Free-scoring Kelly helps Tipp to win

Tipperary 2-17 Offaly 2-13

Eoin Kelly grabbed a personal tally of 1-12 to help Tipperary overcome Offaly in their opening qualifier tie in Thurles today.

Watched by only 7,533 spectators, Kelly was instrumental for Tipp who had to wait until Lar Corbett's injury-time goal to confirm the win.

Kelly goaled from a sixth-minute free but Offaly, aided by a blocked Sean Ryan shot which found the net in the 17th-minute, were level at 1-8 apiece at half-time.

Damien Murray netted four minutes into the second half, but some wayward shooting let Offaly down, Kelly's free-taking came to the fore and Corbett had the final say.