Depleted Offaly well beaten by Tipp

Tipperary 2-25 Offaly 2-08

An inexperienced Offaly team, minus their Birr players, was overpowered by Tipperary in Thurles.

Eoin Kelly shot 1-09 as Tipp, watched by new manager Liam Sheedy, performed well on the opening day of NHL Division 1B.

Six Kelly points had the hosts 0-14 to 2-6 in front at half-time, with both Derek Molloy (14 minutes) and Damien Murray (19 minutes) netting for Offaly.

The Faithfuls fell away though and Lar Corbett and Pa Bourke added to their tallies before a goal from league debutant Pat Kerwick completed Tipp's rout.