for Bergin (69)
GALWAY
1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)
2. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon/Newcastle)
4. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
5. Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore/Maree)
6. David Collins (Liam Mellows)
7. Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan)
8. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)
9. Andrew Smith (Portumna)
10. Padraig Brehony (Tynagh/Abbey/Duniry)
13. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)
12. Dean Higgins (Castlegar)
15. James Regan (St. Thomas)
14. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins)
11. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
Subs
17. Kevin Hynes (Sarsfields) for Brehony (43)
23. Greg Lally (Gort) for Higgins (47)
26. Brian Molloy (Kilnadeema-Leitrim) for Regan (51)
24. Aidan Harte (Gort) for Flynn (68)
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)
- This article was first published on 22 February at 4.27pm
Top 6 this season
Liverpool
City
Arsenal
Spurs
Chelsea
United
@Chonky Racoon: quietly confident united can get top 4 . Chelsea are going to crumble badly and David Luiz is not Arsenal’s answer at centre back . City/pool 1-2 and spurs probably 3rd but united have a great chance of getting ahead of the other 2 .
@Niall James Fergal McCormack: yeah I’d say United have a better chance than Chelsea. Lampards not going to cut it at all.. Arsenal have the firepower to get third ahead of spurs, we’ll still have a decent defence in a few weeks. Zaha coming tomorrow as well, two unreal wingers and lethal strikers.
@Chonky Racoon: Your still Rubbish at the back, Don’t get the Luiz transfer at all, Tierney is a great signing, sad to see him go from Celtic, Arsenal will be fighting for the top 4 all right, don’t know who pepe is either, Don’t think Zaha is good enough either, you’ll be fighting for fourth again
@Chonky Racoon: You say Lampard isn’t going to cut it as if Ole has won all there is to win as a football manager! The only certs for top 4 this year are City and Liverpool. You’d likely say Spurs are there too. Of the remaining 3, only Arsenal have improved significantly in terms of recruitment. So I think it’s really a free for all for that last top 4 position.
@Quoka: is that a rabbit in your profile? And yeah spot on.. Realistically 4th is going to be a tight scrap between 3 teams, Arsenal will there at stage. But think we’ll get out of it
@Chonky Racoon: Think city will win league, and liverpool will struggle to keep pace with them over the season.. We’ll soon find out if Klopps tactic of not reinforcing with a big money signing will be a moment of genius or a missed opportunity.
I understand his philosophy not buying for the sack of buying but will the young guns be good enough to win them a league only time will tell. Fingers crossed they will eventually end the wait and become champions for the first time since 1990
1.City
2.Liverpool
3.Spurs
4.Chelsea
5. West Ham
6. Arsenal
7. Everton
8. United
Top 6
City
Pool
Arsenal
Spurs
Chelsea
Wolves
Leicester
Utd/Everton
Hopefully I’m wrong and Chelsea can get top 4 for king frank, but with only kovacic in and hazard gone and champs league can’t see us making top 4, others have bought v well incl Everton if they get Zaha too 4
Where will Chelsea’s goals come from now Hazard has left?