Defeat sends Tipp into relegation battle
GAA: Allianz National Football League Division 3 Round 5
Longford 3-12
Tipperary 3-7
Report: Denise O'Flaherty at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Darren Gallagher (Longford)
SCORERS - Longford: Oran Kenny 1-2; Darren Gallagher 0-4 (2 frees); Rian Brady 0-3; Dessie Reynolds, Liam Connerton 1-0 each; Paddy Collum (free), Donal McElligott, Gary Rogers 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 2-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3 frees), Kevin O’Halloran 1-0; Padraic Looram, Sean O’Connor, Liam Boland 0-1 each.
Tipperary need results in their last two games against Louth and Leitrim if they want to avoid relegation from Division 3 of the Allianz Football League following their defeat by Longford on Sunday.
It was a fine win for Longford who consolidated their place in Division 3 for next year while still keeping their promotion hopes alive.
With so much to play for it was an entertaining encounter with some excellent scores and performances. For Longford their midfield maestro Darren Gallagher was fantastic once again, with Daniel Mimnagh and Oran Kenny impressing in this win. Tipp relied heavily on captain Conor Sweeney who had a very good game.
Longford made a great start and scored their first goal in the fourth minute when Liam Connerton shot low to the net. Darren Gallagher followed up with an excellent point and Donie McElligott put Longford ahead by five in the ninth minute.
In the 19th minute Tipp cut the gap to one point with a pointed free from Conor Sweeney and then a goal after he received a pass from Steven O’Brien.
Longford scored a second goal in the 24th minute when Dessie Reynolds flicked the ball to the back of the net. Tipp replied with two points before Gallagher hit over a fantastic point. Tipp ended the half well to trail by one point at the break, 2-4 to 1-6.
The first incident of the second half was a black card to Padraic Looram in the 44th minute. Rian Brady fired over the resulting free. Brady and Paddy Collum hit over free to extend their lead to four in the 52nd minute.
The Midlanders made use of numerical advantage and in the 54th minute they grabbed their third goal of the game when Connerton passed to Oran Kenny and his powerful shot beat Evan Comerford. Gary Rogers added a point to stretch the advantage to eight points.
Tipperary were given a lifeline in the 58th minute when they were awarded a penalty; Steven O’Brien appeared to take a few too many steps but was fouled. Sweeney made no mistake with the spot-kick.
Longford responded with two points but a goal from Kevin O'Halloran left it a three point game in stoppage time. Gallagher (free) and an excellent score from Kenny sealed the win for Longford.
TEAMS - Longford: Paddy Collum; Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell, Barry O’Farrell; Donal McElligott, Gary Rogers, Gerard Flynn; Darren Gallagher, Kevin Diffley; Michael Quinn, Daniel Mimnagh, Dessie Reynolds; Rian Brady, Liam Connerton, Oran Kenny.
Subs: Darragh Doherty for Flynn (55), Joseph Hagan for Brady (70).
Tipperary: Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan-Kilcash); Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers), John Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney), Tadhg Fitzgerald (Moyle Rovers); Padraic Looram (Clonmel Commercials), Robbie Kiely (Carberry Rangers), Bill Maher (Kilsheehan-Kilcash); Steve O’Brien (Ballina), Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials); Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commericals), Brian Fox (Eire Og Annacarty); Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Riain Quigley (Moyle Rovers).
Subs: Liam Boland (Moyle Rovers) for Kennedy (HT); Philip Austin (Borrisokane) for Looram (43); Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe) for O’Connor (49), Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers) for Maher (61), Alan Moloney (Rockwell Rovers) for Quigley (64).
Referee: Niall McKenna (Monaghan)