2024 Allianz Football League Division 4 – Tipperary 0-16 Longford 0-14

Tipperary defeated Longford by 0-16 to 0-14 in Round 2 of the Allianz Football League Division 4 on Sunday February 4th at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park Longford.

Sean O'Connor fires Tipperary to victory over Longfordhttps://t.co/7IGl7ooS2a

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) February 4, 2024

Sean O’Connor fires Tipperary to victory over Longford

Tipperary 0-16 Longford 0-14

Report by Deniese O’Flaherty for the Irish Examiner newspaper

The impressive Sean O’Connor kicked over eight points as Tipperary recorded their first National League win since 2022 and their first win of this Division 4 campaign.

It leaves Longford without a point after two games. Played in poor conditions with a swirling wind throughout, Tipp deserved their win on the balance of play.

Six times in the second half Longford cut the gap to one point but Tipp were able to go down the field and get the vital score.

Longford made a fine start to the game with points from Darren Gallagher (free) and Michael Quinn putting them ahead by two points after nine minutes. Jack Kennedy from JK Brackens got Tipp’s opening point in the 10th minute.

Tipp defender Jimmy Feehan blocked Mark Hughes’ goalbound shot in the 12th minute. Longford then kicked over two points to give them a three point lead in the 15th minute but that was to be their final score until first half stoppage time.

Tipp took a hold of the game and created a number of goal chances while also kicking over six points in a row; Clonmel’s Jack Kennedy kicked over two points (one ‘45 and a free), Stephen O’Brien kicked over an excellent point but had to go off injured.

Oisin O’Toole and Gallagher blocked efforts before Longford keeper Micheál Hughes pulled off a save to keep his goal intact.

Longford were guilty of giving away the ball cheaply when in possession and being overturned on a number of occasions. Once again Gallagher was Longford’s best player and in stoppage time he kicked over a fantastic pointed free to cut the gap to two going in at the break – 0-5 to 0-7.

Good play from Cathal McCabe and Gallagher cut the deficit to one point but Tipp replied with two points from O’Connor (one free).

Jayson Matthews and Mark Hughes kicked excellent efforts to close the gap to one but Tipp were ahead by three in the 47th minute with the brilliant O’Connor kicking over his fifth point of the game.

Dylan Farrell kicked over three frees for Longford but two pointed frees from O’Connor and a great effort from the excellent Paddy Creedon edged Tipp in front by three in the 64th minute.

After he signaled to the bench to go off after picking up an injury Gallagher kicked over a superb point to keep his side in the game. McGann put one between the sides but right at the end Sean O’Connor sealed the win with a fine point.

Scorers for Tipperary: S O’Connor (0-8, 5fs), J Kennedy (1’45,1f), C Deeley, P Creedon (0-2 each), S O’Brien, J Kennedy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Longford: D Gallagher (0-6, 4fs), D Farrell (0-3, 3fs), K McGann 0-2, M Quinn, J Matthews, Mark Hughes (0-1 each).

Longford: Micheál Hughes; P Fox, O O’Toole, B Masterson; K McGann, R Moffett, D M Quinn; D Gallagher, D Duggan; Daniel Reynolds, Dylan Farrell, J Hagan; J Matthews, Mark Hughes, C McCabe.
Subs: D Mimnagh for Daniel Reynolds (ht), Dessie Reynolds for B Masterson (60), L Hughes for D Duggan (67), B Peters for C McCabe (69).

Tipperary: J Rodgers; S O’Connell, J Feehan, E Moloney; J Morris, K Costello, P Feehan; S O’Brien, J Kennedy; C Cadell, S Grogan, C Deeley; Jack Kennedy, P Creedon, S O’Connor.
Subs: T Doyle for S O’Brien (28), M Stokes for C Cadell (53), M Kehoe for Jack Kennedy (54), R O’Dowd for E Moloney (60), D O’Leary for P Creedon (72).

Referee: Christopher Ryan (Galway).

Team News

TIPPERARY: (AFL v Longford): E Comerford; S O’Connell, J Feehan, E Moloney; J Morris, K Costello, P Feehan; S O’Brien, J Kennedy; S Neville, S Grogan, C Deeley; J Kennedy, P Creedon, S O’Connor.