Allianz Football League Division 3 – Tipperary 2-11 Offaly 0-12

Tipperary defeated Offaly by 2-11 to 0-12 in the Allianz Football League Division 3 on Sunday March 6th at Sean Treacy Park Tipperary Town.

Liam Kearns: Promotion now on for Tipperary

By Jackie Cahill for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Tipperary 2-11 Offaly 0-12: Tipperary manager Liam Kearns believes promotion from Division 3 of the Allianz Football League is a realistic target following yesterday’s comfortable victory over Offaly at Sean Treacy Park. With three rounds, Tipp are joint second alongside Clare, both sides two points behind Kildare. Tipp travel to Longford next Sunday for a crucial clash and Kearns now believes anything is possible.

It was a profitable afternoon for inside forwards Michael Quinlivan and Conor Sweeney, who bagged 1-10 between them. Kearns said: “We played some good football in the first-half and got our scores. It was a slog in the second-half but we got the job done. In the circumstances, we’re very happy, now secure in Division 3. We’ll have a look at promotion now and see what we can do. We have to go to Longford next Sunday and win that. Will eight points be enough to get you up? I’d say we’d probably need another point from our last two matches then.”

With Quinlivan and Martin Dunne netting first-half goals, Tipp were 2-8 to 0-5 clear at half-time in a free-ridden encounter. Defeat is a dent to Offaly’s promotion hopes. Boss Pat Flanagan said: “It’s the most disappointing performance since we came together. We had an awful lot of possession but the amount of ball we gave away absolutely crucified us.”

Scorers for Tipperary: M Quinlivan 1-4 (0-1f, 0-1 45), C Sweeney 0-6 (3f), M Dunne 1-0, P Austin 0-1.

Scorers for Offaly: N Dunne 0-4 (3f), N McNamee & S Doyle (2f) 0-3 each, S Pender & B Allen (f) 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: E Comerford; K Fahey, A Campbell, C McDonald; J Feehan, R Kiely, S Leahy; A Moloney, M Dunne; J Lonergan, P Acheson, B Fox; C Sweeney, M Quinlivan, P Austin.
Subs: D Leahy for Feehan (50), D Butler for S Leahy (58), B Hewitt for Austin (62), M Hanley for Fahey (65), J O’Callaghan for Lonergan (70+2).

OFFALY: A Mulhall; D Brady, E Rigney, S Pender; J Moloney, B Darby, J O’Connor; G Guilfoyle, C McNamee; A Sullivan, M Brazil, R Allen; N Dunne, S Doyle, N McNamee
Subs: N Darby for Brady (h.t.), P Cunningham for Allen (h.t.), C Donoghue for Rigney (44), E Carroll for Brazil (53), B Allen for Doyle (61), J Gethings for C McNamee (61).

Referee: J Molloy (Galway)

Fixture Details

06.03.2016 (Sun)
Allianz Football League Roinn 3 Round 4
Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town 12:30
Tiobraid Árann v Uíbh Fhailí
Referee: James Molloy (Gaillimh)

Team News

the Tipperary Senior Football panel to face Offaly on Sunday in round 4 of the Allianz Football League Roinn 3 in Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town, at 12.30pm has also been announced by manager Liam Kearns. Looking to consolidate their position in the league, Liam has made 1 change from the team which drew with Westmeath as Kevin Fahey replaces the injured Colm O’Shaughnessy at corner-back.

The panel lines out as follows;

1. Evan Comerford – Kilsheelan-Kilcash
2. Kevin Fahey – Clonmel Commercials
3. Alan Campbell – Moyle Rovers
4. Ciarán Mc Donald – Aherlow
5. Jimmy Feehan – Killenaule
6. Robbie Kiely – Carbery Rangers
7. Shane Leahy – Arravale Rovers
8. Alan Moloney – Rockwell Rovers
9. Martin Dunne – Moyle Rovers
10. Josh Keane – Golden-Kilfeacle
11. Peter Acheson – (Capt.) – Moyle Rovers
12. Brian Fox – Éire Óg Annacarty
13. Conor Sweeney – Ballyporeen
14. Michael Quinlivan – Clonmel Commercials
15. Niall O’Donovan – Arravale Rovers

Subs:
16. Ciarán Kendrick – Moyle Rovers
17. Philip Austin – Borrisokane
18. Jason Lonergan – Clonmel Commercials
19. Billy Hewitt – Ardfinnan
20. John O’Callaghan – Ballyporeen
21. Liam Casey – Cahir
22. David Butler – Drom & Inch
23. Donagh Leahy – Arravale Rovers
24. Mark Hanley – Aherlow
25. Donal Lynch – Clonmel Commercials
26. Ian Fahey – Clonmel Commercials

Offaly Team named for National Football League Rd 4 v Tipperary 06.03.2016 12:30 – Sean Treacy Park Tipperary Town pic.twitter.com/MaeY04xxNI

— Official Offaly GAA (@Offaly_GAA) March 5, 2016

Press Release from Tipperary GAA

Due to the impending adverse weather forecast Semple Stadium management committee have decided in advance, rather than leaving it to the last minute, that the Semple Stadium pitch would not be able to hold both fixtures on Sunday next as originally programmed.

As a result the Allianz Football League Roinn 3 fixture between Tipperary and Offaly has been moved to Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town with a 12.30pm throw in on Sunday next, March 6th.

The Allianz League Roinn 1A Senior Hurling fixture between Tipperary and Waterford will go ahead as planned in Semple Stadium but has been moved back to the later time of 3pm to facilitate patrons who may wish to attend both matches.

Both stands will be open in Semple Stadium and due to different price structure at both venues, as indicated patrons attending the football fixture in Tipperary Town who may wish to attend the hurling fixture also will receive a concessionary ticket to allow them pay a reduced admission price in Semple Stadium.

The Match day programme will be the same for both fixtures.

Is mise le meas,
Joe Bracken,
PRO Co. Board
pro.tipperary@gaa.ie