Tipp impress in seeing off Sligo
Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 4
Tipperary1-13
Sligo1-9
Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium
Tipperary secured their first win in National Football League Division 4 with a deserved win over Sligo at FBD Semple Stadium Thurles.
The home side began well with points from Conor Sweeney and Mikey O’Shea but were rocked back by a Sligo goal on seven minutes from Luke Towey. However, Tipp were lively, and Sean O’Connor goaled six minutes later as the home side forged a 1-7 to 1-1 lead by the twentieth minute, but the rest of the half was dominated by Sligo who scored four points to Tipp’s one to trail 1-8 to 1-5 at half time.
Tipp squandered two good goal chances at the start of the second half, forced to settle for points from Sweeney and Robbie Kiely, while at the other end Michael O’Reilly made a fine save to deny Alan Reilly while Sean Carrabine was unlucky to see a shot come back off the crossbar in an action-packed period. However, despite Sligo dominating possession they couldn’t break down a well-drilled Tipp defence, with captain and top scorer Conor Sweeney sealing the win with an injury time free.
SCORERS – Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 0-4 (2 frees); Sean O’Connor 1-0; Paudie Feehan, Mikey O’Shea 0-2 each; Kevin Fahey, Mark Russell, Robbie Kiely, Jack Kennedy, Cathal Deeley 0-1 each.
Sligo: Luke Towey 1-1; Niall Murphy 0-3 (1 free); Alan Reilly, Pat Hughes 0-2 each; Sean Carrabine 0-1 free.
Michael O’Reilly; Shane O’Connell, Willie Eviston, Jack Harney; Kevin Fahey, Sean O’Connell, Robbie Kiely; Paudie Feehan, Mark Russell; Bill Maher, Jack Kennedy, Teddy Doyle; Mikey O’Shea, Conor Sweeney, Sean O’Connor.
Subs: Jimmy Feehan for Eviston (HT); Conal Kennedy for P Feehan (48 inj); Stephen Quirke for Russell (52); Cathal Deeley (0-1) for J Kennedy (55); Jason Lonergan for Fahey (70).
Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Nathan Mullen, Evan Lyons, Paul McNamara; Darragh Cummins, Paul Kilcoyne, Keelan Cawley; Conor Griffin, Peter Laffey; Sean Carrabine, Luke Towey, Mikey Gordon; Alan Reilly, Pat Hughes, Niall Murphy.
Subs: David Phillips for Cummins (HT); Pat O’Connor for Griffin (48); Pat Spillane for Gordon (48); David Quinn for Towey (59); Barry Gorman for Reilly (66).
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)