Lar Corbett stars for Tipp in first round Masters hurling victory over Galway on Sunday

Gaelic Athletics Association Masters Hurling Championship - Round 1

Tipperary 3-31

Galway 1-17

By Michael McCarthy

The Tipperary over 40s resumed in 2025 the way they finished 2024, winning in sunny Borris-Ileigh.

Ger O’Grady’s side had six debutants on the day in a team littered with All-Ireland medals. Peter Maher (Thurles Sars), Pat Shortt (Upperchurch Drombane), David Young (Toomevara), Ciarán Ryan (Cappawhite), Derek Horan (Shannon Rovers), and Cathal Gleeson (Silvermines) all wearing the blue and gold Masters jersey for the first time and all contributed handsomely to a fine Tipperary victory. 

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Tipp stamped their authority on the game early, two wides in the first minute signalled intentions but these misses were quickly rectified with three points in 90 seconds, two well worked Lar Corbett white flags either side of a Pat Shortt free. 

Willie Mulrooney responded for the tribesmen but Shortt immediately cancelled that out from a pin-point Brislane puckout. Declan McEvoy had another Galway score on four minutes but they wouldn’t score again for 17 minutes. 

In that period Tipp would score 1-9 and effectively end the game as a contest. Shane Stapleton(1-02), David Young (0-2), Pat Shortt (0-2) and Declan Fanning (0-1), Joe Ceaser and Shane Maher all getting on the scoresheet. 

Redser rolled in his subs including an early appearance for himself and the onslaught continued with Ciarán Ryan, Shortt, Stapleton and O’Grady stretching the Tipp score to 1-19, Ger Farragher and third point of the half for McEvoy were the only scores for Galway. 

Galway started the second half brightly and two points through a Farragher free and David McDonough before Redser opened the account for Tipp. Cathal Gleeson scored a good point for Tipp while Ger Farragher added two 65’s, one after a good Brislane save. 

Farragher would add a goal from a 21 yard free to give the Galway men something to shout about but it only seemed to re-ignite the fire in Tipp and they outscored their opponents 1-8 to 0-1 over the next ten minutes, Stapleton getting his second goal, a brace of points from Gleeson, three from Young and a sublime effortless strike from Corbett amongst them. 

Galway would score four in a row as the game fizzled out through Farragher, McDonough, and McEvoy while Cathal Gleeson rounded out the Tipp scoring with a brilliant finish to the roof of Declan Molloy's net. 

Galway to their credit were full of endeavour but were no match for the slickness of the hurling the Premier produced. O’Grady will be delighted with the form of his players as Tipp look to retain the title they won last October. 

Kildare are next up at home for Tipp in a couple of weeks and fixture details will appear on the masters social media account on X, @TippGAAMasters. 

Tipperary: Eoin Brislane (Toomevara); Murty Treacy (Borris-Ileigh), Sean Quirke (Silvermines), Peter Maher (Thurles Sarsfields); Matty Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh), Declan Fanning (Killenaule, 0-1), Paul McGrath (Toomevara); Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch, 0-1), Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields, 0-3); Pat Shortt (Upperchurch Drombane, 0-8, 0-3f), Shane Maher (Burgess, 0-1), Joe Ceaser (Killenaule, 0-1), Shane Stapleton (Golden Kilfeacle, 2-3), David Young (Toomevara, 0-5),  Paddy Julian (Cappawhite). 

Subs used: Ciarán Ryan (Cappawhite, 0-1); Derek Horan (Shannon Rovers); David Kennedy (Loughmore Castleiney); Cathal Gleeson (Silvermines, 1-3); Ger O’Grady (Thurles Sarsfields, 0-4).

Galway: Declan Molloy; Seamus Kyne, Joe Kennedy, Sean King; Dermot Dunne, Michael Broderick, Paul Power; Martin McGrath, Declan McEvoy (0-6); Willie Mulrooney (0-1), Brian Hartnett (0-1), Daniel Hoga;, Noel Qualter, Ciaran Rafferty, David McDonough (0-4). 

Subs used: Kevin Callanan; Morgan Darcy; Mark Dwyer; Ger Farragher (1-5, 1-4f); Mark Folan; Gary Greene; Michael Harty; Niall Higgins; Darach MacConiomaire; Mark Marnell.

Referee: John Bugler (Clare)

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