All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

TIPPERARY 2-25 LAOIS 1-18

By Michael Devlin in Croke Park

The scenes of last week’s jubilation in Portlaoise were relegated to mere memories as Laois' hurling summer was brought to an end under the fading sun of Croke Park this afternoon.

Coming in as obvious favourites, it proved to be a tricky tie for Liam Sheedy's Tipperary. Laois did produce some of the same spirit and energy that defined that memorable win over Dublin, and they gave the Premier County plenty of problems this afternoon.

First half goals from Jason Forde and Seamus Callanan had Tipp ahead by four at the break, and the while the Joe McDonagh champions had Mark Kavanagh in fine form keeping the scoreboard ticking over, their task wasn't helped when they lost Aaron Dunphy shortly after halftime to a red card. From there, Tipperary were able to get the job done and seal a semi-final berth against Wexford in two weeks.

It was a Sunday where Laois were hurling amongst the heavyweights, sharing the Croke Park bill with three of the game’s traditional forces in Tipperary, Cork and Kilkenny. With 93 Liam MacCarthy Cups between them, you would have to go back to 1915 for when hurlers from the O’Moore County laid their hands on the famous cup, the first and only time in their history.

While Eddie Brennan’s men have been the talk of the championship in last week since they stunned Dublin, Tipp were coming into this game smarting from a severe beating at the hands of Limerick in the Munster final. Bonner Maher’s campaign ending injury further compounded the Premier’s woes, and so they came to Croke Park with a point to prove.

Laois made a spritely start to the game, going 0-4 to 0-2 up after seven minutes with Kavanagh landing two frees and the Dunphy’s, Aaron and Willie, also providing scores. That buoyancy was quelled though by two quickfire Tipperary goals, the first a penalty lashed home by Forde after he had been fouled in the area, and the second moments as Callanan angled home a low drive from right hand side of the box.

Callanan and Ger Browne added points soon after and Forde brought his placed ball tally up to 1-4 as the lead was stretched out to eight points. Laois though weren’t going to be left adrift, and Kavanagh split the posts before Aaron Dunphy finished off a neat move with a point.

There was 34 minutes on the clock when the Laois roars reached new levels. Ross King nipped in ahead of Brendan Maher to go through on goal, and the corner forward confidently rifled the ball home past Brian Hogan to bring the game back to four points. A Kavanagh free was cancelled out by Noel McGrath just before halftime, but it was the Laois fans offering the bulk of the applause as the players went down the tunnel.

Those cheers were short lived however after four minutes of the second half when Aaron Dunphy was red carded for an off the ball strike, and Tipp put up the first three scores of the half to move their lead back out to seven. Laois’ response was admirable though with points from Kavanagh (2) and Jack Kelly soon after.

What Kavanagh was doing for Laois though, Forde was replicating for Tipperary, and the Silvermines man brought his total to 1-9 to keep his side in front by six in the 51st minute. A trio of McGrath points, one from Noel and two from John, then followed, and Tipp began to look towards seeing out the game.

The 14 men of Laois battled gamely until the end with Kavanagh continuing to excel from frees, but Tipperary had enough quality on the field and big game experience to keep them at arm’s length, and the late sending-off of substitute did little to alter circumstances. In the end, the winning margin was ten points to Sheedy’s men, who advance to the semi-finals in a fortnight’s time.

Tipperary scorers: Jason Forde 1-12 (10f 1-0 pen), Seamus Callanan 1-2, Ger Browne 0-2, Noel McGrath 0-2, John McGrath 0-2, Ronan Maher 0-2, Alan Flynn 0-1, Padraic Maher 0-1.

Laois scorers: Mark Kavanagh 0-10 (10f), Ross King 1-0, Aaron Dunphy 0-2, Jack Kelly 0-1, Willie Dunphy 0-1, John Lennon 0-1, Paddy Purcell 0-1

TIPPERARY: Brian Hogan; Cathal Barratt, James Barry, Alan Flynn; Brendnan Maher, Pádriac Maher, Ronan Maher; Noel McGrath, Ger Browne; Dan McCormack, Niall O’Meara; Jason Forde, Séamus Callanan, John McGrath.

SUBS: Michael Breen for A. Flynn (47), Mark Kehoe for John O'Dwyer (53), Jerome Cahill for Ger Browne (56), BarryHeffernan for James Barry (61), Jake Morris for Niall O'Meara (67)

LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Lee Cleere, Matthew Whelan, Joe Phelan; Jack Kelly, Ryan Mullaney, Pádraig Delaney; John Lennon, Paddy Purcell; Aaron Dunphy, Mark Kavanagh, Éanna Lyons; Willie Dunphy, Charles Dwyer, Ross King.

SUBS: Eric Killeen for J. Phelan (HT), Stephen Maher for Cha Dwyer (44), Conor Phelan for Eanna Lyons (57), Stephen Bergin for Willie Dunphy(59), Eoin Gaughan for John Lennon (66)

Referee: Colm Lyons (Corcaigh)