All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round Two/Tipperary 1-20 Dublin 1-11:Tipperary hurling supporters have often wondered what life would be like without Eoin Kelly. Next Saturday at Semple Stadium, they will get the chance to find out.
After he limped out of Saturday's qualifier victory over Dublin at Parnell Park with a groin injury, Tipperary manager Michael "Babs" Keating immediately ruled Kelly out of his plans for Cork's visit to Thurles.
Keating is no stranger to a flutter but he's not prepared to gamble with the fitness of his star forward, especially with an All-Ireland quarter-final slot secured. Keating insisted: "We can't risk Eoin Kelly next Saturday, regardless of what recovery he makes. And I doubt if we can play Paul Curran. We have a small enough selection at the moment."
Kelly had bagged 0-3 before he left the fray after 26 minutes and in his absence, recalled Willie Ryan emerged as scorer-in-chief for the Munster county.
Ryan landed 0-10, six from frees, as Tipperary booked their spot in the All-Ireland series with an ultimately comfortable victory.
Dublin shocked Tipperary with Peadar Carton's 43rd minute goal which handed the home side a 1-8 to 0-9 advantage, but the visitors hit back with an unanswered 1-5 and kicked on from there.
Carton's goal proved to be a false dawn for Dublin, who were subsequently outscored 1-11 to 0-3; Lar Corbett raced through to net in the 45th minute after Stephen Hiney slipped at the vital moment.
Another injury blow for Tipperary was Curran's departure with 12 minutes remaining. Curran, a Mullinahone club-mate of Kelly's, was playing his first championship game of the summer but took a stray hurl from Joey Boland which pierced his face guard.
Keating revealed: "Paul Curran got the ugliest injury - you'd want to see it inside. He has a lump on the side of his neck the size of a hurling ball. I've never seen an injury like it and he lost a few teeth in the process."
Tipperary need to improve considerably to compete with Cork - but with both sides already through, Keating believes that their meeting could be mere shadow boxing.
Keating remarked: "At the end of the day, we're both through. With the injuries we have at the moment, we have to worry about them and a quarter-final and be honest with the Tipperary supporters."
Tipperary led 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time, Ryan having missed a 32nd minute penalty, but Dublin had dominated long spells and hit nine wides in that opening half. And they were level soon after the break when wing forwards Ross O'Carroll and Keith Dunne added points within 60 seconds.
Carton's goal had home supporters briefly dreaming of a famous victory but Tipperary's response was emphatic.
TIPPERARY: G Kennedy; E Buckley, D Fanning, P Curran; E Corcoran, C O'Mahony, S Maher; H Maloney, B Dunne (0-1); F Devanney (0-1), R O'Dwyer, L Corbett (1-1); S Butler (0-2), E Kelly (0-3, one free), W Ryan (0-10, six frees). Subs: D Egan (0-1) for Kelly (inj) (26 mins), S McGrath (0-1) for Curran (inj) (58 mins), L Cahill for Corbett (65 mins).
DUBLIN: G Maguire; P Brennan, S Hiney, T Brady; M Carton, R Fallon, K Ryan; J Boland, A McCrabbe (0-2, one free); R O'Carroll (0-2), D Qualter (0-1), K Dunne (0-2); J Kelly (0-1), D Curtin (0-1 free), K Flynn. Subs: P Carton (1-1) for Curtin (half-time), G O'Meara for Brennan (46 mins), L Ryan for Kelly (52 mins), D O'Dwyer for Flynn (59 mins), S Mullen (0-1) for Qualter (68 mins).
Referee: D Connolly (Kilkenny)
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