Numerical advantage proves no benefit to Tipp against Wicklow
GAA: Allianz National Football League Division 4 Round 7
Tipperary 0-12
Wicklow 0-21
Report: Stephen Barry at Clonmel Sportsfield
Photos: Bridget Delaney
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Dean Healy (Wicklow)
SCORERS - Tipperary: Mark Russell 0-4 (2x2pt); Shane Ryan (1x2pt, 1 45), Cian Smith (1 free) 0-3 each; Kieran Costello, Darragh Brennan 0-1 each.
Wicklow: Kevin Quinn 0-7 (2x2pt free, 3x1 frees); Oisín McGraynor 0-6 (1x2pt, 2x1 frees); Dean Healy 0-5 (2x2pt); John Paul Nolan, Eoin Darcy (mark), Liam O’Neill 0-1 each.
Tipperary played with an extra man for the bones of an hour but failed to land a blow in a nine-point defeat to Wicklow in their final round game in the National Football League on Sunday.
Midfielder Jack Kirwan was sent off in the twelfth minute but the visitors made light work of the numerical disadvantage as Kevin Quinn, Oisín McGraynor, and Dean Healy shared eighteen points.
Wicklow’s outside chance of promotion didn’t materialise while Tipp, having gone three matches unbeaten to begin the league, completed a four-game losing streak to finish fifth in the table.
The hosts gave a guard of honour onto the field for Jimmy Feehan to mark his 100th appearance in blue and gold – or rather in their alternate navy kit. He was joined in the full-back line by debutant Jason Madigan in a late change to the named team.
The first half centred around the midfield contest. All but one of Tipp’s six points came from their middlemen, including a pair of trademark Mark Russell two-pointers.
After Kirwan’s sending-off, his central partner Healy produced an outstanding display. The captain scored five and assisted four of Wicklow’s opening ten points to settle his side. The Garden County began with Healy carrying forward from the throw-in to set up McGraynor for a two-pointer after fifteen seconds. Healy’s first made it a three-point head start.
Tipp protested for a goal in the fifth minute; a floated handpass from stand-in captain Mark Stokes was turned goalwards by Micheál Freaney. However, the umpires adjudged that Matt Nolan snatched the ball before crossing the line, much to the Tipp forwards’ disgust.
Darragh Brennan teed up Russell for his first towering two-pointer to get Tipp on the scoreboard. They lost Paudie Feehan in the next play after he came off the worst from a collision with John Paul Nolan. Philly Ryan entered the field to check on his dazed centre-back, who came off to be assessed and didn’t return.
Then came Kirwan’s red card for a forceful high tackle on Mikey O’Shea. It was the only card flashed by Eoin Morrissey across the seventy minutes although more were merited.
Down a man, Wicklow fell behind for the only time when Micheál Freaney’s scruffy pass found its way to Russell for his second double. Healy cannoned over a low-trajectory two-pointer before short-lived substitute Jack O’Neill found Kieran Costello to level at 0-5 all.
Healy’s spin move created space for McGraynor’s lead point before the corner-forward tapped over a free. The all-action midfielder then arched over a sublime outside-of-the-boot two-pointer.
Cian Smith briefly brought it back to a one-score game when converting a high-difficulty attempt despite falling.
Wicklow finished with three more. Healy slipped in McGraynor to blaze over, Quinn won and converted a free, and Eoin Darcy slotted a mark for a double-scores 0-12 to 0-6 lead.
It didn’t get any closer with the change of ends. Quinn resumed with a two-point free after Darcy was fouled. O’Shea’s delayed pass fed Smith for a response and Jimmy Feehan kept Tipp in the contest by taking John Paul Nolan’s shot off the line. Cheap turnovers were costing them, though, as Nolan pointed before McGraynor and Quinn frees for a lead of ten.
Tipp’s subs brought about a rally as Darragh Brennan scored under pressure, Shane Ryan slotted a 45, and Michael Barlow was denied a scrappy goal by Cathal Fitzgerald.
Their progress was undone by Quinn’s second two-point free followed by Liam O’Neill and Quinn singles; the latter after Tipp failed to leave four defenders back.
Tipp kicked the final trio via a Smith free and a double from goalkeeper Ryan after a quick 45.
Malachy Stone’s super defensive work in stoppage time preserved Wicklow’s clean sheet with goal-line blocks from debutant Darragh McVicker and Costello’s follow-up.
TEAMS - Tipperary: Shane Ryan (Clonmel Commercials 7); Jason Madigan (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule 7), Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise 6); Liam Fahey (Rockwell Rovers 7), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule 6), Billy O’Connor (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6); Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields 7), Mark Russell (Aherlow 8); Ben Comerford (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 6), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash, Capt 6), Micheál Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 7); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials 7), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen 6), Mikey O’Shea (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 6).
Subs: Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan 6) for P Feehan (11 inj); Michael Barlow (Ardfinnan 6) for O’Neill (HT); Darragh McVicker (Clonmel Óg 6) for Brennan (55); Rory O’Dowd (Clonmel Commercials 6) for O’Shea (55), Mikey Lyons (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 6) for O’Connor (62); Thomas Vaughan (Ballyporeen NR) for Stokes (70+2).
Wicklow: Cathal Fitzgerald (6); Tom Moran (7), Craig Maguire (7), Malachy Stone (8); Matt Nolan (8), Patrick O’Keane (6), Joe Prendergast (7); Dean Healy (Capt 9), Jack Kirwan (5); Cathal Baker (7), Pádraig O’Toole (6), John Paul Nolan (6); Kevin Quinn (7), Oisín McGraynor (8), Eoin Darcy (6).
Subs: Darragh Fee (6) for Baker (55); Liam O’Neill (7) for JP Nolan (59); Mark Kenny (6) for Darcy (59); Jaques McCall (6) for M Nolan (65); Gavin Fogarty (6) for O’Toole (67).
Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).