Tipp down Leitrim to boost promotion push

GAA: National Football League Division 4 Round 5

Tipperary 1-3-12 (21)

Leitrim 0-2-4 (8)

Report: Stephen Barry at Clonmel Sportsfield

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Paudie Feehan (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Seán O’Connor 1-6 (1x2play, 0-1 free); Steven O’Brien 0-6 (2x2free); Cian Smith 0-4 (1 free); Paudie Feehan, Daithí Hogan 0-1 each.

Leitrim: Oisín McLoughlin 0-3 (1x2play, 1 free); Keith Keegan 0-2play; Riordan O’Rourke, Paul Honeyman (free), Barry McNulty 0-1 each.

Tipperary kept their National Football League Division 4 promotion hopes alive with a comprehensive victory over Leitrim on Sunday that also avenged their 2025 Tailteann Cup elimination against the same opponents.

The game was all but over by half-time as the Premier led 1-12 to 0-5 despite playing into a strong wind at a wet and wild Clonmel Sportsfield.

Seán O’Connor fired 1-6 and Steven O’Brien added 0-6 to round off a win which moves Tipp into third; two points behind Carlow and one off Longford.

Respective managers Niall Fitzgerald and Steven Poacher made five late changes to their published teams. The starting Tipp side ultimately showed two differences from their draw in Longford, with Manus McFadden seeing his first league involvement for Mark Corcoran and Eoin Craddock replacing Luke Boland.

There was no surprise to see Leitrim starting their headline-grabbing two-point specialist, Barry McNulty, as they began with a strong, if somewhat cross-field wind at their backs. Poacher had called upon two substitutes by the 23rd minute and two more at half-time as Tipp proved utterly dominant.

The hosts sliced through for a couple of early goal chances as Sean O’Connor was twice denied by Killian Gaffey, while a third attempt was deflected over the bar. A Keith Keegan two-pointer gave Leitrim their only lead. Their shooting would let them down time and again as Tipp scored the next eight points without reply for a 0-9 to 0-2 lead.

A two-point free, won by James Morris and slotted into the wind by Steven O’Brien, kick-started that run. Daithí Hogan registered before O’Connor booted a fine score from just inside the arc. After Hogan had a half-chance of goal blocked by Éanna McNamara, Cian Smith tidied up for a point. The lively Hogan then won a free for O’Connor to convert.

Paudie Feehan was producing a standout performance around midfield as he added a marvellous solo score, carrying the ball from his own 65 past two men to arrow over from 35 metres out. The captain then teed up O’Brien for a fisted point.

Early replacement Oisín McLoughlin landed a long-range two-pointer with his first touch. Tipp responded with a 27th minute goal. Steven O’Brien won a kick-out on the front foot and found Daithi Hogan, who slipped before regaining his feet to scythe through. His square pass enabled Sean O’Connor to palm home at the back post.

Riordan O’Rourke slotted Leitrim’s only attempt at a one-pointer in the entire first half. Shane Garland intervened to prevent goal chances for Oisín & Eoin McLoughlin, while a Smith pair and O’Brien’s fourth made it 1-12 to 0-5 at the break.

A dull second half played in deteriorating conditions featured two ten-minute periods without a score. Leitrim pulled back two points via McNulty and an Oisín McLoughlin free, after Garland denied Ben Guckian.

Tipp only scored once, through O’Connor, in the first 24 minutes with the wind. They raised their game again for the final stretch. Daithi Hogan was fouled for a Cian Smith free. Steven O’Brien drew the foul for a wonderful two-point free from under the stand in the Ballina man’s final act.

McNulty and Paul Honeyman threatened late goals, but they only left with a pointed free from the latter.

Both sides ended with fourteen men. Mark Russell was black-carded as the clock hit seventy, and Eoin McLoughlin picked up a second yellow for Leitrim in the second of four added minutes.

Ultimately, Sean O’Connor’s final two-pointer, after being supplied by Morris, was worth an extra place for Tipp as they bumped their next opponents, Wicklow, down from third on score difference.

Tipp travel to Aughrim in a fortnight’s time. They could do with a favour from Leitrim, who host Longford next.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Shane Garland (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 7); Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers 6), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney 7), Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 7); Charlie King (Ballina 7), James Morris (Clonmel Commercials 8), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 7); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials 7), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule, Capt 9); Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields 7), Steven O’Brien (Ballina 9), Eoin Craddock (Holycross/Ballycahill 6); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials 8), Seán O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials 9), Daithí Hogan (St Patrick’s 8).

Subs: Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers 6) for Craddock (59); Mark Russell (Aherlow 5) for Higgins (59); Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers 6) for Stokes (63); Micheál Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6) for O’Brien (63); Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen 6) for Smith (65).

Leitrim: Killian Gaffey (7); Eoin McLoughlin (5), Kieran Clancy (5), Éanna McNamara (5); James Rooney (5), Cillian McGloin (5), Donal Feely (5); Barry McNulty (5), Keith Keegan (6); Fergal McLoughlin (5), Riordan O’Rourke (6), Gavin Reynolds (5); Ben Guckian (5), Ryan O’Rourke (5), Paul Honeyman (5).

Subs: Oisín McLoughlin (7) for Clancy (23); Conor Reynolds (5) for Rooney (23); Mark Diffley (6) for Feely (HT); Ruairí O’Rourke (5) for McGloin (HT); Conor Quinn (6) for G Reynolds (51).

Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath).