Tipperary opened their Allianz League campaign with an emphatic victory at Pearse Stadium as they ran out deserved 12-point winners, 3-25 to 2-16.
Two late goals from an experimental Galway side reduced the margin but the task facing Micheál Donoghue on his return in charge of the Tribesmen was all too apparent as Tipperary bossed matters throughout.
Tipperary, aided by the wind, led by 1-13 to 0-09 at the interval despite shooting eight wides to Galway's three and they continued to dominate after the restart.
Corner-forward Darragh McCarthy, one of four making their competitive debuts for Tipperary, struck 1-05 from placed balls during that opening half where Liam Cahill’s men benefitted a lot from their short puckouts on a poor surface.
Galway, also featuring four debutants in an understrength side, hit two points inside the opening minute with Oisin Lohan, the first player from the Skehana/Mountbellew-Moylough club to play senior for the county, taking little time to make a mark.
But with Ronan Maher outstanding at centre-back and Willie Connors dominating midfield, Tipperary got on top and they never looked back once McCarthy drilled home a penalty after 11 minutes.
Dylan Walsh was fouled by Sean Murphy, and McCarthy drilled it low although Galway were aggrieved that Shane Cooney had not been awarded a free out moments earlier.
That goal put Tipperary 1-04 to 0-04 ahead and when Maher landed a long-range free at the end of the opening quarter, it pushed Liam Cahill’s men ahead by double scores: 1-07 to 0-05.
Tipperary, with Andy Ormond becoming their seventh player to score, finished the half strongly to lead by 1-13 to 0-9 at the break and Craig Moran extended their advantage directly after the restart.
Lohan and Kevin Cooney responded for Galway but notions of a comeback were quickly dispelled as Tipperary struck 2-04 without reply, with Gearoid O’Connor and Dylan Walsh getting the goals to put their side 3-18 to 0-11 ahead after 51 minutes.
The margin of victory was all that remained to be decided and at one stage Tipperary led by 17 points but Galway made the most of a couple of errors from Tipperary goalkeeper Rhys Shelly to get goals from substitutes John Fleming and Declan McLoughlin.
Galway: Eanna Murphy; Jack Grealish, Fintan Burke, Sean Murphy; Michael Garvey, Shane Cooney, TJ Brennan (0-01); Cianan Fahy (0-1), Donal O’Shea; Rory Burke (0-04f), Tom Monaghan (0-01), Oisin Lohan (0-03); Conor Whelan (0-03), Kevin Cooney (0-02, 0-01 sideline), Liam Collins (0-01).
Substitutes: Cillian Whelan for Garvey (47), John Fleming (1-00) for O’Shea (47), Declan McLoughlin (1-00) for K Cooney (54), Shane Morgan for S Cooney (55), Anthony Burns for Collins (68).
Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Michael Corcoran, Eoghan Connolly, Brian McGrath; Sam O’Farrell (0-02), Ronan Maher (0-01), Craig Morgan (0-02); Michael Breen, Willie Connors (0-02); Alan Tynan (0-01), Jake Morris (0-03), Gearoid O’Connor (1-02); Andy Ormond (0-02), Darragh McCarthy (1-06, 1-00p, 0-05f, 0-01 65), Dylan Walsh (1-03).
Substitutes: Robert Doyle for Corcoran (half-time), Conor Bowe for Ormond (52), Seamus Kennedy for Doyle (53), Joe Fogarty (0-01) for Tynan (55), Seamus Kennedy for McGrath (58), Conor Martin for O’Connor (65).
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
