Tipp lead Offaly at half-time

Offaly 1-06, Tipperary 2-08 (half-time)

All-Ireland champions and Munster finalists Tipperary lead Offaly at half-time in the Guinness All-Ireland hurling qualifiers at Portlaoise.

The men from the Premier County quickly got into a rhythm and were ahead 0-02 to 0-01 when - after a superb run and pass from John Carroll - Brian O'Meara beat Peter Burke in the Offaly goal.

Rory Hanafin responded for Offaly before full-forward Stephen Browne goaled for the Faithful County in the 19th minute.

However, Tipp hit back and eight minutes later John Carroll turned from provider to scorer as Tommy Dunne fed the former wing-back and he blasted home Tipp's second goal.

Brian O'Meara and Simon Whelehan then exchanged points to see Tipp head to the dressingroom five points clear.

Tipp play with the breeze in the second-half, which may favour the champions, as unusually they had a first-half tally of 10 wides.