NHL DIVISION ONE A Tipperary 2-20 Galway 2-18:REDISCOVERING the fluid movement that typified the Tipperary attack during the march to AllIreland in 2010 is one of the main tasks facing manager Declan Ryan and his backroom staff this year.
At Semple Stadium yesterday, they may just have taken their first steps towards unlocking the secret to forward cohesiveness as Ryan admitted that his players were much more intelligent in their use of possession as Galway were put to the sword in Thurles.
Gone was the utter reliance on the aerial bombardment that yielded seven goals in last year’s Munster final, but failed on AllIreland final day against Kilkenny.
A more varied game plan ultimately paid dividends as Tipp collected their first points of the season in front of 4,951 spectators.
The fare produced was very much of the March variety for the most part, but the end result was all that really mattered to Ryan, whose side have suffered just one defeat in an already busy season.
Pa Bourke led Tipp’s scoring charge with a haul of 1-6 on a day when there were contributions from seven players to the final tally of 2-20.
Galway too were sharp at various stages, but this display was a step down from the energetic performance delivered against Dublin. However, the full-forward line finished with 2-7, which provides some encouragement for manager Anthony Cunningham.
At half-time, Galway led 1-9 to 1-8, with an early run of 1-1 providing a platform in a half when the teams were level six times.
Moments after Galway goalkeeper James Skehill performed heroics to keep out a blistering shot from Brian O’Meara, James Regan bulged the Tipperary net with a stunning 20-yard shot.
Tipp’s goal response, in the 29th minute, was equally impressive as Bourke rifled O’Meara’s astute offload to the net.
Tipp introduced six-time All Star and former captain Eoin Kelly at half-time, but within a minute, the Mullinahone wizard was limping off after feeling a twinge in his hamstring.
Tipp regrouped again to move four points clear, 2-11 to 1-10, when Noel McGrath buried a superb 42nd minute goal, but Damien Hayes responded in kind for Galway four minutes later, levelling the scores at 2-11 apiece.
In a tie that was level 14 times in all, the teams were deadlocked five times down the home straight before points by Tipp sub Johnny Ryan and McGrath sealed the win.
TIPPERARY: B Cummins; D Maher, P Curran, M Cahill; J O'Keeffe, C O'Mahony (0-1, 65), P Maher; J Woodlock (0-2), B Maher (0-2); P Bourke (1-6, 0-5f), N McGrath (1-3, 0-1f), S McGrath; J O'Neill (0-2), B O'Meara (0-1), S Bourke (0-2). Subs: E Kelly for S McGrath (half-time); T Hammersley for Kelly (inj 38); J Ryan (0-1) for Bourke (70+1).
GALWAY: J Skehill; D Connolly, D Collins, G O'Halloran; J Cooney, F Moore, N Donoghue; D Burke, C Donnellan; C Cooney (0-3, 1f), N Burke (0-7, 7f), I Tannian; D Hayes (1-3), J Regan (1-2), B Burke (0-2). Subs: B Daly (0-1) for Tannian (28 mins); J Coen for J Cooney (33); P Gordan for Donoghue (43); A Harte for Donnellan (53); E Ryan for N Burke (65).
Referee: C McAllister(Cork).
