Tipperary never under serious threat

ALL-IRELAND SHC QUALIFIER PHASE THREE Tipperary 0-21 Offaly 1-12:A LATE goal by Shane Dooley helped take the bad look of the scoreboard in this disappointing qualifier that attracted an attendance of almost 14,000 to Portlaoise yesterday.

The two neighbours have not clashed in championship hurling since Tipperary easily disposed of the Faithful in 2007, and this was their fourth clash in the qualifiers since 2002 and Offaly have been second best on all occasions.

Offaly, who made their provincial exit at the same venue to Galway, never looked likely to prevent Tipperary progressing to the quarter-final.

Once Eoin Kelly opened the Tipperary account from a free in the second minute they never looked in trouble and by the sixth minute they were three clear and coasting. It might have been worse for Offaly when Lar Corbett saw a blistering shot brilliantly saved by James Dempsey.

Offaly hit bad wides before Dooley opened the Offaly account from a free after 10 minutes, but by the time Joe Bergin got their second after 18 minutes Tipperary had extended their points total to seven from six different players, including a massive strike from centre back Conor O’Mahoney.

Derek Molloy got Offaly’s third and Dooley added number four immediately but that would be the only time Offaly put scores back to back. At the break Tipperary led 0-14 to 0-5 and by that stage eight Tipperary players were on the scoresheet.

Offaly had the breeze on the change over but it mattered little as Tipperary piled on the points from Kelly, who went on to add six to his first half total of five.

Offaly made precious little headway against a stubborn Tipperary defence where Conor O’Mahony and Declan Fanning were in complete control.

Offaly never gave up but their attack continued to waste the limited chances that came their way.

Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy used the opportunity to introduce experienced players like John O’Brien and Séamus Callinan with the game against Galway in mind and Offaly frustration saw substitute Kevin Brady receive a red card for a wild pull across Shane McGrath, who was later replaced by O’Brien. In the closing minute of the game Offaly finally got the goal they craved all day.

But by then Tipperary were coasting to their second successive victory over Leinster opposition. In their previous outing they hammered Wexford.

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).

Referee: John Sexton(Cork)