Tipperary 2-18 Galway 0-20
Tipperary have secured their first Allianz League points of the season after seeing off the dogged challenge of Galway at Semple Stadium.
The Premier County, beaten finalists for the last two seasons, led by ten points in the second half but Galway fought back to within three points approaching full-time.
Conor Kenny’s injury-time score eventually made the game safe for Tipp, who bounced back from last weekend’s crushing defeat to Dublin at Parnell Park.
Tipp led by 0-14 to 0-11 at half-time and cracked on within 20 seconds of the restart.
League debutant John McGrath, younger brother of Noel, kicked a pass to All Star John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer and the Killenaule man buried a low shot into the bottom corner.
After Seamus Callanan tagged on a free, the Drom & Inch hitman added a cheeky goal, deftly flicking the sliotar past Colm Callanan.
That score sent Tipp ten points clear – 2-15 to 0-10 – and the Premier County looked home and hosed in front of 4176 spectators.
But Galway, winners over Clare in the opening round, were playing with the aid of a strong breeze blowing towards the Town End and points from Iarla Tannian and Joseph Cooney reduced the deficit to eight.
Jason Forde pushed Tipp nine points clear again but the remainder of the game, the hosts were outscored by 0-02 to 0-07, with Joseph Cooney impressive for Galway.
The closest that the Westerners could get to their opponents was three points, however, and Tipp managed to keep the visitors at arm’s length.
The first half was dominated for the most part by Tipp, with Kieran Bergin exceptional at midfield in difficult underfoot conditions.
Jason Forde was quietly effective in attack, as was former dual All-Ireland minor medallist McGrath, particularly towards the end of the half when he put over two points.
Promising Galway forwards Padraig Brehony, Cathal Mannion and James Regan helped to keep the Tribesmen in touch, with Jason Flynn also contributing from placed balls and a superb sideline cut.
But the score of the first half, and the game, was a 29th minute effort from Callanan, who controlled a dropping ball on his stick, swivelled and put the ball over the bar in majestic fashion.
At the other end, All Star goalkeeper Darren Gleeson pulled off a good save to deny Regan and the Portroe netminder was also called upon in the second half to produce an impressive double save as Galway threatened an elusive goal.
TIPPERARY: D Gleeson (0-01); C Barrett, P Curran, C O’Brien; M Breen, P Maher, R Maher; K Bergin (0-03), G Ryan (0-01); D Maher, J Forde (0-03), B Maher (0-01); J O’Dwyer (1-01), S Callanan (1-03 - 0-02f), J McGrath (0-02.
Subs: J Woodlock for Ryan (h.t.), C Kenny (0-01) for D Maher (0-01) (inj, 42), N McGrath for J McGrath (54), J Meagher for Bergin (70).
GALWAY: C Callanan; J Coen, J Hanbury, P Mannion; G McInerney, D Collins, I Tannian (0-01); J Cooney (0-03), A Smith (0-01f); P Brehony (0-02), C Mannion (0-03), D Higgins (0-01); J Regan (0-02), J Flynn (0-04), J Glynn (0-01).
Subs: K Hynes for Brehony (43), G Lally for Higgins (47), B Molloy (0-01) for Regan (52), A Harte for Flynn (69).
Referee: J Owens (Westmeath)
