Forde hits hat-trick as Tipp cruise to win over Offaly
All-Ireland champions Tipperary showed excellent health with a predictably routine Tipperary 5-24 to 1-18 win over an emerging Offaly in O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday afternoon.
It was a second win for Liam Cahill's charges and they will be delighted with the way they have hit the ground running in the league.
While respecting Offaly who are back in the top flight after a few years down the ranks, Tipperary were also aware of the gap between the sides and availed of the opportunity to blood several new players.
With Offaly badly struck by injuries and absentees, the outcome of this game was as close to a foregone conclusion as you will get and so it proved as Tipperary had the points in the bag from early in the second half.
The winners are clearly moving well and the gap between the teams was shown in their finishing with Jason Forde superb for them, scoring 2-03 of his 3-10 from play in a remarkable display of sharp shooting.
Tipperary had one hand on the points when they led by 2-12 to 1-10 after playing against the wind in the first half. Offaly will take some positives from the game and they battled very hard in the first half, making space tight for Tipperary but to have any chance, Offaly needed that five point half time lead, not vice versa.
Goals were the big difference between the teams, though Tipp would also have won a points shootout. Paddy McCormack got their first goal in the 10th minute after a great build up with Josh Keller and Andrew Ormond to put them 1-04 to 0-02 ahead.
Tipp were 1-06 to 0-04 clear after 16 minutes when Offaly rallied with Brian Duignan getting in for an excellent opportunist goal and Ben Conneely adding a point. Tipperary responded as you would expect, getting the next three points.
A key moment in the first half was their second goal in the 28th minute. Offaly's new full back, Ben Miller got a black card after hauling down Andrew Ormond who had got inside him, the ball was brought in for a penalty which Forde brilliantly blasted past the impressive Liam Hoare. Hoare (free), Eoghan Cahill (free) and Cathal King got late points for Offaly but that half time deficit meant they were on a damage limitation exercise in the second half.
The game was put beyond reach when sub John McGrath got a 39th minute goal, Jason Forde got his second in the 48th minute and Tipp had 4-17 on the board when Dan Bourke, who did very well off the bench, got Offaly's first point of the second half in the 52nd minute.
It all drifted out harmlessly from here with interest dwindling for the near 6,000 crowd. Offaly dug deep and tried to manufacture consolation goals but the Tipp defence was outstanding. With victory assured, the Tipp attack was not quite as clinical but Forde still completed his hat-trick of goals two minutes from time, after his first shot struck the post.
Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Cathal O'Reilly, Bryan O'Mara, Johnny Ryan; Conor Martin (0-01), Craig Morgan, Seamus Kennedy; Willie Connors, Conor Stakelum (0-03); Josh Keller (0-2), Andrew Ormond, Gearoid O'Connor (0-01); Jack Leamy (0-03), Paddy McCormack (1-00), Jason Forde (3-10, 1-00p, 5f and 2 '65's).
Subs – Darragh Stakelum (0-2) for Keller (HT), John McGrath (1-1) for McCormack (HT), Noel McGrath (0-1) for Ormond (45m), Adam Daly for Morgan (50m), Cathal English for Conor Stakelum (60m)
Offaly: Liam Hoare (0-02, 2f); Ruari Kelly, Ben Miller, Patrick Taaffe; Dan Ravenhill (0-01), Ben Conneely (0-1), Brecon Kavanagh; Luke Watkins (0-01), Colin Spain; Conor Doyle, Eoghan Cahill (0-04, 2f), Ross Ravenhill; Brian Duignan (1-02), Ciaran Cleary, Oisin Kelly (0-2).
Subs – Cathal King (0-01) for Watkins (31m), Dan Bourke (0-03) for Ross Ravenhill (HT), Ter Guinan for Doyle (HT), Adam Screeney (0-01, f) for Ruari Kelly (42m), Sam Bourke for Conneely, inj. (temporary, 45m), Daniel Hand for Spain (46m),
Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).
