Tipp footballers relegated after late Clare defeat

Allianz National Football League Division 2 Round 7

 

 

 

Tipperary     1-19

Clare              3-15

 

Tipperary have been relegated to division 3 of the Allianz Football League for 2020 after a dramatic relegation scrap in division 2 this afternoon.

At one stage late in the game, Tipp along with Clare and Cork were safe but when the final whistles sounded it was Clare who survived as they kicked 1-2 in injury time to come from behind to win a game that sea-sawed throughout.

From a Tipperary point of view, the loss was softened by the news from Armagh where Cork won which meant that the Premier County couldn’t have survived with a win here.

However, they will be frustrated that they didn’t hang on for the win, despite leading 1-13 to 1-8 at half time, having had the benefit of a fresh breeze behind them. Conor Sweeney was on fire with 1-5 from play in the first half, his goal in the second minute getting the home side off to the best possible start.

Clare responded well and hit back with a goal on ten minutes as a Gary Brennan shot for a point came back off the post straight to Gavin Cooney who couldn’t miss.

Tipp recovered then to kick to go back in front but Clare were always threatening going forward with Jamie Malone, Tubridy and Eoin Cleary kicking fine scores.

Tipp finished the half well, kicking seven points in a twelve minute spell to take a five point lead at half time with Sweeney, Kevin Fahey (2), Liam Casey (2), Steven O’Brien and Liam McGrath finding the target.

However, within seven minutes of the restart the lead had been wiped out as Clare blitzed Tipp with Tubridy, sub Keelan Sexton, Cleary (2) and Gary Brennan on target from play before Tubridy goaled to put Clare in command on 42 minutes.

Tipp looked in real trouble but to their credit refocused and would hold Clare scoreless for the next 28 minutes as they went from three points down to three points up with the help of six unanswered points from Liam McGrath (2, 1 free), Sweeney (3 frees) and Steven O’Brien as they led going into six minutes of added time.

Before then, Clare had threatened with Evan Comerford making a fine save to deny Kieran Malone but the Tipp defence were breached when a ball wasn’t dealt with and Sexton goaled from close range to bring the sides level.

Conor Sweeney missed a scoreable free to put Tipp back in front and Clare punished it fully with their two experienced heads in Gary Brennan and David Tubridy kicking the winning scores to keep Clare safe while relegation Tipperary and Cork to division 3.

 

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Gary Brennan (Clare)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 1-9 (0-4 frees); Liam McGrath 0-4 (2 frees); Kevin Fahey, Liam Casey, Steven O’Brien 0-2 each.

Clare: David Tubridy 1-3; Eoin Cleary 0-4 (2 frees); Gavin Cooney, Keelan Sexton 1-1 each; Gary Brennan, Jamie Malone 0-2 each; Cathal O’Connor, Sean O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

 

TEAMS – Tipperary: Evan Comerford; John Meagher, Emmett Moloney; Brian Fox Alan Campbell, Daire Brennan, Kevin Fahey, Paul Maher, Steven O’Brien, Jack Kennedy; Philip Austin, Liam Casey, Liam McGrath; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan.

Subs: Jimmy Feehan for Maher (60); Liam Boland for Austin (60); Dan O’Meara for McGrath (69).

Clare: Robert Eyres; Kevin Harnett; Cillian Brennan, Gordon Kelly; Conall O hAinifein, Dean Ryan, Cian O’Dea; Gary Brennan, Cathal O’Connor; Eoin Cleary, Sean Collins, Jamie Malone; Gavin Cooney, Sean O’Donoghue, David Tubridy.

Subs: Keelan Sexton for Ryan (HT); Kieran Malone for Cooney (64); Dale Masterson for O hAinfein (68).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)