New look Tipp provide encouragement in narrow loss to Kerry

GAA: Champions Under Lights Senior Football Challenge in support of the Dillon Quirke Foundation

Tipperary 1-15

Kerry 2-15

Report: Stephen Barry at Fethard Town Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Darragh Brennan (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Darragh Brennan 1-3; Seán O’Connor 0-5 (1x2pt, 0-1 free); Cian Smith 0-4 (0-2 frees); Luke Boland, Niall Heffernan, Michael Barlow 0-1 each.

Kerry: Thomas O’Donnell, Darragh O’Connor (Beaufort) 1-1 each; Darragh O’Connor (Kerins O’Rahilly’s) 0-3 (2 frees); Cillian Trant, Donagh O’Sullivan (1 free), Seán O’Connell 0-2 each; Tadhg Morley, Ruairí Murphy, Paddy Lane, Tomás Kennedy 0-1 each.

Two late points from former Tipperary footballer Seán O’Connell sunk his old teammates’ hopes of a pre-season upset against an experimental Kerry side in a Dillon Quirke Foundation fundraiser on Saturday night.

The Premier put up a spirited showing in Niall Fitzgerald’s first outing as manager, and Darragh Brennan’s brilliant 1-3 burst off the bench had them ahead approaching the hour mark.

However, the All-Ireland champions rallied with a goal from Beaufort’s Darragh O’Connor, followed by a clinching brace from O’Connell, who played a season with Loughmore/Castleiney in 2022 before returning to his home county.

Philly Ryan’s tragic passing was marked with a half-time presentation to his family from Fethard Town Park, where a tree has been planted in the Tipp manager’s honour.

On the field, former Monaghan sub-keeper Shane Garland, who featured at wing-forward for Kilsheelan/Kilcash in this year’s county final, debuted between the sticks.

Fitzgerald started five of his U20 graduates, including Ballina’s Charlie King, while clubmate JP Mbokha Tansia was named on the bench.

Tipp began by retaining possession into the wind for Seán O’Connor’s opening point. Once Kerry got a grip on midfield, they kicked the next three, including a Ruairí Murphy goal chance which smacked the crossbar before flying over.

Jack Harney intercepted another likely opening as a Cian Smith free stemmed the tide.

Seán O’Connor got through on goal, only to pull his shot wide. Cillian Trant and Tomás Kennedy moved Kerry three ahead.

Smith and Luke Boland cut the deficit to the minimum before the Kingdom hit the net from a flowing passing move. Thomas O’Donnell applied the finish for a 1-5 to 0-4 lead.

Seán O’Connor surged past two men for a super point in response. His free then cancelled out a Tadhg Morley score.

O’Donnell and Donagh O’Sullivan added the final points of the half for a 1-8 to 0-6 lead, and Darragh O’Connor (Beaufort) extended the advantage to six on the resumption.

But amid nine Kerry changes and backed by the breeze, Tipp outscored the national kingpins by 1-6 to 0-2 in the next 10 minutes.

Half-time sub Brennan caught fire with three points in quick succession. Niall Heffernan’s goal chance was diverted over by Seán Broderick. Seán O’Connor booted the game’s only two-pointer. Then, Brennan intercepted the ball and took the return from Cian Smith for the lead goal; 1-12 to 1-11. The Ballyporeen forward pulled up before the finish and limped off.

Kerry came chasing a goal with Garland denying two of their three Darragh O’Connors (from Beaufort and Kerins O’Rahilly’s). However, the Beaufort O’Connor soon returned for the vital 59th minute goal.

Despite points from Michael Barlow and Smith, O’Connell helped Kerry hang on.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Shane Garland (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 7); Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers 7), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney 6), Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan 7); Charlie King (Ballina 6), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule, Capt 6), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers 7); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials 6), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields 6); Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers 7), Niall Heffernan (Golden Kilfeacle 6), Ben Comerford (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 6); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials 7), Seán O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials 7), Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers 6).

Subs: Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 6) for O’Connell (HT); Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen 8) for Comerford (HT); Michael Barlow (Ardfinnan 7) for O’Keeffe (55); Darragh McVicker (Clonmel Óg 6) for Feehan (64); Jack Nevin (JK Brackens 6) for Harney (64); Paudie Bradshaw (Éire Óg Annacarty NR) for Brennan (70 inj); O’Keeffe for Boland (70).

Kerry: Michael Tansley (6); Eddie Healy (7), Dan Murphy (6), Liam Evans (6); Armin Heinrich (7), Tadhg Morley (Capt 7), David Roche (6); Liam Smith (7), Cillian Trant (8); Donagh O’Sullivan (7), Ruairí Murphy (7), Thomas O’Donnell (7); Paddy Lane (7), Donal O’Sullivan (6), Tomás Kennedy (6).

Subs: Joey Nagle (6) for Roche (33 inj); Seán Broderick (6) for Tansley (HT); Kieran O’Sullivan (6) for D Murphy (HT); Darragh O’Connor (Kenmare Shamrocks 6) for Evans (HT); Seán O’Connell (7) for Morley (HT); Evan Boyle (6) for R Murphy (HT); Gearóid Hassett (6) for O’Donnell (HT); Darragh O’Connor (Beaufort 7) for Lane (HT); Darragh O’Connor (Kerins O’Rahilly’s 7) for Donal O’Sullivan (HT); Cian O’Grady (6) for Kennedy (HT); R Murphy for Smith (40); D Murphy for Healy (48); S O’Donnell for Donagh O’Sullivan (57).

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Father Sheehy’s).