Down send Tipp packing from Championship

Down 1-13

Tipperary 1-10

 

Tipperary football will head into a new era in the coming months after manager Liam Kearns stepped down as senior manager following the defeat to Down in the first round of the All Ireland Qualifiers in Newry yesterday.

His four year term came to an end in disappointing fashion as they gave up a three point half time lead as Down finished strongly in the final twenty minutes to progress to round 2.

Cory Quinn (3), Paul Devlin and Barry O’Hagan all landed points late in the half to send Down into round 2 and leave the home support relieved at the final whistle.

The home side began the livelier into a stiff breeze with Pat Havern opening the scoring inside a minute with Jerome Johnston doubling the lead five minutes later.

With the elements, Tipp were looking to go direct early but had little joy until Conor Sweeney opened their account on nine minutes with a free.

The visitors struck for goal five minutes later as Liam McGrath played in Philip Austin whose pace unlocked the Down defence and he fired to the net.

However, Down responded well and dominated possession with a Rory Burns 45 and a Darren O’Hagan point bringing them level. A Jack Kennedy 45 for Tipp was cancelled out by Down’s Pat Havern but it was the visitors who finished the half well with Austin, and frees from Liam McGrath and Conor Sweeney helping them to a 1-5 to 0-5 advantage at the break.

Connaire Harrison and the excellent Pat Havern pointed for Down before the crucial moment came in the 48^th minute when Tipp spurned a goal chance with Brian Fox unable to finish off a flowing move.

Conor Sweeney did extended the lead with a free but Down were dominating the ball in the second half and made it count with Corey Quinn pointing before the key score came on 60 minutes when Donal O’Hare first timed a shot to the net after Conor Francis shot came back off the post.

Tipp responded through a Liam Casey point but Down had their tails up and pushed on kicking some excellent scores from Quinn (2), Devlin and O’Hagan with Michael Quinlivan and Conor Sweeney (free) managing late reposts for Tipp whose disappointing year has come to an end.

 

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Pat Havern (Down)

SCORERS - Down: Pat Havern 0-4; Cory Quinn 0-3; Donal O’Hare 1-0; Connaire Harrison 0-2; Rory Burns (45), Darren O’Hagan, Jerome Johnston, Paul Devlin, Barry O’Hagan 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 0-4 free; Philip Austin 1-1; Liam McGrath 0-2 frees; Jack Kennedy (45), Michael Quinlivan, Liam Casey 0-1 each.

 

Down: Rory Burns; Darragh O’Hagan, Brendan McArdle, Gerard Collins; Ryan McAleenan, Kevin McKernan, Daniel Guinness; Johnny Flynn, Conor Poland; Conor Francis, Jerome Johnston, James Guinness; Pat Havern, Donal O’Hare, Connaire Harrison

Subs: Paul Devlin for Poland (25); Owen McCabe for D Guinness (HT); Pierce Laverty for J Guinness (47); Cory Quinn for Johnston (57); Barry O’Hagan for Havern (57 inj); Conor Maginn for O’Hare (70).

Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Alan Campbell, John Meagher, Shane O’Connell; Brian Fox; Emmet Moloney, Robbie Kiely, Daire Brennan; Steven O’Brien, Jack Kennedy; Josh Keane, Philip Austin, Liam McGrath; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan.

Subs: Bill Maher for McGrath (56); Liam Casey for Kennedy (57); Kevin Fahey for Moloney (62); Liam Boland for Austin (65); Paul Maher for Keane (70).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)