Senior Hurling: Tipp Pull Away from Wexford

Wexford 1-8 Tipperary 0-18

Tipp and Wexford met in a game that would decide who would go top of the senior hurling table.  After a close first half Tipp pulled away in the second to end up comfortable winners.  Kevin O’Loughlin was his usual reliable self with the frees, while Paul Haughey came up with some wonderful scores from play. 

The Tipperary Hurling Team are Top Dogs in the Table.

The first half was evenly contested.  Wexford found themselves a point ahead at the break, in large part thanks to a goal from corner forward Stephen Maher.  Tipp keeper, Sean Delaney looked to have things under control, but in coming out off his line he left the ball behind him and Maher was quick to take advantage and pulled on it for a goal.  In the meantime, O’Loughlin kept things ticking over for Tipp with his free taking, while Haughey added one great score from play.  For Wexford Kevin Sheerin had the free-taking duties, while Tom Moloney and Michael Moloney pointed from play at the break it was 1-5 to 0-7 in Wexford’s favour.

In the second half there were goal chances missed at either end.  Tipp’s Paul Haughey missed the first after finding himself through and the Middleton man fired high and over the bar.  Eoghan Kavanagh missed at the other end for Wexford, though his chance was not as clear cut, and he shot wide.  Tipp had introduced a handful of subs for the second half, and it proved to their advantage as they pulled away.  Wexford could not find the scoring touch to keep themselves in it, while O’ Loughlin continued to hit the mark.  Haughey and Aidan Callinan added a couple more points between them as the Tipp men gradually put more distance between the teams.  Wexford managed just three points in the second 30 minutes.  Tipp scored the last six points of the game, and now go top of the table.

Referee:  Jason Long (Corcaigh)

Man of the Match:  Paul Haughey (Tipperary)

Wexford:  E. Spruhan, M. Walsh, D. Redmond, J. O’Neill, P. Nolan, B. Dalton, T. Moloney, J. Kehoe, E. Kavanagh, M. Moloney, K. Sheerin, P. Kehoe, S. Maher.  Tipp:  S. Delaney, B. Cleary, J. Roche, S. Norton, A. McRedmond, A. Hannigan, C. Dempsey, D. O’Connor, J. Dwyer, A. Callinan, P. Haughey, B. Hartnett, K. O’Loughlin.

By Rory O'Donnell