Sizzling Tipperary hurlers comfortably make the Celtic Challenge last four

Tipperary and Laois hurlers took to the field on Saturday afternoon at Leahy Park in Cashel for the Celtic Challenge quarter final which never really got going as a contest. Tipperary dominance across the afternoon meant that the home side victory was never in doubt and in the end the local lads ran out 12-20 to 0-9 winners. First to the ball, sharp passing and clinical execution of scoring opportunities meant a relentless assault on the Laois goal which yielded score after score.

Tipperary meant business and edged into an early lead against a Laois side that were lively during the first half but ran out of steam and ambition as the game wore on. Darragh Ryan hit a fine point for the visitors midway through the first half to keep them in touch but the bulk of the long range scores came from Tipperary with Cormac Fitzpatrick popping up, looking for the ball constantly all over the field. He was the fulcrum of the Tipp attack.

The home side began to pick points from distance and built up a sizable lead as the first half wore on despite losing Brian Manton early on in the game. Tipp had established a strong lead by half time, going in 1-12 to 0-8 up. Then once the second half started, Tipperary looked invincible.

Cormac Fitzpatrick set up Tristan Kelly right on the restart and soon after the green flag was raised to make it 2-12 to 0-8. The Drom - Inch forward, Fitzpatrick, was a constant threat to Laois every time Tipp attacked.  The county minor star hit a beauty of a point after a jinking run a couple of minutes later. He was playing a different game. Just after the subsequent Laois puckout, Fitzpatrick won a free and pointed it himself from out near the 45, by the sideline. 

The Tipp forwards were sizzling. Ciaran O'Shea and Cormac Fitzpatrick buried goals in quick succession after that as Laois lost their structure in defence. That made it 4-16 to 0-9 and Tipp, who had many of the recent county minor hurling panel in action, kept going for goals. 

Billy Crimmins, Cormac Fitzpatrick and three more goals from Ciaran O'Shea made it 9-16 to 0-9 and the visitors were hoping for the full time whistle from the Offaly referee, Sean Maher. Tipp were merciless though. Further goals from substitutes Ben Kirby and Callum Poole finished off a disappointingly one sided contest that was a complete mismatch. 

It finished up 12-20 to 0-9 with Tipperary comfortably through to the semi final of the competition alongside Galway, Kilkenny and West Cork who also won at the weekend. After the game Tipperary manager John Connors said: "We knew Laois were going to come all guns blazing because we saw them last week and they have a good outfit as well but it just didn't happen for them today.

"We were hopeful more than anything else and the fact that James Woodlock is after giving us back the county minors as well means that we are moving in the right direction. It's tough on them being knocked out of the minor championship early this year but it benefitted us big time. We are into the semi final now and are happy enough with the way the boys are progressing. 

"This year now the players have to be born in 2006 as they changed the rules of the competition at the start of this year. This year we went out in January and had trials in every division and I think we gave trials to over 128 players. We gave everyone a chance and we are still in the competition now" he concluded.

Tipperary: Jake Hackett; Cathal England, Conor Gleeson, Charlie Ryan; Cian Hogan, Brian Manton, Darragh Landers; Michael Ryan, Cian Moyles; Billy Collins, Bobby Power, Tristan Kelly; Ciaran O'Shea, Cormac Fitzpatrick, Tom Delaney. Subs: Eoghan Dunne, Seamus Kennedy, Sean Synott, Adam O'Connell, Callum Poole, Ben Kirby, Sam Dooley, Matthew Direen, Brian Buckley, Tommy Breen. 

Laois: Conor Maher; Shane Walsh, Dion O'Connor - Cuddy, Cormac Dunne; Aaron Mahon, Hugh Whelan, Rio Lacumbre; Tommy Goode, Monty Balfe; Eoghan Coss, Darragh Ryan, Callum Peters; Sam Somers, Aston Keenan, Ryan O'Connor. Subs: Shane O'Sullivan, Evan McSpadden, Mikey Kirwan, David Whelan.