REPORT: Plenty to work with as Tipperary's senior hurlers thrash Laois in challenge game

Intercounty Senior Hurling Challenge Match

Tipperary 4-39

Laois 0-18

It wasn’t the competitive occasion that was hoped for against Clare two weekends ago, but Tipperary and Laois lined up in front of a decent crowd, with the proceeds all going to a worthy cause in the form of Mary’s Meals.

In terms of the game itself, there was never really any contest to speak of as Tipperary pulled away from a poor Laois performance from the very start, but the sharpness of the Premier players was notable from an early stage.

Goals from Joe Fogarty, Darragh McCarthy, and Andrew Ormond had the Premier in a commanding position early in the half, and with the scores flowing easily, Liam Cahill pulled youngsters Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell before half-time with the pair having played a full in-house match last Sunday in Moneygall.

The second-half goal came from Dylan Walsh as Laois hit some nice scores as they brought on more experienced campaigners in the form of Paddy Purcell, Willie Dunphy, and James Keyes, but the Tipperary workrate and hunger for score never quelled as the Premier treated the crowd on show to a scoring bonanza.

The result will not be of much consequence at this early stage of the year but there was no doubting the sharpness and good use of the ball on show from Tipperary on the night.

Good first-half performances from Andrew Ormond, Joe Fogarty, Darragh McCarthy, Sam O’Farrell, and Jake Morris were the main takeaways from the early contestations, while some interesting positional changes in the line-up look interesting with a view to the National League.

Craig Morgan played well at midfield, while Eoghan Connolly lined out at full-back and did well. Also, Conor Bowe looked right at home back in his usual full-forward position after a year in the half-back line in 2024.

Substitutes made an impression in the second half too, with young Oisin O’Donoghue looking right at home amongst his teammates, notching five points from play in his 35 minutes on the field, while Dylan Walsh made his mark with 1-1 from play.

The sight of Jason Forde coming into the fray in the middle of the second half would have had Laois sighing in frustration as the scoreboard began to get out of hand, and while Forde looked sharp as always in his hurling, it was his leanness and shape that stuck out as he looks well ahead of where he has been physically in the last few seasons.

All in all, it was a run out with plenty of positives - even allowing for the lack of challenge from the opposition - and Cahill and his charges should get a better test against Dublin in Fethard next Saturday after the Dubs defeated Limerick in a challenge game last weekend.

Scorers: Tipperary: Andrew Ormond 1-4, Darragh McCarthy (1-3, 0-2f), Joe Fogarty 1-2, Oisin O’Donoghue 0-5, Jason Forde (0-5, 0-3f), Jake Morris 0-4, Dylan Walsh 1-1, Conor Bowe, Conor Stakelum 0-3 each, Sam O’Farrell, Billy Seymour, Alan Tynan 0-2 each, Conor Martin, Craig Morgan, Bryan O’Mara all 0-1 each.

Laois: PJ Scully (0-4, 0-1f), Colm Byrne, Charles Dwyer 0-2 each, Aaron Dunphy, Éanna Lyons, James Keyes, Cormac Byrne, Ben Conroy, Noah Quinlan, Willie Dunphy, Jordan Walshe, Cormac Hogan, Paddy Purcell all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Bryan O’Mara; Sam O’Farrell, Brian McGrath, Michael Breen; Craig Morgan, Alan Tynan; Jake Morris, Conor Martin, Joe Fogarty; Andrew Ormond, Conor Bowe, Darragh McCarthy.

Subs used: Gavin O’Halloran, Dylan Walsh, Aaron O’Halloran, David Nolan, Conor Stakelum, Oisin O’Donoghue, Jason Forde, Billy Seymour.

Laois: Enda Rowland; Padraic Dunne, Lee Cleere, Donnacha Hartnett; Podge Delaney, Tom Cuddy, Fiachra Fennell; Aidan Corby, Jordan Walshe; Cormac Hogan, Tomas Keyes, Aaron Dunphy; Martin Phelan, Jer Quinlan, Charles Dwyer.

Subs used: Ciaran Flynn, Liam O’Connell, Noah Quinlan, David O’Brien, James Keyes, Cormac Byrne, John Lennon, Ben Conroy, PJ Scully, Willie Dunphy, Eoin Gaughan, Mark Dowling, David Dooley, Paddy Purcell.

Referee: Ciaran O'Donovan (Burgess)