Goals from Rian McBride and Ronan Hayes proved vital as Tipperary pushed right to the end tonight
Tipperary 0-21
Dublin 2-16
FBD Semple Stadium
We said it was going to be a slogger, we said Dublin would be up for the challenge. They were forced to dig very deep, and they absolutely did. Dublin remain unbeaten in 2022, more importantly they stay unbeaten in the National Hurling League. They now sit top of Group B in Division 1, and no matter what happens tomorrow they should remain there going into the next round.
With 20 minutes to go Dublin had bossed themselves into a 5 point lead, thanks to goals from Rian McBride and Ronan Hayes. And it proved priceless as they faced a barrage of pressure from Tipperary who reeled off the last four scores of the game to get themselves within a score of drawing the game.
Late opportunities from Ronan Maher and Jason Forde to level the game failed to convert as Tipp saw their own unbeaten record end on home soil. And it was only the fourth time in eleven league and championship games that Dublin picked up a win in Thurles.
Freetaker Donal Burke brought his tally to 1-30 to date registering 0-09. And there were top performances all over the park most notably Aidan Mellett, McBride and Dublin’s Captain Eoghan O’Donnell in defence.
Leading by a single score (1-08 to 0-10) at the break despite playing into a strong wind, Dublin pushed on and added another on the restart. But Tipp rallied, drew level, and even pushed themselves 2 in front. But Dublin clawed the defecit back and put themselves 2 points ahead before Hayes hit the net. Tipp threw everything into the last quarter but came up short.
Dublin return to Parnell Park for their next round game to face Kilkenny.
Scorers for Dublin:
Donal Burke 0-09 (8f)
Rian McBride 1-02
Ronan Hayes 1-01
Fergal Whitely 0-02
James Madden 0-01
Conor Burke 0-01
Scorers for Tipperary:
Jason Forde 0-12 (11f, 1 sideline)
Jake Morris 0-03
Robert Byrne 0-02
Michael Breen 0-01
Noel McGrath 0-01
Conor Bowe 0-01
Paul Flynn 0-01
Dublin:
Sean Brennan
Andrew Dunphy
Eoghan O’Donnell
Cian O’Callaghan
John Bellew
Paddy Smyth
James Madden
Conor Burke
Chris Crummey
Donal Burke
Rian McBride
Danny Sutcliffe
Fergal Whitely
Ronan Hayes
Aidan Mellett
Dublin Substitutes:
Eamonn Dillon for Hayes 58
Davy Keogh for Whitely 64
Jake Malone for McBride 67
Paul Crummey for Mellett 67
Tipperary:
Barry Hogan
Eoghan Connolly
Brian McGrath
Craig Morgan
Robert Byrne
Seamus Kennedy
Ronan Maher
Alan Flynn
Paddy Cadell
Dan McCormack
Jason Forde
Michael Breen
Paul Flynn
Seamus Callanan
Jake Morris
Tipperary Substitutes:
Noel McGrath for Cadell 55
John McGrath for Callanan 55
Conor Bowe for Flynn 62