Offaly out to avenge Tipperary
Up until last season, Tipperary and Offaly had never met in the All-Ireland hurling championship but they clash for the second time in 12 months today.
A place in the All-Ireland semi-finals is at stake this time, whereas they clashed in the qualifiers last year.
It was all very easy for Tipperary who marched to a 2-19 to 1-09 win at Portlaoise on a day when Brian O’Meara (1-02), John Carroll (1-01), Mark O’Leary (0-04) and Eoin Kelly (0-04) were Tipperary’s main scorers.
All four also line out today. It was a sad occasion for Offaly for as well as producing a disappointing performance, it also marked the last championship game for Johnny Dooley, who came on as a sub despite carrying a knee injury which forced him to retire earlier this year.
Tipperary met in this year’s National Hurling League with Tipp winning easily by 4-14 to 1-08 in Nenagh in February.
Lar Corbett scored 3-03 while Eoin Kelly added 0-06 as Tipp cruised to victory.
Tipperary 1-18 Galway 1-17 (All-Ireland qualifier)
Tipperary 3-28 Laois 0-13 (All-Ireland qualifier)
Clare 2-17 Tipperary 0-14 (Munster quarter-final)
Offaly 1-18 Limerick 0-14 (All-Ireland qualifier)
Offaly 1-20 Dublin 1-14 (All-Ireland qualifier)
Wexford 0-16 Offaly 1-12 (Leinster semi-final)
