TIPP END DROUGHT
Premier see off Treaty for f irst win in 11 years
THE Munster famine is over for Tipperary’s senior footballers following last night’s six-point victory over Limerick. The Premier County had not tasted a win in the provincial championship since beating Waterford in 2003 but that run ended in front of 2,216 spectators on Shannonside.
And Tipp were full value for the win against a Limerick side bereft of attacking ideas. In contrast, Tipp carried far more of a threat going forward and the emphasis on keeping the scoreboard ticking over was evident by the presence of all three half-backs on the scoresheet.
Colin O’Riordan excelled on his senior Championship debut, with Robbie Kiely also contributing a point. In the left half-back position, Peter Acheson capped a quite remarkable display with a brace of scores and midfielder George Hannigan produced arguably his bestever senior Championship display at midfield.
Up front, Barry Grogan and Philip Austin supplied the goals and Tipp could even afford the luxury of a second-half penalty miss as they advanced to the last four in Munster. Grogan was foiled by Limerick goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan, who was lucky to remain on the pitch after hauling down Ian Fahey.
O’Sullivan’s offence was surely worthy of a black card but referee Anthony Nolan thought otherwise.
Grogan’s miss would not prove costly as, minutes earlier, Austin had finished a classy move for Tipp’s second goal. Allianz League Division 4 kingpins Tipp were left sweating somewhat when Eoin Hanrahan banged home a 62nd-minute penalty, harshly awarded against Paddy Codd for a foot block.
Hanrahan followed up with a pointed free and suddenly what was once a 10-point gap was down to five, 1-10 to 2-12, with Limerick sensing that there might be still something for them in the game.
But Peter Creedon’s Tipperary held firm on a sweltering evening in Limerick to finally end that dismal run in the provincial Championship. At half-time, the visitors led by 1-7 to 0- 6 and almost 34 minutes had elapsed before Limerick, who had seven first-half wides, registered their first score from play.
Ian Ryan supplied it, having already clipped over three frees, while Eoin Hanrahan was also on target with two placed balls.
But Tipp, playing against the breeze before the break, looked the more fluent outfit as six players registered scores in the opening half. Austin helped himself to two points from play, the Allianz League’s leading scorer Conor Sweeney clipped over a free and Michael Quinlivan bagged a point.
But the half’s leading marksman was evergreen forward Grogan, who was presented with the only goal of the half in the 10th minute.
Limerick goalkeeper O’Sullivan came for a long ball but failed to make it with Grogan having the simplest of tasks to slot home from close range.
That score put some daylight between the sides after they had been deadlocked at 0-2 apiece.
And Tipp needed a break after Ciarán McDonald was shown a black card with just four minutes on the watch, after he had hauled down corner-forward Ryan.
Following Grogan’s goal, the Aherlow hitman followed up with a point and when Austin and O’Riordan clipped over two more, the gap was six points – 1-5 to 0-2.
Limerick were barely threatening but Hanrahan did force Paul Fitzgerald into a smart save eight minutes before the break, before Tipp threatened when Austin fisted a handpass against the bar as he tried to find Quinlivan. TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; G Mulhair, P Codd, C McDonald; C O’Riordan 0-1, R Kiely 0-1, P Acheson 0-2; S O’Brien, G Hannigan 0-1; P Austin 1-2, I Fahey, B Fox 0-1; C Sweeney 0-1f, M Quinlivan 0-1, B Grogan 1-4 (0-3f). Subs: J Coghlan for McDonald (b/c, 4), B Mulvihill for Fahey (56), S Grogan for O’Brien (57), C Dillon for Austin (66). LIMERICK: D O’Sullivan; S O’Dea, C Moran, J McCarthy; I Corbett 0-1, S Lucey, P Browne; T Lee, D Tracey 0-1; M Brosnan, C Sheehan, S Buckley; E Hanrahan 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), G Collins 0-1, I Ryan 0-4 (3f). Subs: J Riordan for Sheehan (28), J Galvin for Brosnan (28), P Ranahan for Browne (40), G Hegarty for Tracey (55). REFEREE: A Nolan (Wicklow). LIAM ‘BAKER’ BRADLEY’S second coming as Antrim manager hasn’t been easy. A turbulent spring saw his team finish sixth in Division 4, losing five of seven games, so confidence will hardly be high travelling to Enniskillen, never the easiest of places to get a result. All-Star Barry Owens will present plenty of threat from full-forward for the hosts. VERDICT: Fermanagh FERMANAGH: C Snow; J Woods, C Cullen, L Cullen; D McCusker, R McCluskey, T McElroy; E Donnelly, R O’Callaghan; E Maguire, R Jones, P McCusker; S Quigley, B Owens, T Corrigan. ANTRIM: P Flood; K O’Boyle, R Johnston, N Delargy; M Johnston, J Crozier, J Laverty; M McCann, N McKeever; C Murray, M Sweeney, P McCann; B Neeson, K Niblock, T McCann.