Tipperary footballers return from London with a point after opening league game

London 0-21 Tipperary 0-21

A late two-pointer from Cian Smith helped Tipperary to rescue a point from their first game under new manager Niall Fitzgerald in Sunday’s Allianz National League Division Four game at McGovern Park in Ruislip, London.

It’s a measure of just how far this London team has come over the past few years that the draw felt decidedly like a point dropped, rather than one gained.

The Exiles looked to have finally done enough to secure the win when Joe McGill knocked over a free in the last of three added minutes.

However, there was just enough time left for Tipperary to launch one final desperate attack, from which Cian Smith’s last kick of the game salvaged a share of the spoils for the visitors. It was one of five two-pointers Tipperary landed in the second half.

Andrew Walsh’s subsequent kickout was the final act of a game in which the home side never trailed.

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When the dust settles, London will be able to reflect on a very good performance, which extends their unbeaten run to three games – following a win and a draw against Leitrim and Sligo respectively in the FBD League.

Electing to play with the wind from the start, London needed to make hay and four points from the boot of Joe McGill had them 0-4 to 0-1 up after four minutes.

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One of those was a two-pointer, while Tipperary’s riposte came from captain Paudie Feehan.
The visitors were looking particularly threatening on the break, with Sean O’Connor instrumental in their attacks and Cian Smith very lively.

Only an excellent block by Daire Rooney prevented O’Connor’s shot from testing Walsh.

But Tipp were still back to within a point of London, with their physical size around the middle of the park making life difficult for London’s ‘keeper Andrew Walsh from kickouts.

Whenever the visitors got close on the scoreboard, though, London always found a way to respond and keep their noses in front.

Shay Rafter, Daniel Clarke and the excellent Kristian Healy all fired over to widen the home side’s advantage to 0-7 to 0-3.
Back came Tipp, however, as per the pattern of this game.

Daithí Hogan and O’Connor pointed, with the visitors content to play keep-ball and wind down the clock.

It was Tighe Barry who eventually came up with a turnover that triggered a sweeping London move downfield and ended with McGill stroking over a free (0-8 to 0-6).

Niall Fitzgerald’s side were left to rue two Steven O’Brien wides – both from frees – and the Exiles made the gap three points through Clarke. It owed everything to a wonderful pick and turn by McGill before releasing his clubmate.

Further scores from Clarke and Healy saw the home side open up their biggest lead of the match, five points.

Smith’s free closed out the first half scoring, but it was Maher’s men who ended it on the front foot with two goal-bound efforts blocked by some resolute Tipp defence. It left London to settle for a four-point advantage at the break (0-11 to 0-7).

Having had first use of the wind, it felt like the home side might be a couple of scores short.

It certainly seemed that way when Tipp cut the gap to a point within the opening five minutes.

Two of those points came via an O’Connor two-pointer – the first of five orange flags raised by Fitzgerald’s men in the second period, each one serving to keep the Exiles within range.

A lively enough contest as it was, the game exploded into life in the 42nd minute when London worked a goal chance for Liam Gallagher, only for London’s captain to be crowded out.

The ball found its way to Matt Moynihan, but he saw his effort come back off the post.

Tipp immediately burst down field and Hogan fisted against the post and O’Connor put the rebound wide.

Conor O’Donohue and McGill made it 0-13 to 0-10, with Healy bursting along the end-line before teeing up Rafter to palm over.
After 16 minutes of the second half, the Exiles’ four-point half-time lead had been restored.

Lovely feet from Michael O’Reilly resulted in a free that Rafter dispatched over the bar and for the second time in the game the home side led by five (0-15 to 0-10).

Crucially, though, before they could even think about extending it further, James Morris’ score was followed by another O’Connor two-pointer.

His third two-pointer made it 0-17 to 0-16 in the 59th minute and Shane Garland had a 45 to level things up, only to lack the distance.

McGill made it a two-point game, with London’s supporters beginning to believe.

That belief grew further when O’Connor picked his way through to goal, only for Rafter to somehow force a turnover just as the Tipp centre forward seemed poised to bulge the net.

It looked a crucial moment, and it was.

Within a minute, McGill had knocked over a brace at the other end and London led 0-20 to 0-16. Had O’Connor goaled, Tipp would have been ahead for the first time in the game.

But there was still more drama to come.

Smith made it 0-20 to 0-17 with three additional minutes signalled – and then Paddy O’Keeffe sent over an outrageous two-pointer.

However, it looked like London had finally done enough when McGill knocked over a 73rd minute free.

Smith had other ideas, though, to salvage a point for Tipp, who entertain Antrim at 2pm at FBD Semple Stadium this Sunday.

London: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Matt Moynihan, Stephen Henry; Conor Goggin, Conal Gallagher, Conor O’Donohue 0-1; Liam Gallagher, Tighe Barry; Joe McGill 0-7 (1’tp, 3f), Daniel Clarke 0-6, Kristian Healy 0-3; Michael O’Reilly, Shay Rafter 0-4 (1f), James Davis.

Subs: Ciaran Deely for Davis (51 mins), Ciaran McKeon for O’Donohue (50 mins), Joshua Obahor for Conal Gallagher (68 mins).

Tipperary: Shane Garland; Jack Harney, James Morris 0-1, Eoin O’Connell; Charlie King, Paudie Feehan 0-1, Luke Boland; Joe Higgins, Kieran Costello; Eoin Craddock, Sean O’Connor 0-9 (1’tpf, 2’tp, 1f), Steven O’Brien; Cian Smith 0-6 (1’tp, 1f), Cathal Deeley, Daithi Hogan 0-2.

Subs: Michael Freaney for Deeley (45 mins), Jack O’Neill for Feehan (49 mins), Paddy O’Keeffe 0-2 (1’tp) for O’Brien (53 mins), Mark Stokes for King (62 mins), Emmet Moloney for Morris (70 mins).

Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).