SH Qualifier: Tipp oust Offaly - July 2010

Post date: Jun 24, 2011 1:41:40 PM

Tipperary beat Offaly by 0-21 to 1-12 in this Round Three hurling qualifier at Portlaoise.

Eoin Kelly bagged 0-11 for the victors, who had eight different scorers in the first half and controlled midfield for long spells. In contrast, Offaly managed just five points before the break, with three of those coming from the stick of Shane Dooley.

The winners dominated the opening period, wind at their backs, to lead by 0-14 to 0-5 at the short whistle. Tipperary were much the sharper side, while Offaly were reliant on Dooley, who took a while to get into his stride.

Tipp started well to lead by three points to one after 15 minutes. Conor O'Mahony slotted over a super long-range free for the Premier County, while Gearóid Ryan was also among the scorers and Dooley kept the Faithful County in touch with a free.

The favourites had wind advantage in the first half and they were making it count. Kelly (free) extended the gap and Brendan Maher knocked over a fifth Tipp point. Offaly had a few wides before Noel McGrath and Lar Corbett kept the scoreboard ticking over for Liam Sheedy's men.

Joe Bergin attempted to rouse the underdogs with a point but Maher replied before Dooley missed a free from distance. Kelly tagged on another couple of Tipp frees and Derek Molloy was on target for Offaly, who trailed by 0-10 to 0-3 after 25 minutes.

A disappointing facet of Offaly's play was three aimless balls dropped in to Tipp custodian Brendan Cummins, while David Young and Kelly (free) added to the Munster County's first-half total.

The first eight points of the second half were shared, leaving Tipp ahead by double scores, 0-18 to 0-9 fifteen minutes in. Dooley and Kelly remained prominent in the scoring stakes with frees at either end.

Tipp took three of the next four scores to lead by 0-21 to 0-11 with five minutes left. Dooley had his goal effort from a close-range free blocked and had to settle for a pointed 65, while the losers' exit from the championship was confirmed when substitute Kevin Brady picked up a red card.

With the match over as a contest, the Faithfuls pulled back a late goal (from Dooley in injury time) but it is Tipp who progress to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, where they will face Galway.

Tipperary - B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran, M Cahill; D Fanning, C O'Mahony (0-1) , P Maher; B Maher (0-2) , D Young; G Ryan (0-3), S McGrath (0-1) , P Maher; N McGrath (0-1), L Corbett (0-2), E Kelly (0-11, eight frees, one 65). Subs: S Callanan for P Maher (50 mins), P Bourke for N McGrath, C O'Brien for Young (both 55 mins), J O'Brien for S McGrath (59 mins).

Offaly - J Dempsey; D Franks, P Cleary, J Rigney; D Kenny, R Hanniffy, D Morkam; B Murphy, D Hayden (0-1) ; B Carroll, J Brady, D Molloy (0-1) ; C Parlon, J Bergin (0-3), S Dooley (1-7, six frees, one 65). Subs: G Healion for Parlon (50 mins), K Brady for Hayden (54 mins), O Kealey for Molloy (56 mins), D Currams for J Brady (58).

Ref: John Sexton (Cork)

From www.hoganstand.com