Colm gets off the Laois on first outing as Premier boss
Tipperary 0-21
Laois NHL Division 1B
1-14
BY SHANE STAPLETON COLM BONNAR got his competitive reign as Tipperary boss off to a winning start against 14-man Laois at a rain-drenched O’moore Park.
Jason Forde hit 0-11 points and Mark Kehoe added 0-4 from play, while Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher did the majority of the hosts’ scoring with 1-8.
The Premier had suffered defeat to Kerry in the Munster Hurling League last month, but atoned in this opening NHL clash on a day when Paddy Purcell was sent off.
Forde landed the maiden score of the game, but Laois settled quickly as ‘Picky’ nailed a couple of points inside the opening three minutes.
Their wasteful shooting opened the door for the visitors, however, with five misses in a row being punished by Tipp points through Forde (2), Kehoe and Jake Morris. The teams then traded white flags before a rush of goal chances.
Jack Kelly sent one attempt from the ’21 at Brian Hogan, while Ben Conroy drew another block from a tight angle before hitting a fresh-air shot with the rebound. Tipp’s best chance came after Morris, who was sent clear by a Forde stick-flick through the legs, won a penalty which the creator took.
Forde went low, but Enda Rowland got his stick in the way, and the ball flew up and over the bar — with Tipp 0-11 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.
The visitors hit four-in-a-row to start the second half to move 0-15 to 0-8 ahead but Laois looked to have settled with two more Maher frees.
It was at that stage, however, that Purcell caught defender Craig Morgan with a loose stick into the midriff, with the Rathdowney-errill man sent off.
Laois might well have dropped their heads but instead they were given immediate encouragement. Keeper Rowland dropped a ’65 into the Tipperary square, which Maher diverted to the net — 0-15 to 1-9.
James Keyes came on and hit three points for the hosts, while Kehoe, Michael Breen and ace marksman Forde continued to keep the Premier scoreboard ticking over as they did just enough to see it out. SCORERS - Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-11 (6f, 0-1 pena), Mark Kehoe 0-4, Jake Morris 0-3, Michael Breen 0-2, Cathal Barrett 0-1 Laois: Stephen Maher 0-8 (5f), Enda Rowland 1-3 (0-2f, 1-1 65), James Keyes 0-3