Tipp footballers secure promotion
Tipperary1-14
London 0-12
By Shane Brophy
Tipperary will play division 3 league football in 2022 after they got the win they needed to secure promotion by getting the better of London at FBD Semple Stadium Thurles last night.
With their promotion hopes in their own hands, the home side started brightly with Mark Russell and Conor Sweeney on target before Sean Hickey got London off the mark on the quarter hour. Tipp pushed on with points from Mikey O’Shea (2) and Kevin Fahey before the latter played in Mark Russell for a 21st minute goal. A second Fahey point lead stretched the margin to eight points before the visitor’s finally turned their possession into scores with frees from Christopher Farley and Liam Gavaghan.
Following a Sean O’Connor point for Tipp, London enjoyed their best period with Matthew Walsh, Conal Gallagher and Gavaghan on target but an injury time O’Connor free gave Tipp a 1-8 to 0-6 half time advantage.
A Jack Kennedy free extended the Tipp lead after the interval but the home side didn’t have things their own way as London threatened with Stephen Dornan blasting over from close range while Liam Gavaghan brought a fine save out of Michael O’Reilly.
Tipp became a little edgy in the second half, not as creative when in possession, relying on pointed frees from Conor Sweeney and Sean O’Connor to keep the Londoners at arm’s length with sub Stephen Quirke easing any nerves with an injury time point to see the premier county make an immediate return to division 3 following their relegation last year and will meet Cavan in the division 4 final next weekend.
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Kevin Fahey (Tipperary)
SCORERS – Tipperary: Sean O’Connor 0-4 (3 frees); Mark Russell 1-1; Kevin Fahey, Mikey O’Shea, Conor Sweeney (frees) 0-2; Conal Kennedy, Jack Kennedy (free), Stephen Quirke 0-1 each.
London: Liam Gavaghan 0-4 (3 frees); James Hynes 0-2; Stephen Dornan, Conal Gallagher, Christopher Farley (free), Sean Hickey, Ferghal McMahon, Thomas Lenihan 0-1 each.
TEAMS - Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly; Shane O’Connell, Jimmy Feehan, Jack Harney; Kevin Fahey, Colm O’Shaughnessy, Robbie Kiely; Conal Kennedy, Mark Russell; Martin Kehoe, Jack Kennedy, Teddy Doyle; Mikey O’Shea, Conor Sweeney, Sean O’Connor.
Subs: Tommy Maher for Fahey (33-HT blood); Cathal Deeley for Doyle (52); Jason Lonergan for Kehoe (58); Stephen Quirke for Russell (59); Willie Eviston for O’Shea (70+2); Luke Boland for O’Connor (70+3).
London: Noel Maher; Evan Wynne, Matt Moynihan, James Hynes; Ronan O’Sloan, Cathal Long, Cahir Healy; Stephen Dornan, Liam Gallagher; Conal Gallagher, Liam Gavaghan, Eoin Walsh; Christopher Farley, Sean Hickey, Henry Walsh.
Subs: Ferghal McMahon for Healy (44); James Gallagher for Hickey (49); Thomas Lenihan for H Walsh (52); Conor McGonigle for Wynne (61); Eunan Curran for Farley (62).
Referee: David Hickey (Carlow)