Gaelic Games

Tipperary lay down a marker with commanding win over Galway

Liam Cahill set sights on ‘getting back to the top table as soon as possible’

Tipperary's Michael Breen in action against Galway's Conor Whelan. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Tipperary's Michael Breen in action against Galway's Conor Whelan. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Kevin Fallon
Sun Jan 26 2025 - 20:09
National Hurling League, Division 1: Galway 2-16 Tipperary 3-25

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill said he’s confident his side are heading in the right direction after they dished out a hammering to Galway at Pearse Stadium.

Tipperary were on top throughout and while an experimental Galway struck for two late goals to reduce their losing margin, Cahill’s men were firmly in control throughout a contest played on a surface which cut up badly.

“At the end of the day, it’s winter hurling and the ball isn’t going to be as moving as quick as come May for the championship,” said Cahill.

“We’re on a bit of a journey with this group as to where we are in Tipperary. I’m very clear the direction it has to go. The pace of it, we don’t know yet how quick it’s going to move, but I’m very clear on what way we’re going. And I think today is evidence that we’re going the right direction with the new players that are on view.

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“We’re in a time now in Tipperary where there has to be big leadership. And, you know, I have to show that as manager, the players are showing it on the field. And as I said, the county board had to show big leadership as well. It’s a collective. We had the leaders out there today and we have to be brave as well.

“We’ll be brave with a lot of decisions we’re making in introducing new players and making sure that we’re bringing through a new generation of players and hopefully getting back to the top table as soon as possible.”

Tipperary, aided by the wind, led 1-13 to 0-9 at the interval despite shooting eight wides to Galway’s three and they continued to dominate after the restart.

Corner forward Darragh McCarthy, one of four making a competitive debut for Tipperary, struck 1-5 from placed balls during the opening half in which Cahill’s side made good use of the short puckout.

Galway, also featuring four debutants in an understrength side, hit two points inside the opening minute with Oisin Lohan, the first player from the Skehana/Mountbellew-Moylough club to play senior for the Tribesmen, taking little time to make his mark.

Darragh McCarthy shoots to score Tipperary's first goal. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Darragh McCarthy shoots to score Tipperary's first goal. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho

But with Ronan Maher outstanding at centre back and Willie Connors dominating midfield, Tipperary got on top and they never looked back once McCarthy drilled home a penalty after 11 minutes when Dylan Walsh was fouled by Sean Murphy, although Galway were aggrieved that Shane Cooney had not been awarded a free out moments earlier.

The goal put Tipperary 1-4 to 0-4 ahead and when Maher landed a long range free at the end of the opening quarter, it pushed his side ahead by double scores, 1-7 to 0-5.

Tipperary, with Andy Ormond becoming their seventh player to score, finished the half strongly to lead by seven at the break and Craig Morgan extended their advantage directly after the restart.

Lohan and Kevin Cooney responded for Galway but notions of a comeback were quickly dispelled as Tipperary struck 2-4 without reply, Gearoid O’Connor and Dylan Walsh getting the goals to lead 3-18 to 0-11 with 51 minutes gone.

The margin of Tipperary’s victory was all that remained to be decided, the visitors leading by 17 points at one stage, but Galway capitalised on Tipperary errors, substitutes John Fleming and Declan McLoughlin both finding the net.

It was a grim return for Micheal Donoghue, indicating the scale of the rebuilding task he faces.

“Our remit is to build and rebuild. And look, in an overall context, we’re really happy with the squad we have. We’ve total confidence in these boys that they will work and together collectively, we will get to where we want to,” said the Galway manager.

“We’re not naïve, you know, to think that you can just hit a switch and presto, there you go. Like, there’s going to be some tough days, and we just take the learnings from those as quick as we can and move on to the next one.

“Obviously disappointed with the result, in terms of our preparation over the last few weeks. We’ve got a big emphasis on performance and trying to transfer what we’ve brought to the training ground into the pitch. So, obviously, disappointed with some of that, but equally we have to recognise a lot of lads getting their debuts. A tough lesson but valuable experiences to be learned. But unless you get that exposure, you’re not going to learn and that’s the truth of it.

“And the way the league is structured and the format of it we can’t dwell on it too much now. We go again next weekend and the following weekend. So, look, it’s just to brush ourselves down and go again.”

GALWAY: E Murphy; J Grealish, F Burke, S Murphy; M Garvey, S Cooney, TJ Brennan (0-1); C Fahy (0-1), D O’Shea; R Burke (0-4f), T Monaghan (0-1), O Lohan (0-3); C Whelan (0-3), K Cooney (0-2, 0-1sl), L Collins (0-1). Subs: C Whelan for Garvey (47 mins), J Fleming (1-0) for O’Shea (47), D McLoughlin (1-0) for K Cooney (54), S Morgan for S Cooney (55), A Burns for Collins (68).

TIPPERARY: R Shelly; M Corcoran, E Connolly, B McGrath; S O’Farrell (0-2), R Maher (0-1), C Morgan (0-2); M Breen, W Connors (0-2); A Tynan (0-1), J Morris (0-3), G O’Connor (1-2); A Ormond (0-2), D McCarthy (1-6, 1-0p, 0-5f, 0-1 65), D Walsh (1-3). Subs: R Doyle for Corcoran (half-time), C Bowe for Ormond (52 mins), S Kennedy for Doyle (53), J Fogarty (0-01) for Tynan (55), S Kennedy for McGrath (58), C Martin for O’Connor (65).

Referee: C Lyons (Cork).