Tipperary Overcome the Challenge of Longford in Round 4
12 Mar 2017Tipperary Make it Three wins Out of Four in the Allianz National Football League Following a 3-17 to 0-18 Win Over Longford

Josh Keane leaps high for the ball
Tipperary 3-17
Longford 0-18
Liam Kearns’ men remain on track for promotion to Division Two following this evening’s eight-point win over Longford at Semple Stadium.
A blistering start saw Tipperary score 2-2 to 0-1 in the opening six minutes with both Conor Sweeney and Jimmy Feehan blasting home to and give the Premier a platform which they never relinquished although Longford did push them hard throughout.

Conor Sweeney blasts home his first goal
Wingback Jimmy Feehan found the unmarked Conor Sweeney and the Ballyporeen man made no mistake leaving Paddy Collum with no chance in the Longford goal. Feehan himself goaled moments later following great work from Josh Keane.

George Hannigan
A Longford fightback towards the end of the first-hard saw them rattle off six unanswered points to leave four between the sides at the interval, 2-10 to 0-12.
It was the switch of Michael Quinlivan to midfield shortly after the re-start that proved pivotal as Tipperary began to dominate the area as the second half wore on. Longford battled bravely and were anxious not to suffer a similar humiliation to their 17-point loss they experienced on their last championship visit in 2014 and it took a palmed Sweeney goal nine minutes from time to settle any Tipperary nerves.

Conor Sweeney finished the game with 2-7
Tipperary now look forward to a trip to Tullamore next Sunday where they will face Offaly in their fifth game of the league.

Liam Kearns emerges from the dressing rooms
Scorers for Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 2-7 (0-3frees), Kevin O’Halloran 0-3 (0-2fress), Jimmy Feehan 1-0, Philip Austin 0-2, Liam Casey, Josh Keane (0-1free), Brian Fox, Liam Boland 0-1 each.
Scorers for Longford: Robbie Smyth 0-7 (0-6 frees), Sean McCormack (0-2 frees), Michael Quinn 0-3, John Keegan, Diarmuid Masterson, Brian Farrell, Larry Moran, Ronan McEntire 0-1 each.
Tipperary
- Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)
- Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers)
3. Paddy Codd (Killenaule)
4. Wille Connors (Kiladangan) - Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch)
6. Robbie Kiely (Carbery Rangers, Cork)
7. Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule) - Liam Casey (Cahir)
18. George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers) - Josh Keane (Golden-Kilfeacle)
11. Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe)
12. Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill) - Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen)
14. Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials)
15. Philip Austin (Borrisokane)
Subs
- Liam Boland (Moyle Rovers) for Hannigan (46)
25. Shane O’Connell (Golden-Kilfeacle) for Connors (48)
17. Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials) for Moloney (60)
22. Alan Moloney (Rockwell Rovers) for Casey (63)
20. Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) for O’Halloran (66)
19. Joseph Hennessy (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Kiely (72)
Longford
- Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels)
- Donal McElligott (St Columba’s)
2. Dermot Brady (Longford Slashers)
6. Padraig McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets) - Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond)
3. Barry Gilleran (Longford Slashers)
12. Barry McKeon (Colmcille) - Darren Gallagher (St Mary’s Granard)
9. John Keegan (St Columba’s) - James McGivney (St Columba’s)
10. Diarmuid Masterson (Dromard)
7. Michael Quinn (Killoe Young Emmets) - Liam Connerton (Rathcline)
15. Sean McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)
13. Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara)
Subs
- Andrew Farrell (Cashel) for McElligott (black card) (21)
20. Larry Moran (Killoe Young Emmets) for O’Farrell (26)
17. Brian Farrell (Mostrim) for McGivney (half-time)
23. Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe Young Emmets) for Masterson (51)
21. Ronan McEntire (Dromard) for Gallagher (57)
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)

Enda Costello and Ray Deering enjoying today’s game

Martin, Caitriona and Jimmy Morris from Nenagh enjoying the game