A game which Tipperary had effectively conceded from the moment they picked their team, yielded the predictable result and allowed Galway to progress untroubled to the final of the Church and General National Hurling League. A crowd of little more than 4,000 turned up in Ennis on Saturday evening to watch Galway play a Tipperary team with just one first-choice player, Liam McGrath, who was picked at centre half-forward with one eye to his potential for filling this position in the All-Ireland final next month.
With less exalted ambitions of their own, Galway took control from the first minute, when Kevin Broderick sped through the Tipperary rearguard and fired over their first point. Tipperary competed in the early stages, however, and were only deprived of a goal when goalkeeper Pat Costelloe came off his line to smother Liam Cahill's effort.
It was to be Tipperary's best goal chance. They trailed by a point after 10 minutes, but Galway surged away from them in the next 12, scoring six points without reply, two apiece from Justin Campbell, Ollie Fahy and Eugene Cloonan. Two late points kept Tipperary in touch, trailing 0-9 to 0-4 at the interval.
Tipperary's second half performance was dismal, however. They scored just two points and conceded a soft goal in the 44th minute, when Liam Burke's long-range free bounced in front of goalkeeper Justin Cotterell and bobbled to the net. That put Galway 1-12 to 0-5 in front with the contest over and the game limping on to its inevitable conclusion.
Galway: P Costelloe; G Kennedy, B Feeney, L Hodgins; V Maher, C Moore, M Donoghue; N Shaughnessy (0-1), L Burke (1-1, all frees); J Campbell (0-3), M Coleman, K Broderick (0-2); F Forde, E Cloonan (0-3, one free), O Fahy (0-4). Subs - J McGrath for Coleman (38 mins), A Kerins for Cloonan (40 mins), B Keogh for Maher (injured, 51 mins).
Tipperary: J Cotterell; P Delaney, J Carroll, G Flanagan; G Frend, B Carroll, B Gaynor; A Butler, R Ryan (0-1, 65); K Tucker (0-1), L McGrath (0-1), A Ryan; L Cahill, D Hogan (0-1), A Flanagan (0-2, both frees). Sub - M Kennedy for Carroll (48 mins).
Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).
