Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

Tipperary 1-19 Kilkenny   1-18

By Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

Tipperary made it two wins from two in the National Hurling League as they edged out Kilkenny with a late Jason Forde free earning the victory at FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday.

The Premier County played with a strong breeze at their backs in the opening half and struck the first three points, all from the stick of Jason Forde inside ten minutes. Already the short passing game was evident from both sides but not to the required standard as it took Kilkenny fourteen minutes to get off the mark through John Donnelly after some poor misses prior to that.

Tipp goalie Brian Hogan landed a monster free before Kilkenny hit back through David Blanchfield and Padraig Walsh. Nenagh Eire Og duo Jake Morris and Barry Heffernan restored the three-point advantage with Ger Browne cancelling out a Mikey Carey point for a wasteful Kilkenny who hit nine wides in the opening half, 14 in all.

Points from Michael Breen, Denis Maher and Jason Forde moved Tipp six clear approaching the half hour but Kilkenny hit back with points from Tom Phelan, John Donnelly (2 frees), and Padraig Walsh to trail by two going into added time when Tipp struck a further point from Heffernan, and from the subsequent puckout, Eoin Murphy gifted it straight to Denis Maher who played in Jake Morris who found the net for a 1-11 to 0-8 half time advantage.

Kilkenny had that deficit evaporated by the 49th minute as they outscored Tipp 0-7 to 0-1 with John Donnelly (2 frees), Cian Kenny, Padraig Walsh, Niall Brassil, Paddy Deegan, and Martin Keoghan all on target. Tipp’s only reply was from Jason Forde who finished with ten points, five from play.

Tipp captain Ronan Maher entered the fray and within two minutes he scored a rousing point which ignited the home side with Morris and three more from Forde re-establishing a five-point lead, before Kilkenny keeper Eoin Murphy made a superb save to deny Jake Morris.

Brian Hogan made a fine save to deny Richie Leahy earlier in the half, but he could do nothing about Tadhg O’Dwyer’s close range effort which brought Kilkenny back into the contest and points from the excellent Padraig Walsh and two from sub Walter Walsh had Kilkenny level in the 69th minute but an injury time long range free from Jason Forde, after a foul on the outstanding Cathal Barrett proved to be the winning score.

**SCORERS – Tipperary: **Jason Forde 0-10 (4 frees, 1 65); Jake Morris 1-2; Barry Heffernan 0-2; Michael Breen, Ger Browne, Denis Maher, Ronan Maher, Brian Hogan (free) 0-1 each.

**Kilkenny: **John Donnelly 0-5 (4 frees); Padraig Walsh 0-4; Tadhg O’Dwyer 1-0; Walter Walsh 0-2; Tom Phelan, Mikey Carey, Niall Brassil, David Blanchfield; Cian Kenny, Paddy Deegan, Martin Keoghan 0-1 each.

**Tipperary: **Brian Hogan; Cathal Barrett, James Quigley, Craig Morgan; Dillon Quirke, Seamus Kennedy, Barry Heffernan; Alan Flynn, Michael Breen; Dan McCormack, Jason Forde, Ger Browne; Mark Kehoe, Denis Maher, Jake Morris.

Subs: Paddy Cadell for Breen (45); Ronan Maher for Browne (51); Seamus Callanan for D Maher (56); Paul Flynn for Kehoe (67); Conor Stakelum for McCormack (70+1).

**Kilkenny: **Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Evan Cody; David Blanchfield, Niall Brassil, Mikey Carey; Cian Kenny, Paddy Deegan; Richie Leahy, Padraig Walsh, Tom Phelan; Billy Ryan, Martin Keoghan, John Donnelly.

Subs: Tommy Walsh for Cody (4 inj); Cillian Buckley for Blanchfield (26-31 blood); Walter Walsh for Phelan (46); Tadhg O’Dwyer for Leahy (57); John Walsh for Donnelly (59).

**Referee: **Liam Gordon (Galway)