Stress-free win for Tipperary hurlers over Laois in Portlaoise

Tipperary 3-32  Laois 0-18 

Tipperary strolled to their expected easy victory in today’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship preliminary quarter-final at Laois Hire O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, when they had 23 points to spare over Laois.

Tipperary supporters formed the majority of the modest attendance on a showery day at the midlands venue, and they saw their team book a place in next weekend’s quarter-final against Galway without any bother.

Ahead by nine points at the midway stage, Tipp hammered home their superiority early in the second period. Laois’ Paddy Purcell opened the second half scoring with a point after four seconds, but two goals within four minutes of the restart removed any lingering doubts about the outcome, if any had ever existed.

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The first came when Sam O’Farrell picked up the pieces after a clearance from goalie Rhys Shelly had broken in the danger zone, and arrowed a low shot to the net.

The second came when a misplaced puckout was seized upon by John McGrath, who supplied Andrew Ormond with a pass, and the JK Brackens man put Jason Forde in the position to fire home his second goal.

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Tipp could have three more goals in the second period. An angled John McGrath drive struck the crossbar in the 44th minute and later the width of the upright denied Peter McGarry a stunning goal, after the St Mary’s had slalomed his way through the Laois rearguard.

The game was in its final moments when Joe Fogarty shot wide from a good position.  

Galway will be a different proposition next weekend, after this case of mission accomplished for Tipperary. On the day the individual highlights were supplied by top scorer Jason Forde, Darragh McCarthy, Andrew Ormond, Sam O’Farrell, John McGrath, Willie Connors and Joe Caesar.

Defeated Joe McDonagh Cup finalists Laois were out of their depth, although Paddy Purcell and Tomás Keyes were two of the best players on view. 

The gulf in class was glaringly obvious from the start. Tipp went about their business quickly and efficiently and only 15 seconds had elapsed when Jason Forde opened the scoring with a point. 

They were ahead by seven points by the fourth minute, after Forde had found the net from Sam O’Farrell’s pass, and two points from Willie Connors and another from Darragh McCarthy’s free.

Another point from Connors, who finished the first half with four points from play, made it 1-5 to no score with less than five minutes played. 

Laois goalie Cathal Dunne came to his team’s rescue on a few occasions. He made a great save from Darragh McCarthy in the sixth minute, at the expense of a ‘65 that McCarthy pointed. Then in the 14th minute Dunne made a great double save from Jason Forde and John McGrath, although the play was brought back for a free that Darragh McCarthy converted.

Earlier, Tipp goalie Rhys Shelly was called into action to block a rising, stinging drive from Tomás Keyes, one of Laois’ best players in the opening half.

Laois deployed Fiachra Fennell as a sweeper and they managed to slow Tipperary’s momentum. Thanks mainly to Tomás Keyes’ accuracy from frees, Laois had trimmed the deficit to six points when Donnacha Hartnett scored in the 25th minute (1-12 to 0-9).

However, Tipp soon regained their composure and with the assistance of points from Andrew Ormond (0-2), Robert Doyle, Darragh McCarthy’s free and Willie Connors, they had built a half-time lead of 1-18 to 0-12.  

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly, Robert Doyle (0-1), Bryan O’Mara, Michael Breen, Craig Morgan, Ronan Maher (captain), Joe Caesar (0-1), Willie Connors (0-5), Seamus Kennedy, Alan Tynan (0-1), Andrew Ormond (0-3), Sam O’Farrell (1-1), Darragh McCarthy (0-9, 6 frees, 1’65), John McGrath (0-3), Jason Forde (2-5, 0-2 frees).

Substitutes: Johnny Ryan for Robert Doyle (half-time), Oisín O’Donoghue (0-1) for Andrew Ormond (45), Peter McGarry (0-1) for Ronan Maher (47), Brian McGrath for Craig Morgan (54), Joe Fogarty (0-1) for Darragh McCarthy (55).  

Laois: Cathal Dunne, Cody Comerford, Lee Cleere, Donnacha Hartnett (0-1), Ryan Mullaney, Padraig Delaney (0-1), Jordan Walshe (0-1), Fiachra C Fennell, David Dooley (captain), Aidan Corby, Tomás Keyes (0-9, 6 frees), Paddy Purcell (0-4), Mark Dowling, Ben Conroy, James Keyes (0-1).   

Substitutes: Tom Cuddy for Padraig Delaney (35), John Lennon for Aidan Corby (49), Aaron Dunphy (0-1) for Mark Dowling (51), Padraic Dunne for Ryan Mullaney (57), Martin Phelan for Jordan Walshe (64).  

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).