Callanan cuts loose as Tipp in cruise control
O’Shea went with nine of the players who had started against UCC a week previously, as Tipp came from a point down at half-time to clinch a handsome win in front of another healthy attendance.
Seamus Callanan grabbed the chance to impress as he marked his first appearance for Tipperary since last summer’s Munster final victory over Waterford with a haul of 11 points, including four from play.
Tipp were in cruise control after 20 minutes, leading by 0-9 to 0-3, before Offaly’s leading marksman, Shane Dooley, who also missed a number of scoreable frees, bagged a fortuitous goal.
Dooley’s speculative effort from the touchline took a horrible bounce to deceive Tipperary goalkeeper Darren Gleeson in the 21st minute. Offaly led 1-9 to 0-11 at the break but Tipp held the visitors to just four second half points as Gleeson atoned for his earlier error with some fine saves.
Tipp corner-forward Shane Bourke scored his second goal in two games in the 42nd minute, a brilliant batted finish, after taking a pass from Timmy Hammersley.
Scorers for Tipperary: S Callanan 0-11 (7fs), S Curran 0-3, S Bourke 1-0, N McGrath, J Ryan, T Hammersley 0-2 each, A Ryan, M Heffernan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: S Dooley 1-7 (6fs), C Parlon 0-3, J Bergin 0-2, O Kealey 0-1.
TIPPERARY: D Gleeson; D Maher, P Curran, J O’Keeffe; S McGrath, T Hamill, P Stapleton; N McGrath, J Ryan; M Heffernan, S Curran, A Ryan; S Bourke, S Callanan, T Hammersley.
OFFALY: J Dempsey; D King, C McDonald, P Camon; D Mooney, K Brady, M Cleary; S Gardiner, S Ryan; C Egan, D Molloy, C Parlon; S Dooley, J Bergin, O Kealey.
Subs: B Carroll for Gardiner (ht), T Carroll for Ryan (51), D Kelliher for McDonald (54), T Bulger for Molloy (63).
Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).
