Dual Success again for Tipperary

All-Ireland Senior Qualifiers

Football: Tipperary 3-17; Laois 4-9
Hurling: Tipperary 5-25; Offaly 1-20

These games, played at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise yesterday evening, brought satisfying results for Tipperary. Offaly hurling has been in a recession for some time, so the hurlers were expected to win fairly easily following their dramatic win over Galway the previous week. The footballers' victory, and the fashion in which it was achieved, showed that they have matured a lot in self-belief and determination. They had a great first-half, building up a lead of ten points at half-time, but ran into a Laois blitz early in the second half when they were hit with three goals. Laois scored a fourth goal in the 62nd minute to level the game. Tipperary showed their mettle by scoring 1-3 in the final minutes to win by five points. The forwards are capable of taking on the best, but the defense will have to win the early ball and move it fast; you only get away with conceding four goals once in the blue moon. The hurlers also had a ten points lead at half-time. They went into a bit of slumber for a while and Offaly got back to within four points of them. They upped the tempo again and won easily in the end. Best of luck to both teams.