Comfortable win for Tipperary in the hurling league opener as second half goals seal the win

Allianz National Hurling League - Division 1B - Round 1

Tipperary 2-27

Dublin 0-22

Liam Cahill was pleased afterward but wasn't getting carried away after Tipperary comfortably accounted for a lack lustre Dublin side at an atmospheric Parnell Park this afternoon. Two second-half goals from Sean Ryan and Jake Morris were key strikes in the league opener in which Tipperary had 13 different scorers in this Allianz Hurling League clash and looked sharp overall. 

From the off the visitors were looking to impress their manager and Eoghan Connolly, Gearoid O'Connor as well as a long range strike - with the aid of a strong breeze - from goalkeeper Rhys Shelly helped Tipp into a strong early lead. The strong start by Tipperary, playing with the wind, meant they eased 0-6 to 0-1 clear as we approached the ten minute mark. The strong breeze meant that Tipp fired quickly and often with Conor Bowe putting Tipp five clear before Cian O'Sullivan replied for the home side.

Tipp kept pushing hard with the wind. A fantastic piece of skill from John McGrath was witnessed by the masses then when he flicked up the ball with a tip of the wrists and laid off to Bryan O'Mara was one of the scores of the half. Dublin kept going to their credit despite not playing well and Eoin Connahy brought it back to five with his score leaving it Tipp 0-9 Dublin 0-4. 

By the twenty minute mark a Gearoid O'Connor free pushed Tipp 0-13 to 0-5 clear. He was striking frees from all over the field and finding his range however the full forward line were starved of ball, but it didn't unduly bother Tipp supporters as O'Connor and John McGrath were hitting points from further out the field. Tipp kept going and Dublin just couldn't get into the game with Jake Morris and O'Connor pointing before the break as Tipp went in 0-17 to 0-9 to the good.

After the interval Tipp were lined up and waiting to play but Dublin waited in the dressing room as Micheal Donohue got them ready to go for the second half. When they emerged they were a different team, full of fire and fury. Straight away they went on the attack and ball that was spilled out of hands in the first half stuck, scores went over the bar immediately from O'Sullivan and roving corner forward O'Dulaing. 

The wides were killing them though. O'Sullivan struck frees wide as they failed to make hay with ample possession. They had plenty of the ball during this purple patch, but Tipp rallied against the run of play and eight minutes into the half Sean Ryan received a sweet well-timed ball from Craig Morgan, turned his marker and ran for goals. Seconds later the ball was in the net as he sent it to the far side past the keeper, making it 1-18 to 0-12. 

It was game over for supporters. Tipp, without hitting high intensity levels, had the measure of Dublin and despite four Dublin points and bringing it back to 1-19 to 0-18 - with O'Sullivan finding his range -  Tipp drove on. O'Connor pointed twice quickly for Tipp, striking a fine sideline from the main stand side while Cian O'Sullivan pointed a sideline just after from the far side for Dublin.

Jake Morris shone during this latter part of the half too. It was a tough few days for him as he lost his aunt earlier in the week but put in a fine performance capped by a 58th minute goal. A sweet lobbed ball from Willie Connors landed directly into the Nenagh forwards path and he struck hard past the Dublin keeper. Just after he struck the goal he added two points in a minute. The goal was class, a take, turn, run and strike.

At the other end just after Rhys Shelley positioned himself well to save at close range from Davy Keogh though by then Dublin looked a spent force. The scoring concluded with a Gearoid O'Connor pointed free followed by one from play by Tipperary substitute Joe Fogarty.

A comfortable afternoon overall for Tipperary who won in a canter, the focus now moves to the game against Galway next Sunday in Thurles. 

Tipperary scorers: Gearoid O'Connor 0-12 (0-8 frees, 0-1 65, 0-1 sideline), Jake Morris 1-4, Sean Ryan 1-0, Eoghan Connolly 0-2, Rhys Shelly 0-1 (0-1f), Willie Connors 0-1, Bryan O'Mara 0-1, Conor Bowe 0-1, Craig Morgan 0-1, Alan Tynan 0-1, John McGrath 0-1, Andrew Ormond 0-1, Joe Fogarty 0-1.

Dublin scorers: Cian O'Sullivan 0-11 (0-8 frees, 0-1 sideline), Fergal Whitely 0-3, Conor Burke 0-2, Sean Currie 0-2, Brian Hayes 0-1, Jake Malone 0-1, Diarmaid O Dulaing 0-1, Paul Crummey 0-1.

TIPPERARY: Rhys Shelly; Craig Morgan, Ronan Maher, Johnny Ryan; Bryan O'Mara, Robert Byrne, Conor Bowe; Willie Connors, Eoghan Connolly; Gearoid O'Connor, John McGrath, Alan Tynan; Jake Morris, Sean Ryan, Andrew Ormond.

Subs: Mark Kehoe for McGrath 52, Darragh Stakelum for Tynan 56, Barry Heffernan for Connolly 61, Joe Fogarty for Connors 64, Patrick Maher for Ormond 69.

DUBLIN: Eddie Gibbons; Mark Grogan, Paddy Smyth, John Bellew; Darragh Power, Conor Donohoe, Daire Gray; Conor Burke, Brian Hayes; Jake Malone, Ronan Hayes, Sean Currie; Cian O'Sullivan, Diarmaid O Dulaing, Paul Crummey.

Subs: James Madden for Grogan 25, Fergal Whitely for Ronan Hayes 34, Davy Keogh for Malone 44, Sean Gallagher for Currie 58.

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)