Antrim 0-12 Tipperary 2-21: Saffrons end league campaign with fifth consecutive loss

Tipperary led 1-10 to 0-4 at half-time at a damp Corrigan Park

Antrim's hurlers league campaign ended with a fifth consecutive defeat as they fell 2-21 to 0-12 to Tipperary.

Jake Morris netted twice for the visitors in what was a comprehensive win at a sodden Corrigan Park.

Antrim had started brightly with Aodhan O'Brien opening the scoring but before long, Tipp were in control and did not let their dominance slip.

The victory confirmed Tipp's place in the league semi-finals after Galway and Limerick drew earlier on Saturday.

Another O'Brien point had Antrim in an early lead but that was soon cancelled out Jason Forde's first of the day.

From there Liam Cahill's side asserted their authority, rattling off the next five scores with Forde dead-eyed from placed balls, while Sean Kenneally grabbed his second and Jake Morris found his range.

O'Brien was Antrim's sole scorer in the opening period, adding another pair of frees as Eoghan Connolly got in on the act four the visitors who were not exactly setting the world alight either.

The hosts had a let-off just before half-time when they were carved open for the first time. A Tipperary goal seemed certain but play was brought back for a throw.

There would be no such reprieve minutes later as Conor Stakelum burst forward and popped into Morris to finish, while Forde's sixth of the first half put the Primmer into a 1-10 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Forde and O'Brien traded pointed frees straight after the restart and the pair would continue to lead the way in the scoring stakes, both doubling their half-time tally,

Niall McKenna landed for the hosts to ease the burden with the first of his three second half scores and he was denied a goal from the boot of Rhys Shelly.

But Tipperary began to extend the gap with substitutes Dan McCormack and Darragh Stakelum adding to scores from Bryan O'Mara and Danny Slattery.

There was no doubt about the destination of the points, but Tipp would finish with something of a flourish as Morris banged home a second goal to seal a win and a League semi-final berth.