Allianz Hurling League Division 1 - Group B
Tipperary 2-21
Antrim 0-12
By David Mohan
It all went to script for Tipperary at Corrigan Park on Saturday as they claimed the win they needed to move into a League semi-final against Clare.
It wasn't a vintage performance by Liam Cahill's side, but they did what was required in sodden conditions with Jason Forde landing a dozen points, while Jake Morris rattled the home net in each half.
The draw between Galway and Limerick ensured any type of victory for Tipp would suffice for a place in the semi-finals and there was no danger of anything but that outcome as they held the upper hand across the board.
Antrim just didn't have enough going forward to keep pace with the visitors despite being full of endeavour and their campaign ends in a whitewash with five defeats, but will not look to build into the Championship where they will hope to have their lengthy list of injuries begin to clear.
In terms of injuries, the bad news for Tipp was the confirmation that Seamus Kennedy is out for the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate tear against Limerick last week, while Eoghan Connolly was forced off in the second half on Saturday with what looked to be an elbow issue.
It would make little difference on Saturday as they were the better of the two teams, giving nothing away cheap and it was a day for rolling up the sleeves as the rain poured throughout a game that just didn't ever come to life. Aodhán O'Brien actually gave Antrim the initial lead, but Sean Kenneally would reply instantly.
An O'Brien free cancelled out Jason Forde's first of the day, but this would be as good as it got for the Saffrons with Tipp rattling off the next five scores with Forde dead-eyed from placed balls, while Kenneally grabbed his second and Jake Morris found his range.
O'Brien was Antrim's sole scorer in the opening period, adding another pair of frees as Eoghan Connolly got in on the act four the visitors who weren't exactly setting the world alight either.
The hosts had a let-off when carved open for the first time after 29 minutes when a goal seemed certain but play brought back for a throw. There would be no such reprieve minutes later as Conor Stakelum made the burst forward and popped into Morris to finish, while Forde's sixth of the first half put the Premier into a 1-10 to 0-4 lead and at this stage they already looked home and hosed considering Antrim's ability to make much headway in attack.
Forde and O'Brien traded pointed frees straight after the restart and the pair would continue to lead the way in the scoring stakes, both doubling their half-time tally.
Niall McKenna landed for the hosts to ease the burden with the first of his three second-half scores and he was denied a goal from the boot of Rhys Shelly when at that stage with 44 minutes gone and nine in it, it could have made things interesting.
It wasn't to be and that gap remained with 10 to play when Tipperary began to extend the gap. Substitutes Dan McCormack and Darragh Stakelum added to scores from Forde, Bryan O'Mara and Danny Slattery as the margin turned into double figures, yet the wides were also stacking up with 10 in all on the day.
There was no doubt about the destination of the points, but Tipp would finish with something of a flourish as Morris banged home a second goal in stoppage time when being brilliantly picked out by McCormack to seal a win and a League semi-final berth.
Tipperary: R Shelly; D Slattery (0-1), R Maher, C Morgan; M Breen, R Byrne, B O'Mara (0-1); P Cadell, E Connolly (0-1); C Stakelum, S Kenneally (0-2), N McGrath; J Moris (2-2), J Forde (0-12, 8f, 1 65), D Ryan.
Subs used: S Hayes for S Ryan (HT), D Stakelum (0-1) for E Connolly (40), C Quinn for P Cadell (49), D McCormack (0-1) for N McGrath (56), B Seymour for S Kenneally (65)
Antrim: C McFadden; P Duffin, R McCloskey, P Burke; S Walsh, R McGarry, E Og McGarry; E Campbell, N O'Connor; N McKenna (0-3), A O'Brien (0-8, 7f), C Boyd; E McFerran, C McCann, F McCurry.
Subs used: R McAteer (0-1) for F McCurry (53), C McGarry for E Og McGarry (53), E Trainor for S Walsh (62), A Bradley for C McCann (68), R McCormick for N O'Connor (68)
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)
