TIPP’S TITLE TRIUMPH Premier are inspired by Sweeney on their return to Croke Park
Louth have no answer as Tipp power forward to League title
CONOR SWEENEY admitted his focus is on returning to Croke Park later in the summer after guiding Tipperary to League silverware with a terrific 2-5 haul at GAA headquarters.
Sweeney’s second-half goals killed off Louth while Liam Casey netted in the first half to put Tipp in the driving seat and they sped on from there to an impressive win.
All-Star Michael Quinlivan was named man of the match but joked that he was surprised to win the award as Sweeney was their key man throughout.
Sweeney’s second goal didn’t arrive until the 77th minute and flattered the Munster side somewhat but, significantly, it nudged him clear as the division’s top scorer this season.
Now Tipp are eyeing the Championship again and Sweeney says he’d love to get back to Croke Park and enjoy another summer of fun.
‘Definitely we would,’ said Sweeney. ‘I think every footballer or hurler wants to be here as often as possible, it’s what it’s all about in the Championship. I don’t think teams get here near enough as it is.
‘I know one half of the stadium was empty today but it’s still such a cauldron. The more times we get to play here the better and we’d love to be back again in the summer.’
Tipp lost to Mayo in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final but retained some great recent memories from Croke Park all the same.
They beat Clare there in the Division 4 final of 2014 and bounced back after a slow start here to dominate the game and claim another piece of silverware.
Andy McDonnell, Declan Byrne and Pauric Smith all pointed for Louth who led 0-3 to 0-0 early on, having beaten Tipp in their group encounter.
The Wee men maintained that bright start and further scores from Ryan Burns, Tommy Durnin, Smith and Eoin O’Connor put them 0-7 to 0-4 clear.
However, a Tipp burst of scoring that yielded 1-5 changed the game and put them into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Louth were swamped as Tipp opened up with the sort of attacking football that lit up last year’s Championship. Sweeney, Kevin O’Halloran and Jack Kennedy hit points before Sweeney picked out Casey with a fist pass and the midfielder crashed home from the right of the posts.
Defender Alan Campbell strolled upfield and added a point and suddenly Tipp held a commanding 1-9 to 0-7 advantage. They retained that five-point lead at the interval with Louth left chasing the tie.
Quinlivan closed out Tipp’s firsthalf scoring with his first point from play and the favourites led 1-11 to 0-9.
Byrne, Burns and Durnin were all on the mark as Louth started the second half with purpose and cut the deficit to just two points after 41 minutes.
That was as good as it got for them though and boss Colin Kelly admitted afterwards that Tipp were simply operating at a higher level.
Kennedy, O’Halloran and Quinlivan responded to Louth’s minirevival with points before Sweeney netted their second goal on 47 minutes.
Jim McEneaney came off the bench for Louth and made a difference with a succession of points from frees. But Louth needed a goal to rescue anything from the game and it never arrived.
Tipperary continued to pick off points at their ease and had the luxury of emptying their bench.
Liam McGrath and Liam Boland all made scoring contributions when brought on and Josh Keane drove forward for a fine score.
Sweeney put extra gloss on the scoreline seven minutes into injury-time when he hit his second goal and Tipp’s third.
Louth were pushing forward at that stage and Sweeney exploited their empty full-back line to round the keeper and blast in.