Forde and Morris steer Tipperary into league semi-final clash with Clare
16 March 2024; Jason Forde of Tipperary in action against Paddy Burke, left, and Ryan McGarry of Antrim during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B match between Antrim and Tipperary at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
IT all went to script for Tipperary in Belfast on Saturday as they claimed the win they needed to move into a League semi-final next week.
It wasn't a vintage performance by Liam Cahill's side, but nonetheless they did what was required with Jason Forde landing a dozen points between frees and play, while Jake Morris rattled the home net in each half.
The draw between Galway and Limerick ensured any type of victory for Tipp would suffice for a place in the semi-finals and there was no danger of anything but that outcome as they held the upper hand across the board.
Antrim just didn't have enough going forward to keep pace with the visitors despite being full of endeavour and their campaign ends in a whitewash with five defeats. But they will now look to build into the Championship where they will hope to have their lengthy list of injuries begin to clear.
Aodhán O'Brien actually gave Antrim the initial lead, but Sean Kenneally replied instantly.
An O'Brien free cancelled out Jason Forde's first of the day, but this would be as good as it got for the Saffrons with Tipp rattling off the next five scores with Forde dead-eyed from placed balls, while Kenneally grabbed his second and Jake Morris found his range.
O'Brien was Antrim's sole scorer in the opening period, adding another pair of frees as Eoghan Connolly got in on the act for the visitors, who weren't exactly setting the world alight either.
The hosts had a let-off when carved open for the first time after 29 minutes when a goal seemed certain but play was brought back for a throw. There would be no such reprieve minutes later as Conor Stakelum made the burst forward and popped into Morris to finish, while Forde's sixth of the first half put the Premier into a 1-10 to 0-4 lead.
Forde and O'Brien traded pointed frees straight after the restart and the pair would continue to lead the way in the scoring stakes, both doubling their half-time tally. Niall McKenna landed for the hosts to ease the burden with the first of his three second-half scores and he was denied a goal by the boot of Rhys Shelly.
Tipperary began to extend the gap with substitutes Dan McCormack and Darragh Stakelum adding to scores from Bryan O'Mara and Danny Slattery.
There was no doubt about the destination of the points, but Tipp finished with something of a flourish as Morris banged home a second goal to seal a win and a League semi-final berth.
A O'Brien 0-8 (7f), N McKenna 0-3, R McAteer 0-1
J Forde 0-12 (8f, 1 65), J Morris 2-2, S Kenneally 0-2, E Connolly 0-1, B O'Mara 0-1, D Slattery 0-1, D McCormack 0-1, D Stakelum 0-1
Cormac McFadden; Phelim Duffin, Rory McCloskey, Paddy Burke; Scott Walsh, Ryan McGarry, Enda Og McGarry; Eoghan Campbell, Niall O'Connor; Niall McKenna, Aodhán O'Brien, Conor Boyd; Eoin McFerran, Conor McCann, Fred McCurry.
Ronan McAleer for F McCurry (53), Christy McGarry for E Og McGarry (53), Eoin Trainor for S Walsh (62), Arron Bradley for C McCann (68), Ruairi McCormick for N O'Connor (68)
Rhys Shelly; Danny Slattery, Ronan Maher, Craig Morgan; Michael Breen, Robert Byrne, Bryan O'Mara; Paddy Cadell, Eoghan Connolly; Conor Stakelum, Sean Kenneally, Noel McGrath; Jake Moris, Jason Forde, Dean Ryan.
Sean Hayes for S Ryan (HT), Darragh Stakelum for E Connolly (40), Cathal Quinn for P Cadell (49), Dan McCormack for N McGrath (56), Billy Seymour for S Kenneally (65)
Chris Mooney (Dublin)
Clare v Tipperary
Limerick v Kilkenny
Clare, Kilkenny, Cork, Wexford, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway.
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