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2025 Allianz Football League Division 4 – London 2-12 Tipperary 0-17

February 22 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

London defeated Tipperary by 2-12 to 0-17 in Round 4 of the Allianz Football League Division 4 on Saturday February 22nd at FBD Semple Stadium Thurles.

Tipperary falls victim to surprising London ambush in huge blow to promotion hopes

Tipperary 0-17 London 2-13

Report By Michael Dundon for Tipperarylive.ie

A two-pointer with the last kick of the game from London midfielder Liam Gallagher was a match-winner for the visitors who ended Tipperary’s unbeaten run in division four of the Allianz National Football League at Semple Stadium on Saturday.

It was an agonising defeat for Tipp, one that dents their promotion prospects, but, with all the main contenders dropping points, the prospect of division three football next year is still possible.

Many regarded the London visit as a banker for two points but don’t forget London drew with Tipp last year. Though they lost to Limerick in round 3, this win keeps them in the mix for promotion in what has developed into a very competitive division four.

The disappointing thing for Tipp is that they had a greater share of the play, as reflected by the 17 scores to 15, but two first-half goals backboned the London challenge and were as decisive in determining the outcome as the late strike which yielded two points.

Even had the late score not been a two-pointer, the one point would have secured the points for London.

It all appeared to be going so well for Tipp early on as they raced into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes. Michael Barlow’s long-range effort looked to be headed into the empty London goal after 19 minutes, with London goalkeeper Andrew Walsh stranded off his line, but the ball bounced over the bar, denying Tipp the extra point. What a boost that would have been!

Tipp were on top but London always looked dangerous on the counter-attack, their speed in breaking for defence causing Tipp problems. Their first goal came after 22 minutes when Ciaran Diver shook off three Tipp tackles to break through and blast home.

It was a score that put pep into London’s step and six minutes later wingback Kristian Healy was allowed to run 60 meters without being tackled before setting up a simple tap to the net for Shay Rafter to bring London level 2-1 to 0-7.

London’s good spell continued as they added points from Tadhg Barry and Liam Gallagher for an interval lead of 2-3 to 0-7, putting to bed any notions that this was going to be an easy run for the Premier boys.

Significantly, Sean O’Connor scored four of Tipp’s first-half points, three scores from the rest of the attack a poor return for the amount of possession they enjoyed, and clearly not good enough to unsettle a London side that was growing in confidence as the game progressed.

Eleven minutes after resuming, Tipp drew level, Sean O’Connor’s two-pointer free levelling the game at 0-11 to 2-5. Now it seemed that the home side would drive on for victory but London were not rolling over. Over the next 16 minutes, they swapped points with Tipp to be level as the hour mark approached (0-14 to 2-8).

A two-pointer from Mark Russell on 62 minutes was a big score for Tipp but once more London levelled and when Cian Smith nudged Tipp ahead again after 67 minutes, Tipp were surely going to triumph.

Not so. London were relentless and it took a great Shane Ryan save to deny London’s Sean Tucker a goal but in injury time Thomas Lenihan kicked a levelling point for London and then with the last kick of the game Liam Gallagher lofted over a two-pointer to the delight of the sizeable London contingent in the attendance.

With a game away to Limerick next up, and further ties against Wicklow and Wexford to follow, Tipp’s fate is very much in their own hands but this defeat is a setback and makes life rather difficult for them.

The frustrating thing about it is that the points were there to be taken but for a relatively young side, three more of whom got their first taste of football at this level, it is a learning experience as Tipp manager Philly Ryan seeks to restore the fortunes of the Premier County with the big ball.

How the two first-half goals were conceded will give the manager food for thought this week as he looks ahead to Limerick. Jack Harney’s early injury will be a concern but there is optimism that Steven O’Brien, who missed this tie through injury, could see some action next week. His experience and quality would be priceless against Limerick.

Once again Sean O’Connor was Tipp’s main scoring threat, with four points from play and five from placed balls but others in attack need to do more. Mark Russell had a fine first half though less prominent afterwards. Cian Smith, Luke Boland, Mikey O’Shea, and Jimmy Feehan also did their bit.

It was a big win for London and how their supporters relished it, coming onto the pitch afterward to acclaim their heroes. In Ciaran Diver, they had the best player on the field but Daniel Clarke, Liam Gallagher, Shay Rafter, and Conal Gallagher all had big games for them.

Tipperary: Shane Ryan; Manus McFadden, Jimmy Feehan, Jack Harney; Tadhg Condon, Luke Boland (0-1), Mark Stokes; Cathal Deeley, Mark Russell (0-3, 1 1pt, 1 2pt); Micheal Freaney, Mikey O’Shea, Jack Nevin; Cian Smith (0-2), Michael Barlow (0-2), Sean O’Connor (0-9, 0-5f, 1 2ptf).
Subs used: Emmet Moloney for Harney (34); Ben Comerford for Freaney (HT); Paudie Feehan for Nevin (40); Darragh Brennan for Barlow (57); Kieran Costello for Condon (62).

London: Andrew Walsh; Eoin Walsh, Sean Taylor, Nathan McElwaine; Conal Gallagher, Darragh Mooney, Kristian Healy (0-1); Aidan McLoughlin, Liam Gallagher (0-4); Tadhg Barry (0-2), Daniel Clarke, Ciaran Diver (1-3); Shay Rafter (1-1), Paddy Dolan (0-1f); Joshua Obahor.
Subs used: DJ O’Flaherty for Obahor (43); Thomas Lenihan (0-1) for Dolan (54); Sean Tucker for McLoughlin (59); Mathew Walsh for McKeon (62).

Referee: Christopher Ryan (Galway)

Team News

TIPPERARY (AFL v London): S. Ryan; M. McFadden, J. Feehan, J. Harney; T. Condon, L. Boland, M. Stokes; C. Deeley, M. Russell; M. Freaney, M. O’Shea, J. Nevin; C. Smith, M. Barlow, S. O’Connor (c).
Subs: R. McGrath, D. Brennan, B. Comerford, K. Costello, C. Fahey, L. Fahey, P. Feehan, E. Moloney, D. McVIcker, B. O’Connor, J. O’Neill.

Details

Date:
February 22
Time:
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Venue

FBD Semple Stadium Thurles

GAA Units

Clare GAA
Cork GAA
Kerry GAA
Limerick GAA
Tipperary GAA
Waterford GAA
US GAA