MATCH REPORT: No surprises for Offaly as Tipperary pull away for comprehensive win

There was an air of inevitability about the way things unfolded in Sunday's National Hurling League Division 1 shootout between Offaly and Tipperary in Tullamore.

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Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 Round 2

Tipperary 5-24

Offaly 1-18

As we expected, Offaly were fully up for battle, playing with commendable spirit and endeavour, hitting the ground running and making things very difficult early on for an experimental Tipperary side, blooding a number of players.

The home side played with great intensity in that first half but had the wind on their back and the writing was on the wall when they trailed by 2-12 to 1-10 at half time. Their prospects of a shock win were up at that stage and there was no surprises whatsoever for the 5,897 crowd about the way the second half developed.

By the time sub, Dan Bourke got Offaly's 11^th point in the 52^nd minute, Tipperary were home and dry with 4-17 on the board and the only issue at stake was the winning margin.

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Even accounting for the make up of the Tipperary side, the gap between the sides was not a surprise. Tipperary are All-Ireland champions with a lot of depth in strength, Offaly are back in the top flight after several years, finding their way and trying to make incremental improvements. They have been doing that since progressing out of the Christy Ring Cup in 2021 and getting back into championship and Division 1 represents huge progress for them.

No one, however, is under no illusions about the enormity of the challenge ahead. Offaly are dreaming of competing again at the highest level but this result showed how steep this final step is on the way back to salvation. Offaly may be down a few injured players, missing outstanding hurlers such as Ciaran Burke and Charlie Mitchell while two more of their best hurlers, Dan Bourke and Adam Screeney only came on as second half subs here with Bourke doing really well, scoring three fine points while Screeney also injected energy.

By this stage, however, Offaly could not win and there were so many different moments during the game that showed why Tipp are where they are and how far away Offaly are.

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One came fourteen minutes into the second half when Brian Duignan raced through on goal but was quickly closed down by the Tipp defence. He looked for options that weren't available, was blocked down and the ball was cleared. That is not a criticism of Duignan who was one of Offaly's best players on the day. Taken off early in the loss in Kilkenny, he showed what he is made of as he bounced back with a very hard working performance, scoring 1-2 but Tipp had been deadly in the same situation when the game was competitive.

They were 4-17 to 1-10 up at that stage and while one of their goals was a penalty, their others were superb in their execution – clinically finished with men running off the shoulder of the man in possession, options left and right. The only surprise in the game was when Tipp fluffed a couple of late chances but by that stage, both sides and the large crowd had begun to think of their supper. Their fifth goal from Jason Forde in the 68^th minute also showcased the difference – Forde's first strike hit the post but the Offaly defence were not at home and he was able to convert the rebound from five metres.

To Offaly's credit, they kept fighting hard and trying to work late consolation scores. They tried to get a goal but advancing players were inevitably crowded out. This happened Oisin Kelly on a couple of occasions, Bryan O'Mara made a stunning late goal line clearance to deny Ciaran Cleary a goal while Ter Guinan was unlucky when his late shot flew just past the post.

There were a good few moments of this nature throughout the afternoon and both sides will take this result for what it is with neither reading a whole lot into it. The second half was a hard watch for Offaly as the result quickly drifted out of reach. They were beaten much earlier than they would have liked but that possibility was present from the start.

Offaly certainly gave it a go in the first half and battled with great spirit but they were in bother when they trailed by 2-12 to 1-10 at half time after playing with the wind.

They battled for everything, making life difficult for the All-Ireland champions but there were times when they were opened up, the difference in standard very obvious.

Offaly were 0-3 to 0-2 behind after eight minutes and very much holding their own but Tipp's first goal in the 10^th minute put them on the road to victory as well as showing the way a really top team can hurt. Andrew Ormond and Josh Keller linked brilliantly to send Paddy McCormack in on goal and he finished clinically. Jack Leamy added a quick point for a 1-4 to 0-3 lead and it was 1-6 to 0-4 after sixteen minutes.

Offaly did well to get back into it with a goal and a point in the 17^th minute. Brian Duignan brilliantly blasted home the goal after the ball broke for him and Ben Conneely added a point to reduce it to a point.

Tipp responded superbly. They got the next three points and were 1-11 to 1-7 ahead when they got their second goal in the 28^th minute. It was a big one as Ben Miller hauled down Andrew Ormond when he got turned. Ormond was outside the penalty area but it was a clear goal chance, Miller duly got black and Jason Forde showed how a penalty should be taken, leaving Liam Hoare rooted to the spot.

Josh Keller added a point and Offaly did well to get another purple] patch with Liam Hoare and Eoghan Cahill converting frees and impressive sub Cathal King pointing to leave them five behind at the break. Offaly should have been closer as they had six wides compared to one for Tipperary and missed some chances that really should have been scores.

The game was over four minutes into the second half when half time sub John McGrath made an instant impact with a go. They added five points before Jason Forde got their fourth goal in the 48^th minute for a 4-17 to 1-10 lead.

