All-Ireland champions Tipperary hit the ground running at the start of season

Tipperary 1-21 Galway 1-16

All-Ireland champions Tipperary got the start to the Allianz National Hurling League campaign they hoped for, digging out a hard-earned, and a trifle flattering five-points win over Galway at rain-soaked FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday night.

Having shipped a heavy defeat at Tipperary's hands last year in Galway in the opening round, a loss that seemed to shape Galway’s dismal year, the Tribesmen came with a determination not to succumb so readily again and for 63 minutes they slugged it out with Tipp in a tough, physical encounter on a sodden pitch. But the closing minutes belonged to the home county, a Darragh Stakelum goal igniting a Tipperary surge that saw them outscore the visitors 1-4 to 0-2 in the run-in to secure the points.

The 7,762 attendance got good value for their money as the sides engaged in a full-blooded contest in which tenacity and raw courage outweighed silken skills. Up to those closing ten minutes it was anybody’s game and when they reflect on it this week Galway will be ruing the 14 wides they shot, double Tipperary’s tally, and far too wasteful on a night when scores did not come cheaply.

The importance of the game to Tipp was underlined by manager Liam Cahill naming two thirds of the All-Ireland starting fifteen, while still fielding a young side, and in his debrief, the manager will have good reason to be pleased with the attitude shown by the players. Granted, handling and striking errors were made, understandable in the conditions, but their commitment to the challenge could not be faulted and their resolve to start on a winning note got them over the line after a searching test of their credentials.

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The elements determined the nature of the contest. Scores were at a premium early on, and it was 0-6 each after 22 minutes. Galway enjoyed more of the game coming to half-time, outpointing Tipp five to two, but seven wides in the period and two more before the break deprived them of an interval advantage they deserved – Tipp hanging on for parity at the break, 0-9 each.

A timely intervention by debutant Cathal O'Reilly on Aaron Niland deprived Galway of what looked like being a certain goal on the stroke of half-time, the Holycross-Ballycahill man enjoying an impressive first senior outing.

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The start of the second half saw Tipp begin to flow with three points without reply in as many minutes from Andrew Ormond, Darragh McCarthy and Jake Morris. However, they were rattled by a Galway goal from Rory Burke on 40 minutes for the lead. On 50 minutes Galway were 1-12 to 0-13 ahead and beginning to look like winners but then Tipp dug deep.

Over the next ten minutes they outscored Galway four to two to draw level, 0-17 to 1-14. Then came the Darragh Stakelum goal, finished well after good work by Jake Morris and Andrew Ormond, to which Jake Morris quickly added two points, one from play for a 1-19 to 1-14 lead with five minutes to go.

Chants of "Tipp-Tipp-Tipp" filled the stadium as the home side soaked up the best the Galway boys had to offer in the closing minutes to finish a flattering five points clear at referee Sean Stack’s final whistle.

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As a portent of what is to come this year, the big positive was the spirit shown by the players in a serious test of their character. Getting the year off on the right note was important and however some may deem the value of the league in the new games programme, you can't beat winning. The points are also important to boost morale . Tipp have three games in successive weeks with away games to Offaly and Cork next up, so there are no soft touches in the push for another national title.

The Man of the Match award went to Nenagh’s Jake Morris, who shot five points from play. Cathal O'Reilly’s impressive debut adds to the competition for places in the defensive set-up, and is significant with defenders Robert Doyle and Joe Caesar picking up injuries that forced them out of the game. Willie Connors, Seamus Kennedy, Bryan O'Mara, Conor Stakelum and Michael Breen will all be happy with their work on an evening  that saw Stefan Tobin of Carrick Swan make his senior competitive debut and Josh Keller and Paddy McCormack adding to their senior portfolio also.

Galway manager Michael O'Donoghue surely saw enough to be optimistic about the year ahead. 14 wides will bother him but in better conditions that could be addressed. Daithi Burke, Joshua Ryan, Padraic Mannion, Rory Burke, Tom Monaghan until he retired, and Jason Rabbitte worked hard to further their cause.

Tipperary scorers: J Morris (0-8,3fs), D McCarthy (0-7,6fs), D Stakelum (1-0), S O'Farrell, A Ormond(0-2 each), C Stakelum, S Kennedy (0-1 each).

Galway scorers: R Burke (1-3), P Mannion (0-3), J Fleming, D Neary, J Rabbitte, A Niland (0-2 each); C Molloy, G Lee (0-1  each).

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Cathal O'Reilly, Robert Doyle, Michael Breen; Joe Caesar, Bryan O'Mara, Seamus Kennedy; Willie Connors, Conor Stakelum; Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Sam O'Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, Oisin O'Donoghue, Jack Leamy. Subs: Johnny Ryan for Doyle (25 mins), Darragh Stakelum for Leamy (h/t), Josh Keller for Caesar (39 mins), Paddy McCormack for McCarthy(52 mins), Stefan Tobin for O'Donoghue (68 mins).

Galway: Darach Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Daithi Burke,  Darren Morrissey; Padraic Mannion, Cillian Trayers, Daniel Loftus; Gavin Lee, Thomas Monaghan; Darragh Neary, Rory Burke, John Fleming; Aaron Niland, Jason Rabbitte, Declan McLoughlin.

Subs: Ronan Glennon for Morrissey (5 mins), Cathal Mannion for Monaghan (41 mins), Colm Molloy for McLoughlin (52 mins), Paddy MacCarthaigh for Neary (65 mins), Sean Linnane for Lee (65 mins).

Referee: Sean Stack, Dublin.