It was raining goals and points at Semple Stadium as Tipperary did just enough to beat Offaly 2-21 to 3-14 and qualify for the NHL Division One semi-finals.
Babs Keating's side managed their third win in four League outings to remain in sight of a first NHL crown since 2001. They have been drawm to face reigning champions Kilkenny in next Sunday's semi-finals.
Tipp made one change in defence before today's throw-in with Benny Dunne failing a fitness test and Nenagh Eire Og clubman Hugh Moloney drafted in.
An even opening saw Paul Kelly point twice for the Premier men with Brian Carroll and Dylan Hayden replying for Offaly. Eoin Kelly smashed home the game's first goal on 17 minutes to give Tipp a 1-06 to 0-04 lead. Carroll instigated a mini-revival from Offaly with a point from 40 yards out and the eighteen-year-old Joe Bergin batted home an excellent goal on 24 minutes to draw the sides level at 1-06 apiece.
Tipp could have been cursing their wides tally of six by that stage but they bounced back to lead by 2-07 to 1-08 at the turnaround. Ken Dunne pointed and Micheal Webster squeezed a shot in between two defenders on the Offaly line for a 33rd-minute goal. Substitute Michael Cordial's long range point closed out the half for Offaly.
A Carroll goal helped Offaly peg the difference back to a single point in the early minutes of the second half but Tipp managed to keep their heads above water. Wing forward Ken Dunne was central to that – his 48th-minute point pushed Keating's charges into a 2-14 to 2-10 lead.
They went 2-15 to 2-12 clear when Offaly grabbed their third goal on 54 minutes. Alan Egan managed to level the game when he ghosted onto a Cordial sideline cut and swept home the dropping ball.
Although racing their wides tally up to 15, Tipp produced enough in the final 15 minutes to warrant the win. Colin Morrissey, Ken Dunne (0-03), Webster and John O'Brien all pointed for the Premier county in the closing stages. Offaly could only muster a Carroll effort and a Cordial score from the sideline in reply as their bid for a semi-final place petered out.
