Poor Tipp well beaten by Leitrim

GAA: Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 2

Tipperary2-8

Leitrim 2-16

Report: Liam Hogan at FBD Semple Stadium

A more decisive Leitrim team turned on the style in the second half as they brushed Tipperary aside in round two of the Allianz Football League on Sunday.

Tipp lost Coleman Kennedy through injury prior to the start with Shane Foley taking his place from the start.

The home-side played against the stiff breeze in the opening half but took the lead when Sean O’Connor scored a point four minutes in. Leitrim’s Keith Beirne equalised with a free and the same player added a brilliant score with his left foot.

Conor Sweeny was wide from a close in free but made amends with a similar chance in the 17th minute to make it 0-2 apiece. In the 25th minute and Tipp were overturned in a promising move and Leitrim switched play where Riordan O’Rourke landing a good point.

But Tipp fought back and two points from the boot of Conor Sweeney had Tipp level at 0-4 each. The stylish Keith Beirne edged Leitrim in front score in the 30th minute but a Conor Sweeney mark led to a Sweeney point a minute later as scores went level for the fourth time.

However, the final bouts went Leitrim’s way in the manner of three unanswered points two from Beirne before Mark Plunkett added another to see the half time score read Leitrim 0-8 to Tipp 0-5.

Keith Beirne was Leitrim’s best player, and he moved the visitors four clear with a point in the 39th minute before Conor Sweeney replied two minutes later. Tipp would not score again until the 57th minute and meanwhile Leitrim opened up the shoulders and in the 42nd minute they had the game’s opening goal through James Rooney after a three-man move involving Beirne and Tom Prior.

Ryan O’Riordan added a well-taken score with the outside of his right boot as Beirne added two frees closely followed by an excellent Riordan O’Rourke score from play.

Tipp looked in trouble, but Conor Sweeney escaped the clutches of full back Mark Diffley to score a good goal in the 57th minute. Tipp missed the presence of Steven O’Brien and Jack Kennedy at midfield and Leitrim midfielder Pearce Dolan scored a point before Tipp received a lifeline with Conor Sweeney got his hand to a high lobbing ball from Sean O’Connell to steer the ball into the net for Tipp’s second goal.

Not to be outdone Leitrim responded with a bang as Tom Prior hit their second goal after another Beirne involvement.

A Sweeney free and a forty-five by Comerford was all Tipp could muster before Tom Prior and Riordan O’Rourke replied with points from play to see Leitrim followers go home with a smile on their face.

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 2-6 (0-4 frees); Sean O’Connor, Evan Comerford (45) 0-1 each.

Leitrim: Keith Beirne 0-8 (5 frees); Tom Prior 1-2; Ryan O’Rourke 0-3; James Rooney 1-0; Mark Plunkett, Riordan O’Rourke, Pearce Dolan 0-1 each.

TEAMS - Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Shane O’Connell, Willie Eviston, Dean Carew; Bill Maher, Colm O’Shaughnessy, Luke Boland; Conal Kennedy, Stephen Quirke; Jason Lonergan, Kevin Fahey, Shane Foley; Eanna McBride, Conor Sweeney, Sean O’Connor.

Subs: Sean O’Connell for Shaughnessy (11 inj); Mikey O’Shea for Foley (HT); Teddy Doyle for Lonergan (47); Paudie Feehan for Boland (56); Robbie Kiely for Kennedy (63).

Leitrim: Brendan Flynn; Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, David Bruen; James Rooney, Donal Casey, Jack Heslin; Donal Wrynn, Pearce Dolan; Mark Plunkett, Keith Beirne, Darragh Rooney; Ryan O’Rourke, Dean McGovern, Riordan O’Rourke.

Subs: Tom Power for Heslin (33); Domhnaill Flynn for McGovern (49); Emlyn Mulligan for Rooney (57); Paul Keaney for Plunkett (69).

Referee: Jonathon Hayes (Limerick).