Offaly did keep trying, getting three of the next four points, through Dan Bourke, Dan Ravenhill and an Adam Screeney free to make it 4-18 to 1-13. By this stage, Tipp were going through the motions to an extent but they still opened Offaly up regularly. Forde got his third goal in the 68^th minute and while Offaly supporters know that patience is a must in this defeating, there is no dressing up the fact that this was a bad beating and a very poor second half display.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jason Forde (Tipperary): Jason Forde was sensational in the Tipperary attack. His free taking was flawless and he oozed class in open play. He scored 3-10, 2-3 from play and the Offaly defence never got to grips with him. Tipp had several other players who performed at a high level with Bryan O'Mara, Craig Morgan, Conor Stakelum, Josh Keller in the first half, Jack Leamy and John McGrath all catching attention.

Liam Hoare had an excellent game in the Offaly goals, making some fine saves and generally finding the mark with his clearances. Ben Conneely was outstanding at the heart of defence until going off injured, Brian Duignan was their best forward, Eoghan Cahill had a busy, productive first half, Oisin Kelly and Ciaran Cleary both tried hard in attack and Dan Bourke was excellent off the bench but as expected, it was a thought provoking afternoon for Offaly.

THE SCORERS

Jason Forde 3-10 (1-0, penalty, 5f and 2 '65's), John McGrath 1-1, Conor Stakelum and Jack Leamy 0-3 each, Paddy McCormack 1-0, Darragh Stakelum and Josh Keller 0-2 each, Conor Martin, Gearoid O'Connor, Noel McGrath 0-1 each.

Offaly: Brian Duignan 1-2, Eoghan Cahill 0-4 (2f), Dan Bourke 0-3, Oisin Kelly and Liam Hoare (2f) 0-2 each, Ben Conneely, Luke Watkins, Dan Ravenhill, Cathal King, Adam Screeney (f) 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

OFFALY: Liam Hoare (Carrig-Riverstown); Ruari Kelly (Lusmagh), Ben Miller (Coolderry), Patrick Taaffe (Belmont); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow). Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Luke Watkins (Shinrone), Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Conor Doyle (Clara), Eoghan Cahill (Birr), Ross Ravenhill (Durrow); Brian Duignan (Durrow), Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone), Oisin Kelly (Belmont). Subs – Cathal King (Carrig-Riverstown) for Watkins (31m), Dan Bourke (Durrow) for Ross Ravenhill (HT), Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey for Doyle (HT), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Ruari Kelly (42m), Sam Bourke (Durrow) for Conneely, inj. (temp45m), Daniel Hand (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Spain (46m),

TIPPERARY: Barry Hogan; Cathal O'Reilly, Bryan O'Mara, Johnny Ryan; Conor Martin, Craig Morgan, Seamus Kennedy; Willie Connors, Conor Stakelum; Josh Keller, Andrew Ormond, Gearoid O'Connor; Jack Leamy, Paddy McCormack, Jason Forde. Subs - Darragh Stakelum for Keller (HT), John McGrath for McCormack (HT), Noel McGrath for Ormond (45m), Adam Daly for Morgan (50m), Cathal English for Conor Stakelum (60m)

Referee – Colm McDonald (Antrim).

REFEREE WATCH

Colm McDonald had a good game. He let things develop, play run and frees were very hard earned but he applied it all evenly. A big moment was Ben Miller's black card and Jason Forde's penalty goal in the 28^th minute but he got that right. Andrew Ormond was gone inside Miller when he was pulled down and while he still had plenty to do to get a goal, it was on and this situation is exactly what the hurling black card and penalty rule was introduced for.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

There was not one second when Tipperary's win was in doubt but their second goal in the 28^th minute was a huge moment. Ben Miller did pull down Andrew Ormond and could have no complaints at his black card. It was a goal chance and Jason Forde's expert penalty helped Tipp to a 1-12 to 0-10 half time lead and with the wind to come, that was game over.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch looked well on a cold but lovely Spring day. There was a decent crowd present and the fixture was professionally hosted.

It was interesting to note that the programme for this game was €3 compared to €5 for a similar type programme at the Offaly v Kildare game in Newbridge on Saturday evening. The Kildare programme had a couple of extra pages but was way overpriced at that, almost extortionate and plenty of supporters declined to buy it. There should be a uniform charge for these programmes and apart from that, most supporters just want the team information, though the player profiles and an interview with former Kildare player did add a bit of meat to their one.

Offaly also made four changes from the announced line-up. There can always be late withdrawals and injuries but too many counties engage in submitting the wrong team. In this case, they did leave the injured Donal Shirley off their announced team but named Sam Bourke who was then left off. Ruari Kelly, Colin Spain, Eoghan Cahill and Ciaran Cleary started instead of Sam Bourke, Cathal King, Dan Bourke and Adam Screeney. No doubt, there were valid reasons for these changes but it would be nice to see managers announce the teams they intend playing as far as possible - Screeney, Bourke and others are in a busy Fitzgibbon Cup schedule at the moment and this was the right game to manage their game load as Waterford next Sunday is the big target.

STATISTICS

Wides: Offaly - 8 (6 in first half); Tipperary - 4 (1 in first half).

Yellow cards: Offaly – 1 (Brecon Kavanagh); Tipperary – 1 (Noel McGrath).

Black cards: Offaly – 1 (Ben Miller); Tipperary – 0.

Red cards: 0