Season ending defeat for Tipp in Wicklow

GAA: Tailteann Cup Senior Football Round 3

Wicklow 1-3-11 (20)

Tipperary 0-2-8 (12)

Report: Stephen Barry

at Echelon Park, Aughrim

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Kevin Quinn (Wicklow)

SCORERS – Wicklow: Kevin Quinn 1-6 (2x2play); Oisín McGraynor 0-3 (2 frees); Pádraig O’Toole, Liam O’Neill (2play) 0-2 each; Joe Prendergast, Jonathan Carlin, Eoin Darcy (free), Mark Kenny 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Paddy Creedon (1x2play), S O’Connor (1x2free, 3 frees) 0-5 each; Steven O’Brien 0-2.

Tipperary’s Tailteann Cup campaign came to an abrupt end as an eight-point second-half streak powered Wicklow into the quarter finals on Saturday.

Starting with the gale at their backs, the Premier granted Kevin Quinn a soft goal to slip four behind, although they rallied to lead by three early in the second half. But last year’s semi-finalists racked up 14 of the last 17 points, with Quinn tacking on a pair of two-pointers to complete a 1-6 tally.

Tipp had just two scorers from play, and three overall, as Malachy Stone was stuck tight to Seán O’Connor throughout. Paddy Creedon was the standout performer with five points from play on his first championship start.

Niall Fitzgerald made four late changes to the published team. They included a first start of the year for Jimmy Feehan, Steven O’Brien’s first championship start of 2026, and Creedon’s full championship debut. Killian Butler also came in, with Mark Corcoran, who was ruled out through injury, Emmet Moloney, Eoin Craddock, and Cian Smith missing out.

In the first-ever championship meeting between these sides, Wicklow won the toss and chose to play against a strong wind. Between the conditions and the high error count, it was no thriller.

There was a seven-minute wait for a score until a quickfire 1-1 had Wicklow in pole position. Within twenty seconds of Pádraig O’Toole’s opening point, the ball was in the back of the Tipp net. As Shane Garland sought to get the kick-out away quickly, Quinn swooped to claim possession and fed Eoin Darcy. His shot was saved by Garland, but Quinn was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Creedon broke Tipp’s duck in the 11th minute and they were almost level moments later. Daithí Hogan squared for O’Brien, whose palmed effort was tipped over by Mark Jackson.

After Oisín McGraynor’s fisted point, Wicklow would add just one more in the subsequent 21 minutes.

Garland came up with a crucial intervention to deny O’Toole before Creedon and O’Connor, after a free for dissent, landed two-pointers to edge ahead.

Joe Prendergast, during a brief blood-sub cameo, brought the sides level for the first time, but O’Brien sent Tipp in with a slender 0-7 to 1-3 half-time lead.

They came out strong with an O’Connor free and Creedon’s fourth point boosting them three clear.

Wicklow were level within five minutes as McGraynor kicked two frees and laid on a point for Quinn. When Quinn played a sideline one-two to raise a white flag, which was hotly contested by Tipp, the hosts were back ahead.

A sloppy pass was almost punished with a goal, only for Garland to produce a double-save from O’Toole. Once the exasperated Paudie Feehan was pinged for charging at Jackson when in with a goal chance, Wicklow countered for their first orange flag, through Quinn.

Substitute Mark Kenny and a Darcy free completed an eight-point streak for 1-11 to 0-9.

Creedon’s fifth snapped that burst, but Wicklow came up field for Quinn’s second two-pointer.

Tipp battled on as Jackson made a fine save from Jack O’Neill. Even when the Wicklow keeper was beaten by O’Connor, Gavin Fogarty got back for a goal-line block. Play was called back for the first of two late O’Connor frees.

Liam O’Neill added the cherry on top for Wicklow with a last-kick orange flag.

TEAMS – Wicklow: Mark Jackson; Gavin Fogarty, Malachy Stone, Matt Nolan; Darragh Fee, Eoin Murtagh, Tom Moran; Dean Healy (Capt), Jack Kirwan; Jonathan Carlin, Pádraig O’Toole, Christopher O’Brien; Oisín McGraynor, Kevin Quinn, Eoin D’Arcy.

Subs: Joe Prendergast for Carlin (24-27 blood); Mark Kenny for Kirwan (57); Joe Prendergast for O’Brien (62); Cian Deering for Murtagh (66); Liam O’Neill for McGraynor (67); Conor Fee for Darcy (68).

Tipperary: Shane Garland (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule); Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers), James Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Charlie King (Ballina); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule, Capt); Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields), Micheál Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Steven O’Brien (Ballina); Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields), Seán O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Daithí Hogan (St Patrick’s).

Subs: Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers) for Butler (42); Eoin Craddock (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Hogan (53); Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen) for Freaney (62); Darragh O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials) for Higgins (67); Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise) for King (68).

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone).