Poor Tipp exit to Carlow

GAA: Tailteann Cup Round 1

Carlow 1-12

Tipperary1-10

Report: Liam Hogan at Netwatch Cullen Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Eoghan Ruth (Carlow)

SCORERS – Carlow: Niall Hickey 1-0; Eoghan Ruth, Ross Dunphy, Colm Hulton, Jamie Clarke 0-2 each; Conor Doyle, Conor Crowley, Seanie Bambrick, Darragh Foley (free) 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 0-3 (2 frees); Martin Kehoe 1-0; Sean O’Connor (frees); Liam McGrath 0-2; Jack Kennedy, Sean O’Connell Shane O’Connell 0-1 each.

Tipperary suffered a disappointing two-point defeat to Carlow in round one of the newly organised Tailteann Cup on Sunday.

The home side deserved their win as they enjoyed the majority of the possession, and were it not for the number of wides kicked, especially in the first half, would have won by much more. Carlow kicked nine wides in the first half, five in the opening ten minutes and should have scored a goal in the sixth minute when full back Mickey Bambrick sleeked up to the Tipp goalmouth and kicked wide from close range.

It was ten minutes before the first score arrived when Martin Doyle fired first time to the net from close range after Conor Sweeney and Kevin Fahey were involved in the lead up.

Darragh Foley replied with a free before the impressive Eoghan Ruth added another point in the thirteenth minute. A minute later, Conor Sweeney put Tipp two in front and Teddy Doyle almost scored another goal but Seanie Bambrick and Liam Roberts got back to save the day before play was called back for a close range free which Sean O’Connor converted.

In the eighth minute, Carlow had sprung Ross Dunphy from the bench and in the 21st minute he scored his first point. Conor Sweeney kept Tipp three in front with a free in the 23rd minute. Carlow goalkeeper Ciaran Cunningham had his short kickout intercepted and Jack Kennedy replied with a point. When play resumed Carlow swept down field for Eoghan Ruth to score his second point.

As Carlow wides increased to nine -Tipp had only three by the half hour – the Premier stretched their lead with a Sean O’Connor free before Conal Kennedy cut the Carlow defence in two but his shot cannoned back of the upright. In response Carlow swept downfield for midfielder Niall Hickey to react best at the end of a high ball from Mikey Bambrick, before scoring a goal and leaving the scoreline at 1-5 to 1-4 for Tipp as the sides changed ends.

Sean O’Connell extended Tipp’s lead with a point in the 42nd minute but Carlow’s dominance continued and four unanswered points over the next six minutes followed through Ross Dunphy, Conor Doyle, Colm Hulton and Conor Crowley.

Tipp corner back Shane O’Connell stepped up to score in the 46th minute but Carlow were growing stronger by the minute and three more points arrived through Colm Hulton, Jamie Clarke and Seanie Bambrick.

Two Liam McGrath, points inside a minute ended Tipp’s barren spell, but after a lengthy kickout by Ciaran Cunningham, the home-side careered up-field through Jamie Clarke and after he created a one-two move with Conor Crowley, the later scored to lead 1-12 to 1-9.

Four minutes into added time Conor Sweeney fired over a free after sustained Tipp pressure but seconds later his attempt form a side-line ball was just off target.

Tipp had another ninety seconds to find a goal, but the Carlow defence held firm and when the final whistle sounded there was unbridled joy among the Carlow players. It was a major scalp for them.

TEAMS – Carlow: Ciaran Cunningham (6); Liam Roberts (7), Mikey Bambrick (7), Dara Curran (7); Shane Clarke (6), Seanie Bambrick (7), Conor Doyle (7); Niall Hickey (7), Jamie Clarke (7); Josh Moore (6), Eoghan Ruth (8), Darragh O’Brien (NR); Conor Crowley (7), Darragh Foley (6), Colm Hulton (7).

Subs: Ross Dunphy (8) for O’Brien (8 inj); Shane Buggy (6) for Doyle (47); Cormac Lomax (NR) for Moore (68); Jamie McCabe (NR) for S Bambrick (69).

Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly (Clonmel Commercials 6); Shane O’Connell (Golden-Kilfeacle 7), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule 7), Willie Eviston (Loughmore/Castleiney 7); Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials 7), Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan 6), Sean O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney 6); Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials 6), Mark Russell (Aherlow 6); Teddy Doyle (Ballina 6), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials 7), Martin Kehoe (Mullinahone 6); Mikey O’Shea (Mullinahone 6), Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen 6), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials 6).

Subs: Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers 6) for O’Connor (HT); Liam McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney 7) for Russell (52); Jason Lonergan (Clonmel Commercials 6) for Kehoe (52); Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers 6) for Sean O’Connell (56); Stephen O’Brien (Ballina 6) for Doyle (62).

Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).