Tipp had to overcome wind, rain and stern test of the NHL credentials from a fired-up Antrim side to record their second Division 1B win and join Galway at the top of the table.

The division's top two sides will meet in Salthill next weekend in what promises to be an intriguing clash, especially with Messrs. Keating and Loughnane on the sideline.

Today, Tipp were largely reliant on All-Star forward Eoin Kelly to bring them back into contention after Antrim had broken into a 0-7 to 0-2 lead for half-time.

Kelly hit seven points in all - his first two, both frees after two and 14 minutes, brought the Premier county level before Antrim, inspired by three-point midfielder Karl McKeegan, hit five points without replay. Brian McFall made up the rest of the Saffrons' first half tally with four fine frees.

But just 14 seconds into the second half, Bourke had the sliotar in the Antrim net.

Centre back Conor O'Mahony sent a well-weighted ball into towards the danger area, Kelly flicked it on and Bourke, one of the stars of Tipp's 2006 minor side, powered his shot past Ryan McGarry for a crucial goal.

Three more Kelly points helped Tipp into a 1-5 to 0-7. Willie Ryan and O'Mahony, who rasped over a shot from 70 metres out, also added their names to the scoresheet.

Kelly took his tally to seven as Antrim struggled to gain any meaningful possession.

Bourke and substitute Shane Maher both pointed in the final five minutes, during which Brendan Herron notched the visitors' only point of the entire second half.