CHAMPS DON’T HAVE IT ALL THEIR OWN WAY SENIOR HURLING ROUND-UP
ALL-IRELAND champions Tipperary were pushed all the way yesterday while there were wins also for Dublin and Waterford.
The Premier found it tough before overcoming Westmeath 2-18 to 0-15 at Semple Stadium.
The visitors burst out of the blocks and led by 0-2 to 0-0 after 49 seconds but Tipp moved 1-9 to 0-4 ahead with John O’dwyer (1-3) netting a 15th minute goal.
But it was an evenly balanced game and Westmeath added five unanswered points to leave Tipp ahead 1-10 to 0-9 at the break.
In the second half John Mcgrath (1-1) netted Tipperary’s second goal on the way to a nine-point win.
A strong second half helped Dublin to a 2-28 to 1-15 win over a gutsy Laois at Parnell Park.
A 41st minute Eamon Dillon goal helped Ger Cunningham’s side on their way to shake off the youthful O’moore’s, many of whom played U21 this summer.
The sides were level on four occasions in the opening half and also early on the restart before Dublin gradually pulled away. Dillon’s goal put Dublin into a 1-14 to 0-13 lead and saw them score 2-14 unanswered, including a second Dillon strike.
Laois finished with 14 men after a second yellow card for Cahir Healy.
Waterford came good to deliver a comfortable 1-35 to 0-14 win over Offaly at O’connor Park.
Pauric Mahony fired 11 points for Derek Mcgrath’s charges in a game where the visitors had 13 different scorers. Shane Bennett grabbed their goal.