Tipp earn draw with Longford in Football League
GAA: National Football League Division 4 Round 4
Longford 1-2-11 (18)
Tipperary 0-3-12 (18)
Report: Shane Brophy at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Cian Smith (Tipperary)
SCORERS – Longford: Dylan Farrell 1-3 (1x2free); Oran Kenny, Dessie Reynolds (1x2play) 0-3; Daniel Reynolds 0-2; Matthew Carey (free), Paddy Moran, Liam Glennon, Niall Farrelly 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Cian Smith 0-8 (1x2play); Sean O’Connor 0-6 (1x2play, 1x2 free); Daithi Hogan 0-3; Steven O’Brien 0-1.
Two two-pointers in injury time secured a share of the spoils for Tipperary away to Longford in the National Football League Division 4 on Sunday.
Tipperary manager Niall Fitzgerald made one change from the side that lost to Carlow in round 3 with Micheal Freaney replaced by Eoghan O’Connell who came into the full back line, releasing James Morris to the half back line where he was very effective carrying the ball into the breeze in the opening half.
Joe Higgins won the kickout and Tipp held onto the ball for three minutes with Steven O’Brien pointing for their patience. Sean O’Connor and Cian Smith also pointed as it took Longford all of thirteen minutes to open their account through Liam Glennon. Oran Kenny cut the deficit further as Tipp began to become sloppy on the ball, allowing Longford to gain the lead with points from Kenny and Reynolds to take their first lead before Daithi Hogan landed Tipp’s first point in 21 minutes.
Paddy Moran and Cian Smith traded points before Dessie Reynolds landed a two-pointer from play but Smith responded with his third of the half. Points from Matthew Carey (free) and Daniel Reynolds gave Longford a three point lead but a defensive breach by the home side allowed Sean O’Connor to open his account from a free as they trailed 0-9 to 0-7 at the break.
Longford made two have time changes, one of them Dylan Farrell landing a two point free within two minutes. Cian Smith and Daithi Hogan cancelled them put but the home side received a massive boost with Dylan Farrell’s shot for a point dipping under the crossbar for a 1-11 to 0-9 lead on 47 minutes.
Tipp’s response was impressive with Hogan, Smith and a two pointer from Sean O’Connor cutting the gap to one three minutes later. Longford began to dominate the breaking ball and holding onto the ball, worked points from Farrell, Niall Farrelly and a third from Oran Kenny to go four in front on the hour-mark.
That margin remained going into four minutes of added time where Tipp dug deep and a two-pointer from Cian Smith, bringing his total to eight from play, cut the gap to two before sub Killian Butler was fouled outside the two point arc with Sean O’Connor holding his nerve to split the posts.
Tipp had an opportunity to snatch a win with the final attack but sub Paddy O’Keeffe shot wide under pressure with the final whistle sounding shortly after.
TEAMS – Longford: Eoin McGuinness; Patrick Fox (Capt), Bryan Masterson, Ryan Moffett; Peter Lynn, Oisin O’Toole, Dessie Reynolds; Liam Glennon, Daire O’Brien; James Moran, Joseph Hagan, Daniel Reynolds; Paddy Moran, Matthew Carey, Oran Kenny.
Subs: Dylan Farrell for P Moran (HT); Niall Farrelly for O’Brien (HT); Oisin Kenny for Daniel Reynolds (60); Matthew Flynn for J Moran (68)
Tipperary: Shane Garland (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers), Mark Corcoran (Clonmel Commercials), Eoghan O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney); James Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule, Capt); Charlie King (Ballina), Daithi Hogan (St Patrick’s), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Steven O’Brien (Ballina), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials).
Subs: Mark Russell (Aherlow) for Feehan (54 inj); Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers) for King (60); Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers) for O’Brien (60); Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan) for Boland (60); Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale) for Harney (63).
Referee: Mark Loughran (Tyrone).