Dubs beat Tipp in Hurling League

DUBLIN 1-21 TIPPERARY 1-12

Dublin bounced back from the disappointment of their opening game in impressive style when defeating All-Ireland finalists of 2009, Tipperary, in this NHL Division 1 clash at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Dubs hurled with much greater intensity and fluidity than they had against Waterford and were full value for their nine point winning margin.
However, it did not start well for the hosts as Eoin Kelly cracked a penalty to the net in the opnening minute.
Importantly it was the home side who responded and shot six unanswered points in-a-row with David OCallaghan, Alan McCrabbe (two frees), Liam Rushe, Maurice OBrien, and Simon Lambert all on target.
The Dublin defence proved a far harder puzzle to figure out for the Premier County than what the Decies faced seven days previous while the forwards defended from the front applying pressure to the Tipp defence throughout.
Tipp did battle back in the opening half with points from Eoin Kelly, Seamus Hennessy, and Noel McGrath edging them 1-6 to 0-8 in front after 28 minutes.
The next score was crucial for Dublin as a point effort from John McCaffrey dropped short and with David OCallaghan pressurising Darren Gleeson the Tipp netminder fumbled the sliotar to the net.
This was all the encouragement Dublin needed and by the interval had moved 1-12 to 1-7 clear with points from McCrabbe (two frees) and Shane Durkin (two from play).
In the second half Tipp never got a run on Dublin with David Treacy, who was fouled for three frees converted by McCrabbe over the game, fetching a great ball before extending the Dublin lead in the 38th minute.
The longer the half went on the more assured Dublin became in their play with Rushe, and Peter Kelly putting in strong second periods.
In the final minutes Dublin denied Eoin Kelly a second goal when his 20-metre free was stopped on the line before a free out was awarded as Dublin collected two valuable early league points.

SCORERS – Dublin: A McCrabbe 0-10 (0-8f, 0-1 65), J McCaffrey 1-1, S Durkin, P Kelly 0-2 each, L Rushe, M OBrien, S Lambert, D Tracey, K Flynn 0-1 each. Tipperary: E Kelly 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2f, 0-1 65), S Callinan 0-2, B Dunne, S Hennessy, N McGrath, L Corbett, D Fanning 0-1 each.
DUBLIN – G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; J Boland, S Hiney, M O’Brien; J McCaffrey, S Lambert; P Kelly, L Rushe, S Durkin; D O’Callaghan, D Treacy, A McCrabbe. Subs: J Kelly for Lambert (24), K Flynn for J Kelly (53), P Ryan for O’Callaghan (68), M Carton for O’Brien (inj 73).
TIPPERARY – D Gleeson; P Maher, C O’Brien, P Curran; B Maher, C O’Mahony, S Maher; B Dunne, G Ryan; S Hennessy, S Callanan, H Maloney; E Kelly, L Corbett, N McGrath. Subs: D Fanning for Ryan (42), M Webster for Maloney (50), P Kelly for Hennessy (54), M Cahill for O’Brien (58), J Brennan for Callanan (65).
REF – J Owens (Wexford).