Treacy’s hat-trick not enough to save Dublin

A David Treacy hat-trick wasn’t enough to save Dublin from an agonising two points defeat by Tipperary in this riveting Allianz NHL Division One tie at Semple Stadium, Thurles yesterday.

Thrown in at the deep end as a last minute substitute, Treacy’s heroics seemed destined to secure Dublin’s first league victory over the premier county in 20 years of competition.

But with their backs to the wall, Tipp battled back near the end to snatch victory.

Dublin manager Anthony Daly’s pre-match fears of a Tipp backlash following their five-goal drubbing by Kilkenny the previous week looked to be spot on when after a nip-and-tuck opening quarter, the home side suddenly opened up.

After corner back Ruairi Trainor allowed the ball to run free off his chest, Tipp centre forward Seamus Cannanan soloed through to goal.

Impressive corner forwards John O’Brien and Noel McGrath added some magnificent points as Tipp, with the aid of the wind, opened up a commanding lead.

And things went from bad to worse for Dublin when goalkeeper Gary Maguire failed to block a high ball from midfielder Gearoid Ryan in the 25th minute for Tipp’s second fortuitous goal.

Now trailing by 2-7 to 0-5, it looked all up for Dublin and as Daly said, “we are now a division one side but we made two division two mistakes to allow Tipperary to place us in that intimidating position at that stage in the game.”

But this is a rapidly maturing Dublin side who resolutely refuse to allow their heads drop.

And to the consternation of the home supporters, Dublin, with corner forward David O’Callaghan tearing their defence to shreds with some delightful probing runs, gallantly fought their way back into contention with a sensational two-goal blast from Treacy to leave it 2-10 to 2-5 in Tipp’s favour at the break.

“Those goals were a real lifeline for us and steadied the ship after our two calamitous mistakes.

“We were now able to sit the lads down and make them believe in themselves again,” said Daly.

But points from Noel McGrath and John O’Brien within the space of a minute after the resumption catapulted Tipperary back into the ascendancy. Once again Dublin had it all to do.

They did so, admirably inspired by a spectacular third goal from Treacy who acrobatically smashed home a sideline cross from Shane Durcan in the 41st minute.

Now in full flight again and displaying superior hurling qualities to their opponents Dublin drew level when Alan McCrabbe pointed from a 30-metre sideline cut in the 45th minute.

James Woodlock restored the lead for Tipp with a point but then David O’Callaghan powered Dublin back in front when he kicked home a pass from Shane Durcan.

“I knew when we went two points down we were really up against it,” said Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy.

“This was always going to be a tough game for us, coming on the back of last week’s heavy defeat and the fact that Dublin were oozing with confidence from their recent string of victories.

“But I thought our lads displayed really great battling qualities to come from two points down to win by two points.”

In a fabulously hard-fought closing quarter the sides were level again on two occasions.

Then excellent substitute Tony Scroope and Noel McGrath hit two splendid lead points for Tipp but a pointed free from David O’Callaghan kept Dublin’s hopes alive with just the bare minimum between them at the end of normal time.

But a pointed free from Seamus Callanan in additional time sealed victory for a relieved Tipperary side but as manager Sheedy said, “a win is a win and two points are two points particularly at this stage of the competition”.

Scorers for Tipperary: S Cannanan 1-4 (0-2f); G Ryan 1-0; N McGrath 0-4; J O’Brien 0-3; S Hennessy 0-3 (0-2f); J Woodlock 0-2; S McGrath, C O’Mahony (65) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dublin: D Treacy 3-2; D O’Callaghan 1-4 (0-2f); A McCrabbe 0-4 (0-3f); S Durkan 0-1.

TIPPERARY: B Cummins, E Buckley, P Curran, C O’Brien, B Maher, C O’Mahony, S Maher, G Ryan, S McGrath, S Hennessy, S Callanan, J Woodlock, N McGrath, M Webster, J O’Brien. Subs. P Maher for Ryan; T Scroope for Hennessy; G Ryan for Maher; L Corbett for Hennessy.

DUBLIN: G Maguire, N Corcoran, T Brady, R Trainor, S Hiney, R Fallon, M Carton, J Boland, J McCaffrey, A McCrabbe, L Ryan, S Durkan, D O’Callaghan, D Treacy, L Rushe. Subs. K Flynn for McCrabbe; D O’Dwyer for Durkan.

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).