Big win in difficult conditions keeps Tipperary in the promotion picture

Tipperary 1-18 Leitrim 0-8

Tipperary kept their Division 4 promotion hopes alive with a comprehensive 13-point victory over Leitrim at a wet and windy Clonmel Sportsfield on Sunday afternoon.

The foundation for this solid victory was firmly laid with a workmanlike display during the opening 35 minutes when they registered 1-12, while conceding just five points to the Connacht side after playing against the elements.

During the opening half Tipp attacked at pace and created a few goal chances, which came to nothing, mainly due to stubborn defending, with the elements also being a contributing factor. After a slow opening five minutes, Daithí Hogan set up Sean O’Connor for the opening score, before a good two-pointer by midfielder Keith Keegan briefly gave the visitors a one-point advantage.

Steven O’Brien, with a two-point free after eight minutes, started a Premier run of eight points on the bounce, to lead by seven at the end of the opening quarter. Leitrim finally found the range from the boot of Oisin McLoughlin, with his first touch after being introduced as part of a double substitution in the 23rd minute.

Tipperary, who were dominant around the middle third, with Paudie Feehan very prominent, got in for a major after 26 minutes, when Sean O’Connor finished off a move, started by Steven O’Brien and taken up by Daithí Hogan. Cian Smith kicked a brace in a 60-second spell before Steven O’Brien kicked his fourth point coming up to the break to put the home side in a commanding position at the short whistle, 1-12 to 0-5, after finishing the half with zero wides.

READ NEXT: Former hotel in the centre of Tipperary's largest town 'is in the right hands'

After the restart, and with the conditions deteriorating, both underfoot and from the elements, scores were at a premium. Leitrim kicked two points before Tipperary registered their opening score from Sean O’Connor in the 48th minute, and pushed on in the final quarter aided by a two-point free from Steven O’Brien and a similar score from open play by Sean O’Connor in added time, to run out easy winners at the end.

Tipp played against the elements in the first half. After a sluggish opening five minutes, the home side got the scoreboard moving through Sean O’Connor, Daithí Hogan being the provider. The opening two- pointer of the afternoon from Keith Keegan gave the visitors a brief lead before Steven O’Brien regained the advantage from a two-point free, with a ground kick into the wind.

READ NEXT: Canopy at popular plaza in Tipperary is out of bounds for two years

Tipp kicked on with the next six points on the bounce to go seven to the good by the end of the first quarter. O’Connor’s goal-bound shot was blocked down before Daithí Hogan found his range. Tipp were beginning to dominate around the middle third, with captain Paudie Feehan leading by example and Steven O’Brien moving into space.

O’Connor kicked his second minor before Cian Smith opened his account after 13 minutes, with Tipp already on an advantage for a foul on Hogan. Sean O’Connor, with his third point, and Paudie Feehan after a solo effort put six between the sides.
Tipp then had a let off when the ball was moved up, following dissent, but again Leitrim were off target from a two-point effort. From the resulting kickout, the home side attacked and Steven O’Brien finished with a fisted minor.

Such was the home side’s dominance that Leitrim were forced to make a double substitution in the 23rd minute and Oisin McLoughlin kicked a two- pointer with his first touch.

In the 27th minute Steven O’Brien won a kickout in the middle of the park before offloading to Daithí Hogan. The St Patrick’s clubman cut in with a jinking run before dispatching a cross that O’Connor palmed home at the back post.

Riordan O’Rourke replied with a minor but the hosts finished out the half with Cian Smith kicking two on the bounce and Steven O’Brien getting in for his fourth point before the short whistle. The half-time score was Tipperary 1-12, Leitrim 0-5.

The conditions deteriorated during half-time, and after the restart, both sides were guilty of mishandling and passes went astray. Barry McNulty from open play and Oisin McLoughlin pulled two back for Leitrim. Sean O’Connor was on the mark for Tipperary’s opening score of the second half in the 48th minute. It took another ten minutes for the next score, a free on the right from Cian Smith.

Steven O’Brien kicked his second two-point free before being called ashore, before Paul Honeyman had Leitrim’s eighth point, with three minutes of normal time remaining.

Both sides were reduced to fourteen players late on as Mark Russell was dismissed on a black card and Eoin McLoughlin received a second yellow for Leitrim. Top scorer, Sean O’Connor, had the final say when he kicked over a two- pointer in added time.

Promotion is still alive when Tipp travel to Wicklow on Sunday week, March 15, followed by a home game against Waterford on the following Sunday, March 22, but they will need other results to go in their favour to secure that second promotion place.

Scorers: Tipperary: Sean O’Connor (1-6, 1x2pt, 1f), Steven O’Brien (0-6, 2x2ptf), Cian Smith (0-4,1f), Paudie Feehan (0-1), Daithi Hogan (0-1).
Leitrim: Oisin McLoughlin (0-3, 1x2pt, 1f), Keith Keegan (0-2, 1x2pt), Riordan O’Rourke (0-1), Barry McNulty (0-1), Paul Honeyman (0-1).

Tipperary: Shane Garland (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Manus McFadden (Grangemockler Ballyneale), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore Castleiney), Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers), Charlie King (Ballina), James Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Paudie Feehan (Captain, Killenaule), Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill), Steven O’Brien (Ballina), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields), Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Daithí Hogan (St Patrick’s).
Subs: Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers) for Eoin Craddock (59), Mark Russell (Aherlow) for Joe Higgins (59), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers) for Mark Stokes (63), Micheál Freaney (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for Steven O’Brien (63), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen) for Cian Smith (65).

Leitrim: Killian Gaffey, Eoin McLoughlin, Kieran Clancy, Donal Feely, James Rooney, Gavin Reynolds, Eanna McNamara, Barry McNulty, Keith Keegan, Fergal McLoughlin, Riordan O’Rourke, Cillian McGloin, Ben Guckian, Ryan O’Rourke (Captain), Paul Honeyman.
Subs: Oisin McLoughlin for Kieran Clancy (23), Conor Reynolds for James Rooney (23), Mark Diffley for Donal Feely (HT), Ruairí O’Rourke for Cillian McGloin (HT), Conor Quinn for Gavin Reynolds (51).

Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath).