TIPP OF THE SPEAR

TIPPERARY manager Liam Cahill made eight changes to the side which beat Galway in the first round of the Allianz League, but the AllIreland champions didn't miss a beat in Tullamore.

- KEVIN EGAN

Top scorer Jake Morris drops out? In comes Jason Forde, who pillages 3-10. Eoghan Connolly absent from full-back due to injury? Bryan O'Mara slips back to full-back and stands up like a colossus against Offaly's huge inside forward line.

Then when you can throw in Noel and John McGrath off the bench, not to mention Darragh Stakelum who shot two excellent points, then it's easy to jumble up the pieces in the jigsaw and still end up with a pretty picture.