Grogan grabs late goal to give Tipperary footballers Tailteann Cup lifeline

Tailteann Cup Group 2 Round 3

TIPPERARY 3-5 WEXFORD 0-12

Cahir’s Stephen Grogan was the hero on Saturday when his goal in the fifth minute of added time helped secure a very welcome do-or-die Tailteann Cup victory for Tipperary senior footballers against Wexford.

As the game ebbed towards the final whistle, Wexford led by a point and Tipperary’s year looked over with an impending defeat. However, when they needed it most, Tipp midfielder Grogan got on to the end of a long sideline punt in from Paudie Feehan to touch the ball to the back of the net from the edge of the square. It gave a deserved win to Paul Kelly’s side who arguably had produced their best workman-like all-round display of 2024 to overcome a Wexford side who were eliminated from the competition following this defeat.

Tipperary travelled to Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow in hope on the day that began with matters very much outside of their own hands. However, in an earlier throw-in, Waterford did Tipperary a favour when defeating Longford, a result that in effect meant the Tipp v Wexford tie became a straight shoot-out for a place in the last 12. The question was, could Tipperary, with only two wins from 11 competitive games this year, do the business against the Model County?

And it was Wexford who started the better to go two points up after only three minutes with scores from brothers Eoghan and Sean Nolan as they enjoyed much more early possession. Somewhat against the run of play, Tipp got a huge boost in the 11th minute when a long ball played in by Peter McGarry was collected by clubmate Sean O’Connor. Back to goal, the Commercials full-forward turned his marker before tucking the ball nicely into the bottom corner beyond William Foley for an unlikely lead.

Parity was restored three minutes later when the always influential Páraic Hughes pointed for Wexford, but Wexford should have been ahead at this stage, not helping themselves by kicking five wides in the opening 15 minutes, and eight overall in the first half to just two for a more economical Tipperary. (It was 13 to five at full-time).

Tipperary had to wait until the 20th minute for their second score, and amazingly it was another goal, made in Killenaule with Jimmy Feehan feeding his brother with a pass before Paudie ran and blasted to the net for a 2-0 to 0-3 advantage.

Tipperary’s pattern, it seemed, was a score every 10 minutes, with their third flag, and first white, arrived in the 31st minute when Emmet Moloney and Luke Boland played their parts in the build-up that opened up Wexford and culminated in Stephen Grogan pointing.

Wexford, who at this stage hadn’t scored for 18 minutes, finished the first half strongly with three points from play in five minutes, all converted with excellent kicking from distance off both right and left legs, by full-forward Sean Nolan. At the short whistle, Tipperary were just about in front, 2-1 to 0-6.

Inside the opening minute of the second half Tipperary had a glorious chance of a third goal when Stephen Quirke superbly fielded a high ball before quickly linking with the inrushing Peter McGarry. The Commercials’ man effort grazed the top of the crossbar but really it should have been goaled.

Two further points for Tipperary stretched the advantage to four (2-4 to 0-6) by the 42nd minute, after an excellent point on the run by Ballina clubman Eoghan Power coming in from the left, followed by a free from 45 metres by goalkeeper Evan Comerford.

As they had at the end of the opening period, Wexford again responded in quick-fire fashion with four unanswered points of their own between the 46th and 52nd minutes to level matters up at the three-quarters mark. Wing-back Darragh Lyons started that mini recovery, ahead of a brace from star player Sean Nolan (the second a free) and another from strong-running substitute Jack Higgins. At this stage the momentum had swung Wexford’s way and they looked the more likely winners for a place in the last 12 hat.

It got even better for the John Hegarty-managed Slaneysiders with two further points from play from Sean Nolan (his seventh of the day) and a polished point by midfielder Liam Coleman. With 12 minutes of normal time now remaining, and Wexford having scored six points without response, Tipperary were fighting an uphill battle. But admirably they were fighting hard for everything and defending well with the Feehan brothers, Mark Stokes and Shane O’Connell dogged against a side enjoying the more possession. A point to note was that Tipperary custodian, Comerford, didn’t have to make a save of note all day.

Five minutes from the end of normal time Sean O’Connor kicked a fine point for Tipperary after a fast counter attack, to leave the minimum between the sides at 0-12 to 2-5. Indeed, they had a wonderful chance for an equaliser soon after but Conal Kennedy’s fisted effort went the wrong side of the upright when it looked easier to score.

Solid tackles and vital blocks kept Wexford at bay as Tipperary defended to the man - Wexford wouldn’t score for the final 12 minutes of normal time and five added minutes. But it looked like they mightn’t need to as the clock ticked deeper into the red at the end and they were still a point to the good. Then, as a Wexford defender attempted to break along the sideline, some determined Tipperary pressure managed to edge him into touch. Paudie Feehan took responsibility with the long delivery and put it in the one place Stephen Grogan wanted it, as he rose highest to claim a morale boosting victory for the Premier County.

Having had the year they have endured to date, Tipperary would have been happy with even a good performance against Wexford, and they got that in spades, for sure, with a very admirable workrate and determination on the day when it was now-or-never for them. Without both Conor Sweeney and Steven O’Brien, and with some late changes before the team announcement, they had to go even deeper to the well, and they did. Besides those already mentioned the likes of James Morris, Jack Kennedy, Luke Boland, Stephen Quirke and Eoghan Power featured prominently.

They now await the draw for the next round on Sunday night. The year isn’t over just yet.

TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan/Kilcash, 0-1F), Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), James Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule, 1-0), Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise), Stephen Grogan (Cahir, 1-1), Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields), Peter McGarry (Clonmel Commercials, 0-1), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials, 1-1), Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers).

Subs: Eoghan Power (Ballina, 0-1) for O’Shaughnessy (inj., 29 minutes); Shane O’Connell (Golden/Kilfeacle) for Moloney (49 mins); Conor Cadell (JK Brackens) for Boland (51 mins);  Mark Russell (Aherlow) for Quirke (62 mins); Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen) for McGarry (70+3 mins).

WEXFORD: William Foley, Eoin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Liam O’Connor, Darragh Lyons (0-1), Dylan Furlong, Glen Malone, Liam Coleman (0-1), Niall Hughes, Páraic Hughes (0-1), Eoghan Nolan (0-1), Mark Rossiter, Kevin O’Grady, Sean Nolan (0-7, 0-1F), Conor Kinsella.

Subs: Cian Hughes for Kinsella (half-time); Tom Byrne for Rossiter (43 minutes); Jack Higgins (0-1) for O’Grady (49 mins); Jonathan Bealin for E. Nolan (51 mins); Richie Waters for S. Nolan (inj., 67 mins).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).