Advertisement
Patrick Maher's goal proved decisive today. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
escape

Tipperary do just enough to send Dublin into relegation playoff

A three point win was required, an that’s what the Premier County delivered.

Tipperary 1-19

Dublin 0-19

TIPPERARY have avoided relegation from Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League – and set up a quarter-final meeting with Cork next weekend.

Eamon O’Shea’s Premier County beat Dublin by three points at Semple Stadium this afternoon to preserve their top-flight status, with Seamus Callanan hitting 0-11.

And Tipperary’s win condemned Dublin to relegation playoff against Waterford.

Tipperary went into this afternoon’s game needing to beat Dublin by at least three points to move ahead of the Sky Blues in the standings.

And results elsewhere ensured that Tipperary finished fourth in the group to set up a showdown with Munster rivals Cork.

Tipperary hadn’t won a game since beating Waterford in the opening round but a second victory of the campaign was good enough for a top four finish.

For long spells, however, it didn’t look like Tipperary would do enough to stay out of the bottom two. Indeed, Dublin led by six points in the first half, 0-9 to 0-3, and the visitors were playing with an intensity that Tipperary couldn’t match.

But the hosts produced an impressive second quarter in front of 4678 spectators and by half-time, they were back to within a point, trailing by 0-9 to 0-10.

Tipperary had also missed a couple of decent goal chances in the first half, with Gary Maguire denying Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher and Jason Forde.

But Maher did net in the 47th minute, following a brilliant double save from Maguire.

The Ballyboden goalkeeper first kept out Seamus Callanan and then Maher, before the Lorrha-Dorrha clubman finished the loose ball from close range.

That score brought Tipperary to within a point, 1-9 to 0-13, after they had fallen four behind.

The sides were level twice before Tipperary moved three ahead, 1-15 to 0-15.

Paul Ryan came on as a temporary sub to take a crucial 20m free for Dublin but captain Brendan Maher was on hand to save Tipperary on the Killinan End goalline.

Dublin, who had a ten-point haul from Alan McCrabbe, were back to within a point when Joey Boland missed a free that would have levelled matters and Tipperary kicked on from there for the win.

But they were left hanging on for the required three-point win as Niall McMorrow mishit a shot deep in stoppage time, an effort that dropped short when a point would have seen Dublin and Tipperary’s standings in the division reversed.

It was that close but Tipperary also had a legitimate point disallowed early in the second half, when Jason Forde’s sideline cut, that was clearly a foot inside the post, was waved wide.

Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 0-11 (8f), Patrick Maher 1-0, Noel McGrath 0-3, John O’Dwyer 0-2, Michael Cahill, Kieran Bergin and Ronan Maher 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: Alan McCrabbe 0-10 (8f), Ryan O’Dwyer and Danny Sutcliffe 0-3 each, Michael Carton 0-2, Joseph Boland 0-1f.

DUBLIN: Gary Maguire (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Niall Corcoran (Kilmacud Crokes), Peter Kelly (Lucan Sarsfields), Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala); Michael Carton (O’Tooles), Liam Rushe (St Patrick’s Palmerstown), Shane Durkin (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Joseph Boland (Na Fianna), Johnny McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields); Ryan O’Dwyer (Kilmacud Crokes), Alan McCrabbe (Craobh Chiaráin), Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St Enda’s); David O’Callaghan (St Mark’s), Danny Sutcliffe (St Jude’s), Colm Cronin (Cuala).

Subs: Mark Schutte (Cuala) for Cronin (45), Niall McMorrow (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for C O’Callaghan (56), Paul Ryan (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Keaney (temp-56-60), Paul Ryan (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for D O’Callaghan (62).

TIPPERARY: Darragh Egan (Kildangan); Paddy Stapleton (Tipperary), Conor O’Mahony (Newport), Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill); Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields), Brendan Maher (Borrisoleigh), Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill); Kieran Bergin (Killenaule), Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch); John O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Paddy Murphy (Nenagh Éire Óg); Jason Forde (Silvermines), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), Patrick Maher (Lorrha & Dorrha).

Subs: Denis Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) for Murphy (half-time), James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane) for Cahill (inj, 38), Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone) for Patrick Maher (52), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) for S McGrath (62), Michael Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Forde (69).

Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly).

As it happened: Sunday Allianz Hurling Leagues match tracker

Late drama in Cusack Park sees Clare snatch last-gasp draw

Your Voice
Readers Comments
14
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.