Disappointing defeat for Tipperary footballers in final game of league campaign

Wicklow 0-21 Tipperary 0-12

They had an extra player for over an hour (including additional time) of Sunday’s National Football League Division 4 game at Clonmel Sportsfield but Tipperary failed to press home their numerical advantage, eventually slumping to a heavy defeat by Wicklow.

When Jack Kirwan received a straight red card for a high challenge on Tipperary’s Mikey O’Shea after just 11 minutes, a physically stronger Wicklow team reorganised their forces to take control of the contest. They never looked back after Oisín McGraynor gave them a 13th minute lead, and they were never again behind on the scoreboard.

They were in front by 0-12 to 0-6 at the midway stage and Tipperary failed to threaten their superiority in the second half.

READ NEXT: Late Stakelum point seals brilliant comeback win for Tipperary over Clare

It was a disheartening conclusion to the league campaign for Tipperary, whose chances of forcing their way into the shake-up for promotion had already evaporated before Sunday’s game. However, they will have little time to brood over their disappointment at the prospect of spending another season in the basement tier of the league, as they now turn their attentions towards a Munster Senior Football Championship quarter-final against Waterford at FBD Semple Stadium at 6pm on Saturday week, April 5.

The early stages looked promising for Tipperary. Wicklow made the early running to lead by 0-3 to no score before a great effort by Mark Russell secured a two-pointer in the sixth minute.

SEE MORE: Second IPAS centre was never planned for this town in Tipperary

After Wicklow’s Jack Kirwan received his marching orders, Russell repeated the trick from almost the same position on the right-hand side of the pitch in the 13th minute to give Tipperary the lead for the only time (0-4 to 0-3).

That was as good as it got for the home team. Dean Healy restored Wicklow’s lead with a two-pointer before Kieran Costello kicked the equaliser with a fine effort from play.

With a cold wind swirling around a Clonmel surface that was in good condition, despite hosting the Munster Under 20 Football Championship clash between Tipp and Waterford only 24 hours previously, Wicklow stretched their lead with two scores from Oisín McGraynor, one a free, and a two-pointer from Dean Healy.

Cian Smith responded with a Tipperary point, but it was their opponents who looked as if they had the extra player, adding further scores through Oisín McGraynor, Kevin Quinn’s free and Eoin Darcy’s mark to lead at the break by six points.

Their failure to adopt the direct approach often enough to try and prise openings in the Wickolow rearguard didn’t do Tipp any favours, and more of the same was witnessed in the second half. Too frequently they played the ball across the pitch, albeit against a highly-organised Wicklow defence that was like a stone wall in front of their goal.

Tipp had only half-chances to raise a green flag. The closest they came was in the fourth minute when Micheál Freaney’s punched effort was cleared off the line by Wicklow’s Matt Nolan, after Mark Stokes had played an inviting pass across the face of the goal.

They were denied a consolation goal in additional time when Darragh McVicker showed neat skill and a fine turn of foot to present himself with a clear run on goal but his effort was blocked on the line by Malachy Stone, while Kieran Costello couldn’t force the rebound home.

Wicklow’s Kevin Quinn (from a free) and Cian Smith traded the opening points of the second half. There was never a sense that Tipp could get back into the game, as Wicklow pulled away into the distance with scores from John Paul Nolan and converted frees from Oisín McGraynor and Kevin Quinn.

Darragh Brennan had Tipp’s first score in 13 minutes, as the game eventually petered out into a tame conclusion. In the closing stages Tipp goalie Shane Ryan converted a 45 before scoring a two-pointer when another 45 was returned to him, while Cian Smith also converted a free, as Wicklow ran out comfortable winners.

Mark Russell was at his best in the first half, when he scored that pair of two-pointers. Kieran Costello, Cian Smith and Mark Stokes were always busy in their attempts to get their team motoring.

It was also a red letter day for Jimmy Feehan, who made his 100th appearance for the county’s senior footballers. After the game the Killenaule player was presented a commemorative jersey, and he was given a guard of honour as the teams emerged onto the pitch before the game.

Tipperary : Shane Ryan (0-1 45, 0-2 two-pointer), Jason Madigan, Jimmy Feehan, Emmet Moloney, Liam Fahey, Paudie Feehan, Billy O’Connor, Kieran Costello (0-1), Mark Russell (two 0-2 two-pointers), Ben Comerford, Mark Stokes (captain), Micheál Freaney, Cian Smith (0-3, 1 free), Darragh Brennan (0-1), Mikey O’Shea.

Substitutes: Jack O’Neill for Paudie Feehan (11 minutes), Michael Barlow for Jack O’Neill (half-time), Darragh McVicker for Darragh Brennan (55), Rory O’Dowd for Mikey O’Shea (55), Mikey Lyons for Billy O’Connor (62), Thomas Vaughan for Mark Stokes (70).

Wicklow: Cathal Fitzgerald, Tom Moran, Craig Maguire, Malachy Stone, Joe Prendergast, Patrick O’Keane, Matt Nolan, Dan Healy (two 0-2 pointers, 0-1), Jack Kirwan, John Paul Nolan (0-1), Pádraig O’Toole, Cathal Baker, Oisín McGraynor (two 0-2 two-pointers, 0-2 frees), Kevin Quinn (two 0-2 two-pointers from frees, 0-3 frees), Eoin Darcy (0-1 mark).

Substitutes: Darragh Fee for Cathal Baker (55 minutes), Liam O’Neill (0-1) for John Paul Nolan (59), Mark Kenny for Eoin Darcy (59), Jacques McCall for Matt Nolan (64), Gavin Fogarty for Pádraig O’Toole (67).

Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).