Tipp Win A 19th League Title

Allianz NHL Finals
Division One
Tipperary 3-18
Galway 3-16

By Dermot Kavanagh

In a game that would have done justice to a championship fixture, Tipperary won their 19th League title following this enthralling encounter at Limerick

This game had everything to justify even the most demanding hurling follower.

There were several brilliant individual performances, some breathing scores and a good mix of both direct ground hurling and the running game the most teams adopt today.

An attendance of 19,635 patrons saw an excellent first half. Surprisingly, Galway did not make great use of the slight breeze and found themselves a point in arrears at the break (1-9 to 1-8).

In a game of such quality it has to be admitted that, surprisingly both goals were of the "gift" variety.

Whatever the delights the first half delivered were dwarfed by the quality of the play in the second half.

Such was the pace of the game, the commitment of the teams and the non stop scoring that it was difficult to keep account. Tipperary, it seemed, sensed that the

Galway defence were somewhat hesitant in certain situations went on the offensive from the fist minute of that half.

By the 62nd minute they had opened up a fully merited 7 points gap (3-17 to 2-13) and looked home and hosed.

However, to their credit, as soon as Tipperary seemed to ease up, the Westerners threw everything at them in an attempt to salvage the game.

The genius of Joe Canning then became evident as in the next 8 minutes he scored a memorable goal and 3 unanswered points to close the gap to a single point as the clock approached the 70th minute.

Try as they might Galway were unable to force the equalizer and in the final bout of play, Tipperary's Butler scored his 6th and Tipperary's 18th point to secure the title.

Galway had two major problems through the match.

Firstly, they had no defender who could cope with Lar Corbett who gave an inspired display and scored 1-3 of his side's total.

Secondly, Galway began to rely too much on the running game, particularly in the closing stages in an effort to create scores when some first time hurling and shooting might have been better options.

Tipperary's next outing is in the Munster Semi-final away to Cork in June. Following their three wins in as many weeks against Waterford, Kilkenny and Galway Tipperary will travel to Cork in confident mood. Galway still have some work to do before they can produce a settled team.

However, with the return of All-Star Ollie Canning at least of their defensive weakness will surely be sorted out. Galway will not enter the Championship until mid July when they take on Antrim.

Division Two
Westmeath 2-12
Carlow 0-12

This curtain raiser at Limerick was decided by Westmeath goals either side of half time.

Carlow had played with the wind in the opening half and as half time approached found themselves in a health position being lead by a solitary point (0-7 to 0-6)

Then a defensive lapse allowed Westmeath's John Shaw tap the ball into the net for a goal that his side hardly deserved.

No sooner had the second half begun when another defensive lapse, this time by the Carlow goal keeper enabled Derek McNichols to score Westmeath's second goal.

The combined effect of those two goals and the manner by which they were conceded were to knock the heart out of Carlow who never seriously threatened to claw the deficit in a low key second half.

Admitting that Westmeath got two fortitious goals one felt that they probable would have won the game in any event.

They were the better hurlers with a more precise first touch, a talent that they have obviously acquired while competing at the top level in recent years.