Allianz Hurling League Division 1 – Tipperary 0-17 Wexford 1-14

Tipperary drew with Wexford on a scoreline of 0-17 to 1-14 in Round 7 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 on Sunday at Semple Stadium Thurles.

Tipperary 0-17 Wexford 1-14

From the GAA.ie web site

Wexford completed a scarcely-believable escape from relegation by securing a 0-17 to 1-14 draw with Tipperary in Thurles on Sunday. The draw, allied to Offaly’s defeat to Kilkenny in Nowlan Park, means Wexford will play Division One hurling again next year and Offaly have been relegated to Division Two. Having lost their first five games in the Allianz League, Wexford somehow fashioned a last-gasp win over Cork in Round 6 and once again they relied on a late goal to draw with Tipperary, with Willie Doran’s goal in added time proving the crucial score on this occasion.

Doran’s goal actually put Wexford 1-14 to 0-16 ahead – the first time they led in the entire game – but a Pa Bourke point levelled the game for the All-Ireland champions late on. However, a point was all Wexford needed to stay up and, naturally, the Models’ manager, Colm Bonnar, was delighted with the spirit his players showed. “As the game went on our lads wanted it more because they knew that the prize was staying in Division One and they have had two horrible years down in Division Two so they really worked their socks off for it,” said Bonnar. “All credit to the players, they got a lot of criticism over the last five games but they stood up strong, especially when it counted and our backs were to the wall.”

Tipperary led by 0-11 to 0-6 at the break, having completely dominated a first half in which James Woodlock sent over three scores. Declan Ryan’s side led by 0-4 to 0-0 after Noel McGrath, Michael Heffernan, Pa Bourke and John O’Brien had all notched points to give them the ideal start. At one point the reigning All-Ireland champions led by 0-8 to 0-3, but points from Rory Jacob, Jim Berry and PJ Nolan reduced the gap to four. Seán Carey had the last say of the first half, nudging Tipperary five points clear, but Wexford might have been closer had Berry not missed a seemingly straightforward free just before the whistle.

Wexford appeared to be chasing a lost cause, but they persevered and two more points from Berry and another from Jacob reduced the gap to three, 0-12 to 0-9. Again Tipperary raised their game in response and things looked truly desperate for the Model County when they trailed by 0-16 to 0-11 in the final quarter. But three unanswered points, including one from Stephen Banville gave Wexford hope before Doran hit the back of the net in added time to complete their great escape.

Team News

The Tipperary Senior Hurling team to play Wexford in Round 7 of the Allianz Hurling league shows 8 changes in personnel from the team which defeated Galway. Brendan Cummins, Eddie Connolly, Paddy Stapleton, Conor O’Mahony, James Woodlock, Noel McGrath, Sean Carey and Michael Heffernan come into the team in place of Darren Gleeson, Michael Cahill, Padraic Maher, John O’Keeffe, Gearoid Ryan, Patrick Maher, Shane Bourke and Lar Corbett.

1. Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange) 2. Eddie Connolly (Loughmore Castleiney) 3. Paul Curran (Mullinahone) 4. Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh) 5. David Young (Toomevara) 6. Conor O’Mahony (Newport) Captain 7. John Coghlan (Moyne-Templetuohy) 8. James Woodlock (Drom and Inch) 9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch) 10. Benny Dunne (Toomevara) 11. Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney) 12. Sean Carey (Moyle Rovers) 13. Michael Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg) 14. Pa Bourke (Thurles Sarsfields) 15. John O’Brien (Toomevara)

Wexford team to play Tipperary in Semple Stadium on Sunday 17 April: Niall Breen, Paul Roche, Matthew O’Hanlon, Keith Rossiter, Lar Prendergast, Darren Stamp, Ciarán Kenny, David Redmond, Eoin Quigley, PJ Nolan, Harry Kehoe, Stephen Banville, Rory Jacob, Garrett Sinnott, Jim Berry