Hurling: Tipp fall to second successive defeat

Wexford 3-13, Tipperary 1-10

Wexford turned in an amazing performance to hand Tipperary a nine-point drubbing and their second successive defeat in the Allianz Division 1B national hurling league at Wexford Park.

This was a game which brought an inspirational display from team captain Larry O’Gorman in the unfamiliar role of full-forward for he finished the game with a personal tally of 1-4 despite being faced by All Star full-back Philip Maher.

Wexford started the game at a ferocious pace.

They may have provided a guard of honour for the reigning All-Ireland champions but it was there that the pleasantries ended as the home side thundered into the game from the start.

Having gone into a two point lead through Larry O’Gorman and David O’Brien inside two minutes, Tipperary had to wait until the fifth minute for their opening score from an Eoin Kelly pointed free.

One minute later the game was transformed when a David O’Brien 45 metre sideline cut deceived Darragh Rabbitte, standing in for regular netminder Brendan Cummins, and finished in the corner of the net.

Tipperary’s wide tally began to mount and when Larry O’Gorman flicked a Mitch Jordan lob to the net after eighteen minutes the home side were 2-3 to 0-1 clear.

Tipperary had to wait until the twenty-third minute for their second score - an Eoin Kelly pointed free.

But it was Wexford who led 2-7 to 0-4 at the interval, Tipp having struck an amazing fourteen wides to the home sides five.

Tipperary tried desperately to resurrect the situation on the resumption but they came up against a magnificent Wexford full-back line of David O’Connor, Daragh Ryan and newcomer Malachy Travers.

John O’Brien pulled a goal back for Tipperary after forty-five minutes but despite the introduction of Thomas Dunne and John Carroll it was Wexford who finished the game with a flourish and a Mitch Jordan goal after seventy minutes.

Wexford: D. Fitzhenry, D. O’Connor, D. Ryan, M. Travers, L. Dunne, D. Ruth (0-2), D. Stamp, A. Fenlon, R. Mallon (0-1), L. Murphy, D. Caulfield, D. O’Brien (1-2), B. Lambert (0-4), L. O’Gorman (1-4), M.Jordan (1-0).

Tipperary: D. Rabbitte, T. Costello, P. Maher, P. Ormonde, E. Corcoran, D. Kennedy, P. Kelly, N. Morris, E. Enright, M. O’Leary, M. Ryan, J. O’Brien (1-1), L. Cahill (0-2), E. O’Neill (0-1), E. Kelly (0-2). Subs: J. Enright (0-2) for Cahill; L. Corbett for E. Kelly; J. Carroll for Enright; Thomas Dunne (0-2) for O’Neill.

Referee: P. Neary (Kilkenny).