Tipp firmly in relegation mire following Cork defeat
Allianz Football League Division 2 Round 5
Tipperary 0-12
Cork 1-12
By Michael Dundon at Semple Stadium
Six points down with four minutes of actual time to play, Tipperary produced a storming finish with Cork defender Thomas Clancy taking the ball off the line to deny the home side a dramatic draw in this round 5 football league encounter on Saturday evening.
Tipperary’s second successive defeat, their third in five games, leaves them deep in the relegation zone with two games to play but the positive side of the situation is that their fate is in their own hands, and they hope to have some of their injured players back for their next outing away to Kildare on 16th March, most significantly full forward Michael Quinlivan.
Facing the fresh breeze in the first half, Tipp set up defensively with Brian Fox, whose red card dismissal against Armagh was overturned mid week, operating as a sweeper. Cork enjoyed the greater share of possession but Conor Sweeney’s two pointed frees put Tipp ahead after eight minutes.
Cork had Paul Kerrigan sweeping and they gradually got a grip on the game to level by the 13th minute and then went two clear, 0-4 to 0-2 by the 17th minute.
Despite missing a couple of point chances, Tipp were on terms by the 26th minute, Jack Kennedy and Brian Fox pointing but Cork finished the half strongly with three unanswered points for an interval lead of 0-7 to 0-4.
It was a decent position for Tipp to be in with the breeze to favour them on resuming but Cork shot four points in eleven minutes after resuming and looked certain winners.
Tipp rallied however, Conor Sweeney kicked two points and Kevin Fahey added another in the 51st minute when put through by Liam Casey but his effort for a goal was turned over the bar by Cork goalie Micheal Martin. A goal then would really have fired the Tipp revival and Cork’s anxiety reflected itself in the introduction of three subs in the 53rd minute.
A Luke Connolly pointed free gave Cork relief but it was only temporary as a further brace of Sweeney points from frees left Tipp only three adrift (0-9 to 0-12) with ten minutes to play.
Disaster for Tipp in the 66th minute as in a Cork break Ruairi Deane grabbed a goal but still Tipp kept coming. Dan O’Meara and Conor Sweeney pointed and a Conal Kennedy shot looked to be handled on the ground by a Cork defender in a scramble which led to a Tipp 45 converted by Jack Kennedy to leave a goal in it as the game moved into stoppage time.
Corks backs were to the wall and first they scrambled clear a Conor Sweeney lobbed free into the goalmouth and then off a Brian Fox 45 the ball looked to be heading to the Cork net when Thomas Clancy swept it off the line to give Cork their first win in the league and bring them level with Tipp on three points each in the table with two games to got.
Conor Sweeney was Tipp’s top performer but lacked real support in attack. Jack Kennedy worked hard outfield, with Brian Fox, Daire Brennan and Steven O’Brien others to make a favourable impression.
Cork’s best were Luke Connolly, Mark Collins, Thomas Clancy, Ruairi Deane and Conor Dennehy.
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Conor Sweeney (Tipperary)
SCORERS – Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 0-7 (4 frees, 2 Marks), Jack Kennedy 0-2 (1 45), Dan O’Meara (Mark), Brian Fox, Kevin Fahey 0-1 each.
Cork: Luke Connolly 0 5 (4 frees); Mark Collins (0-3 (1 free); Ruairi Deane 1-0; Paul Kerrigan, Michael Hurley, Eoghan McSweeney, Cillian O’Hanlon 0-1 each.
TEAMS – Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly; Alan Campbell, John Meagher, Emmet Moloney; Kevin Fahey, Daire Brennan, Jimmy Feehan; Steven O’Brien, Liam Casey; Liam Boland, Liam McGrath, Brian Fox; Philip Austin, Conor Sweeney, Jack Kennedy.
Subs: Dan O’Meara (6) for Boland (53); Ben Hyland (6) for McGrath (61), Conal Kennedy for Fahey (66), Colm O’Shaughnessy for Meagher (69).
Cork: Micheal Martin; Sam Ryan, Kevin Flahive, Conor Dennehy; Kevin Crowley, Thomas Clancy, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Cillian O’Hanlon; Mark Collins, Luke Connolly, Ruairi Deane; Michael Hurley, Eoghan McSweeney, Paul Kerrigan.
Subs: Brian Hurley (6) for Hurley, Sean Powter (6) for Kerrigan, Cian Kiely (6) for Taylor (all 53); Damian Gore (6) for McSweeney (61); Ronan O’Toole for Maguire (66).
Referee: Fergal Smyth (Offaly).