Tipp rally to claim vital away win
GAA: Allianz National Football League Division 3 Round 2
Louth 1-7
Tipperary 0-11
Report: Cóilín Duffy at Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Brian Fox (Tipperary)
SCORERS - Louth: Sam Mulroy 0-5 (2 frees, 1 mark); Tommy Durnin 1-1 (0-1 mark); Emmet Carolan 0-1.
Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 0-3 (2 frees); Brian Fox, Alan Moloney 0-2 each; Kevin Fahey, Jack Kennedy (free), Liam Boland, Kevin O'Halloran 0-1 each.
Tipperary Senior Footballers dug in to claim a hard-earned one-point away win over Louth in an entertaining encounter on Sunday.
In truth, David Power's charges were the better of the two sides, and were fully deserving of this win - although they made hard work of it, particularly after conceding a goal to a dipping ball from Tommy Durnin - which left them 1-5 to 0-2 in arrears, just two minutes into the second half.
But Tipperary once again displayed true battling qualities which saw them earn a share of the spoils against Down the previous weekend, to dig in and take victory. Five scores unanswered from the 60th minute until the end, including a Brian Fox winner almost three minutes into injury-time, ensured full league points.
Tipperary were certainly keen to make their mark on this game from early on, but it was for Louth, that the opening chance of a score fell too.
The hosts had the first chance inside the opening minute, but Clutterbuck fired wide from close range, before Tipperary strung together an excellent move. Conal Kennedy, Brian Fox, Emmet Moloney and Kevin Fahey were all involved in some brilliant play, before Premier County skipper Conor Sweeney was sandwiched, and picked up an injury.
There had been some good work also by Daire Brennan in the build-up before Liam Boland sent over a point from his weaker right foot to open the scoring with a little under three minutes gone.
Wides began to follow for Tipperary as Kevin Fahey and Boland missed the target, before Conor Sweeney doubled his sides lead on seven minutes, after Liam Boland won a free.
But this was as good as it got for Tipperary on the scoreboard until three minutes into the second half, as Louth became far more effective in front of the posts.
Tipperary weren't without their chances, and indeed put together some excellent moves, but it was the final shot or effort which proved costly – with either a wide, an effort short, or in some cases a Louth defender coming away with the ball. Scores it seems weren't just going to come for the visitors.
Louth rattled off five unanswered points before the break, with Sam Mulroy (3), Emmet Carolan and Tommy Durnin on target on the way to a 0-5 to 0-2 interval lead. Louth even could afford seven first half wides, with Tipperary mis-firing on five occasions before the break.
It wasn't that Tipperary played badly in the opening period and there was impressive play from the likes of Kilsheelan-Kilcash clubman Daire Brennan and Colm O'Shaughnessy at the back, with Steven O'Brien and Conor Sweeney leading well also.
Tipperary were eager from the throw-in, and with Liam Treacy and Kevin O'Halloran introduced to their attack they were certainly fired-up.
However, the opening score of the second half didn't come their way after Liam Boland fired wide before disaster struck when Conor Grimes set up Tommy Durnin, whose dipping effort finished past Evan Comerford, to put Louth six points in front.
Thankfully Tipperary began their recovery almost immediately with Conor Sweeney converting a point from a sideline a minutes later, and although it took Tipperary a further eight minutes to add to their tally, crucially they didn't concede a score.
Conor Sweeney's 43rd minute goal effort was stopped on the line by Louth defender Fergal Donohoe, but Tipperary kept chipping away. Scores from Brian Fox, Kevin O'Halloran and Kevin Fahey saw them cut the gap to two points entering the final quarter.
Back-to-back scores from Mulroy ensured a four-point lead, but Tipperary hit the final five points, including Fox's late point to deliver a win.
TEAMS - Louth: Craig Lynch; Dan Corcoran, Dermot Campbell, Fergal Donohoe; Eoghan Callaghan, Emmet Carolan, John Clutterbuck; James Califf, Tommy Durnin; Liam Jackson, Bevan Duffy, Paul Matthews; Sam Mulroy, Conor Grimes, Ciaran Downey.
Subs: Gerry Garland for Jackson (48); Eoghan Duffy for Grimes (58); Conor Early for Matthews (62); Oisin Murray for Corcoran (67); Andrew Mooney for Donohoe (68).
Tipperary: Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan-Kilcash); Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers), John Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney), Colm O'Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan); Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch), Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Daire Brennan (Kilsheelan-Kilcash); Steven O'Brien (Ballina), Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials); Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commericals), Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty); Liam Boland (Moyle Rovers), Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen), Jason Lonergan (Clonmel Commercials).
Subs: Liam Treacy (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Maher (HT); Kevin O'Halloran (Portroe) for Lonergan (HT); Alan Moloney (Rockwell Rovers) for Conal Kennedy (53); Colman Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials) for Boland (61).
Referee: John Hickey (Carlow