Tipp relegated after defeat to Longford

Longford 1-13

Tipperary0-9

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary will play division 4 football in next years National League after this seven point defeat to Longford at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday.

It was a very poor performance from the Premier County who never got near their best and were a well-beaten side long before the finish.

Longford brought all the intensity and pace to this relegation clash and they showed their intent with a point after 27 seconds from Dessie Reynolds with Rian Brady adding a second soon after.

Tipp were sluggish in the early going but Steven O’Brien got them going with an eighth minute point with Conor Sweeney bringing them level four minutes later. Darren Gallagher nudged the home side back in front before Sweeney levelled again.

Longford were creating the better openings and Joseph Hagan put Longford back in front and after Sweeney’s third free, Darren Gallagher’s 45 put the midlanders in front at the water-break.

Tipp were struggling to bring any urgency to proceedings with Gallagher and Hagan pointing from play for Longford who went three clear. Conor Sweeney stepped up again to convert a free before Michael Quinlivan was sent to the sinbin in the 33rd minute for dissent after he questioned a decision to penalise the Tipp forward who had slotted over a point from play. It was one of many baffling refereeing decisions from the Laois official on the day, for both sides.

However, Tipp managed to go in at the break just two points down but despite Paudie Feehan reducing the arrears early in the second half, it didn’t indicate a sea-change in the trend of the game as Darren Gallagher nudged the home side two ahead again.

Tipp’s best period came after the introduction of Brian Fox whose presence provided more assurance and points from Kevin Fahey and Padraic Looram brought the visitors level on 48 minutes.

However, Tipp didn’t get a chance to build on the momentum as Longford struck for the key goal in the next play as Dessie Reynolds ghosted inside and beat Evan Comerford at the near post.

Tipperary didn’t look like responding and were demoralised from a long way out as Longford eased to division three survival with Brady, subs Darragh Doherty and Oran Kenny and David McGivney on target with Tipp’s only response coming from a Sean O’Connor free.

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Longford: Dessie Reynolds 1-2; Darren Gallagher 0-4 (3 frees, 1 45); Riain Brady (1 free), Joseph Hagan 0-2 each; David McGivney, Darragh Doherty, Oran Kenny 0-1 each

Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 0-4 frees; Steven O’Brien, Paudie Feehan, Padraic Looram, Kevin Fahey, Sean O’Connor (free) 0-1 each.

TEAMS – Longford: Paddy Collum; Andrew Farrell, Patrick Fox, Enda Macken; Colm P Smyth, Michael Quinn, Iarla O’Sullivan; Daniel Mimnagh, Darren Gallagher; Dessie Reynolds, David McGivney, Joseph Hagan; Robbie Smyth, Larry Horan, Riain Brady.

Subs: Darragh Doherty for Moran (HT); Oran Kenny for Smyth (53); Donal McElliggott for Reynolds (64); Peter Lynn for Hagan (68).

Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Shane O’Connell, Alan Campbell, Colm O’Shaughnessy; Padraic Looram, Kevin Fahey, Daire Brennan; Steven O’Brien, Paudie Feehan; Conor Bowe, Jack Kennedy, Emmet Moloney; Michael Quinlivan, Conor Sweeney, Philip Ryan.

Subs: Jimmy Feehan for Campbell (9 inj); Brian Fox for Ryan (43); Shane Foley for O’Brien (54); Colman Kennedy for Brennan (54); Mark O’Meara for Looram (61); Sean O’Connor for Bowe (61); Liam Boland for Quinlivan (64 concussion).

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)