2006 All Star Eoin Kelly grabbed a personal tally of 1-12 to help Tipperary overcome Offaly in their opening All-Ireland Group B qualifier tie in Thurles this afternoon.
Watched by only 7,533 spectators, Kelly was instrumental for Tipp who had to wait until Lar Corbett's injury-time goal to confirm the win.
Kelly goaled from a sixth minute free but Offaly, aided by a blocked Sean Ryan shot which found the net in the 17th minute, were level at 1-08 apiece at half-time.
Damien Murray netted four minutes into the second half, but some wayward shooting let Offaly down, Kelly's free-taking came to the fore and Corbett had the final say.
With both counties facing away fixtures next weekend, a win today was vital for both teams in their quest to make the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Playing for the fourth consecutive weekend, Tipp manager Michael 'Babs' Keating made four changes to his forward lines with John Carroll, Darragh Egan, Benny Dunne and Lar Corbett making way for Francis Devanney, who took over as captain, Pa Bourke, Ryan O'Dwyer and Liam Cahill, who was making his first Championship start since 2003.
Offaly, managed by Tipp native John McIntyre, lined out as selected during the week and they were left trailing in their hosts' wake in the opening stages. Kelly was in Man of the Match form as he busily went about tearing the Faithfuls' blueprint for a shock win to shreds.
The Mullinahone attacker fired over a free after 90 seconds and then punished Offaly to the fullest in the sixth minute when, after Ryan O'Dwyer had been hauled down for a 21-yard free, he sent a crisp, rising shot to the Offaly net.
Backed by the breeze, Tipp added points through Kelly and Seamus Butler with Paul Cleary, who registered his side's opener from 100 metres out, and Damien Murray replying for the visitors.
Offaly skipper Rory Hanniffy, who switched in to full-forward with Murray and Brendan Murphy manning the midfield, then darted through for a good point and that was quickly followed a goal on his hurling championship debut for dual star Ryan.
Ryan, who played for the Offaly footballers last weekend against Dublin, cut through the Tipp defence and squirted the ball under the advancing Gerry Kennedy and over the line before Rory Hanniffy followed up.
The goal tied up the game at 1-04 apiece and the sides exchanged the next four points before Murray, who swung over his fourth point of the half from an 80-yard free, and Devanney swapped scores.
The talismanic Kelly nudged Tipp 1-08 to 1-07 ahead before Murray's fifth white flag saw the sides go in at the break on level terms.
Keating introduced the heavyweight trio of Corbett, Dunne and Carroll for the second half but it was Offaly who swiftly took control on the resumption.
Rallied by McIntyre's half-time team-talk, Offaly survived two skirmishes near their square when both Corbett and Devanney had a goal on their minds, and a point from Joe Bergin settled them.
It got even better for the beaten Leinster semi-finalists when Murray rifled a 21-yard free to the net and a quick point from Gary Hanniffy suddenly handed Offaly a five-point lead.
Tipp's comeback was a slow-burning one but gradually they clawed their way back into contention. They were also helped by some soft frees which Kelly slotted over with stunning accuracy.
Offaly's scores simply dried up - they went scoreless for a full 18 minutes as their game lost shape, their shot selection deserted them and referee Michael Haverty punished them with the concession of 12 second half frees as against just three in their favour.
Kelly's metronome-like finishing saw Offaly's 2-11 to 1-09 lead whittled down and Tipp squared up the game by the 52nd minute.
Points from Sean Ryan and Brian Carroll edged Offaly into the lead again at 2-13 to 1-14 but three white flags on the trot from Kelly, allied to Corbett's injury-time strike which saw him profit from a defensive mix-up, saw the Premier County put one foot in the quarter-finals.
Tipp are away to Dublin next Saturday, while Offaly are also on the road again, with Páirc Uí Chaoimh the venue for their clash with 2005 All-Ireland champions Cork.
TIPPERARY: G Kennedy; E Buckley, D Fanning, D Fitzgerald; E Corcoran, C O'Mahony, H Maloney; S McGrath, J Woodlock; F Devanney (capt) (0-02), R O'Dwyer, P Bourke; S Butler (0-02), L Cahill, E Kelly (1-12, 1-10f).
Subs used: L Corbett (1-01) for Cahill, B Dunne for Fitzgerald, J Carroll for Bourke (all half-time), T Stapleton for Woodlock (62 mins), W Ryan for Devanney (70).
OFFALY: B Mullins; C Hernon, P Cleary (0-01, 0-01f), D Franks; K Brady, D Kenny, G Oakley; S Ryan (1-02), B Murphy; G Hanniffy (0-02), D Molloy, B Carroll (0-01); J Bergin (0-01), R Hanniffy (capt) (0-01), D Murray (1-05, 1-04f, 0-01 '65).
Subs used: A Egan for Molloy (45 mins), B Teehan for Kenny (56), S Dooley for Bergin (65), M Cordial for Oakley (68 mins).
Referee: Michael Haverty (Galway).
