Another defeat leaves Tipp footballers without room for error

Allianz Football League Division 2 Round 6

 

 

Kildare          1-11

Tipperary     2-7

 

By Shane Brophy in Newbridge

 

Tipperary produced another late second half revival but it was ultimately to no avail as they left Newbridge empty-handed following a one point defeat to Kildare.

The Premier County trailed 1-9 to 0-3 after 52 minutes but twenty minutes later they had fought back to level with the help of goals from subs Liam Boland and Dan O’Meara but Kildare held their nerve in injury time to claim the win that keeps their promotion hopes alive while for Tipperary they now must defeat Clare next Sunday if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation.

Michael Quinlivan made his first appearance for the campaign following a knee injury but Kevin Fahey missed out with a back problem and his hard running from wing back was missed as apart from Steven O’Brien, Tipp lacked penetration to open up the Kildare defence.

The home side were two points to the good inside five minutes through a Neil Flynn free and a long range point from Tommy Moolick. Liam McGrath opened Tipp’s account in the ninth minute but wouldn’t score again until the 26th when Liam Casey finished a fine move. In that time, Kildare added to their tally through the impressive Kevin Feely and two Neil Flynn points.

Tipp had decent possession in the opening twenty minutes but looked for the killer pass too often rather than being patient as they were for Casey’s point. The visitors were hanging on but Kildare hit a purple patch before half time of 1-2, the goal from Fergal Conway in the 34th minute, and the home side lifted the intensity from there and Feely and Jimmy Hyland kicked points in added time to hand them a deserved 1-7 to 0-2 advantage at the break.

With the wind at their backs, things didn’t improve much in the third quarter for Tipp managing only one point in the first nineteen minutes from a Conor Sweeney mark as Kildare stretched the gap to nine points through the lively Chris Healy and the excellent Neil Flynn.

Tipp looked devoid of ideas and relied heavily on frees for scores with Sweeney adding two more before the skipper provided the moment of incision which led to his sides first goal on 60 minutes, picking out Michael Quinlivan whose shot was saved by Mark Donnellan, but it broke to Liam Boland who rifled to the top corner of the net to cut the margin to four.

Kildare reasserted themselves following the goal but six second half wides kept Tipp in the game and they were made to pay in the final minute of normal time as Conor Sweeney robbed a Kildare defender and played in Dan O’Meara for a cool finish.

Tipp won the kickout and Brian Fox pointed and now level in added time, all the momentum was with the visitors but Kildare responded well with sub Adam Tyrrell and Flynn (45) putting them back in front with Liam Boland’s point with the last kick of the game seeing Tipp come up just short.

 

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Neil Flynn (Kildare)

SCORERS – Kildare: Neil Flynn 0-5 (2 frees, 1 45); Fergal Conway 1-0; Kevin Feely 0-2; Tommy Moolick, Jimmy Hyland, Chris Healy, Adam Tyrrell 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Liam Boland 1-1; Conor Sweeney 0-3 frees; Dan O’Meara 1-0; Liam McGrath (free), Liam Casey, Brian Fox 0-1 each.

 

TEAMS – Kildare: Mark Donnellan; David Hyland, Mick O’Grady, Mark Hyland; Cian O’Donoghue, Eoin Doyle, Peter Kelly; Kevin Feely, Tommy Moolick; Fergal Conway; Chris Healy, Keith Cribbin; Neil Flynn, Paddy Brophy, Jimmy Hyland.

Subs: Adam Tyrrell for Cribbin (47); Kevin Flynn for Healy (56); Fionn Dowling for Brophy (58); James Murray for O’Donoghue (64); Aaron Masterson for Conway (69);

Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Alam Campbell, John Meagher, Emmett Moloney; Colm O’Shaughnessy, Daire Brennan, Jimmy Feehan; Steven O’Brien, Jack Kennedy; Philip Austin, Liam McGrath, Liam Casey, Brian Fox; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan.

Subs: Paul Maher for Austin (51); Liam Boland for Casey (58); Paudie Feehan for Feehan (60); Dan O’Meara for Moloney (64 inj);

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)