Tipperary 2-15

Leitrim 0-14

PETER CREEDON’S TIPPERARY secured a fourth successive win in Division 4 of the Allianz National Football League to remain on course for promotion.

And the scene is now set for a dramatic shootout with Offaly in a fortnight’s time – with both sides locked together on eight points, two behind pacesetters Limerick.

Barry Grogan scored 2-3 for Tipp at Semple Stadium this afternoon against Leitrim, whose slim promotion hopes evaporated.

Both of Grogan’s goals came in the first half as Tipp played some wonderful stuff to establish a 2-10 to 0-4 interval lead.

Creedon was unhappy with the sloppy nature of his side’s second half display but the hosts were never in trouble, despite being outscored by 0-5 to 0-10 after half-time.

Emlyn Mulligan led the way in the scoring stakes for Leitrim with six points but overall, he was well marshalled by Tipp’s ace man marker Ciaran McDonald.

Grogan scored his first goal in the ninth minute, finishing with a low soccer-style effort from Brian Fox’s precise pass which evaded a stumbling Michael Quinlivan before finding its way to Grogan.

In front of 351 spectators, the Aherlow hitman was on target again at the perfect time as he blasted a low shot into the same corner in the first minute of stoppage time to finish a fine move that involved Fox and Quinlivan.

Scorers for Tipperary: Barry Grogan 2-3 (0-1f, 0-1 45), Alan Maloney 0-4 (2f), Peter Acheson & Michael Quinlivan 0-2 each, Paddy Codd, Brian Fox, Conor Sweeney & Aldo Matassa 0-1 each.

Scorers for Leitrim: Emlyn Mulligan 0-6 (3f), Conor Beirne 0-2f, Tomas Beirne, Paul Brennan, Gerry Hickey, Ray Cox, Colm Clarke & Sean McWeeney 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Paul Fitzgerald (Fethard); John Coghlan (Moyne-Templetuohy), Paddy Codd (Killenaule), Ciaran McDonald (Aherlow); Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty), Robbie Costigan (Cahir), Donagh Leahy (Arravale Rovers); Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers), George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers); Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen), Hugh Coghlan (Portlaoise), Aldo Matassa (Clonmel Commercials); Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials), Barry Grogan (Aherlow), Alan Maloney (Rockwell Rovers).

Subs: Donal Lynch (Clonmel Commercials) for Leahy (42), Brian Mulvihill for Quinlivan (53), Darren Lowry (Arravale Rovers) for Matassa (54), Bernard O’Brien (Aherlow) for Grogan (62), Robbie Kiely (Arravale Rovers) for McDonald (66).

LEITRIM: Brendan Flynn (St Mary’s); Gary Reynolds (Carrigallen), Ciaran Egan (Gortletteragh), Paddy Maguire (Glencar Manorhamilton); Paul Brennan (Melvin Gaels), Enda Williams (Clonguish), Danny Beck (Mohill); Brendan Brennan (Melvin Gaels), Tomas Beirne (Eslin); Brian McDonald (Glencar Manorhamilton), Emlyn Mulligan (St Brigid’s), Gerry Hickey (Glencar Manorhamilton); James Glancy (Glencar Manorhamilton), Conor Beirne (Eslin), Ray Cox (Annaduff).

Subs: Fabian McMorrow (Melvin Gaels) for Williams (32), Sean McWeeney for McDonald (h.t.), Paddy McGowan (St Patrick’s Dromahair) for Beck (54), Colm Clarke (Drumkeerin) for Reynolds (59).

Referee: Liam Devanney (Mayo).

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Limerick 1-9

London 1-8

Limerick 1-9

Limerick consolidated their position at the top of Division 4 of the Allianz NFL with a controversial one-point victory in London this afternoon.

The Exiles felt aggrieved when Mark Gottsche converted a late 45 which would have tied the game – only to be told to retake it by the referee.

Gottsche was off-target with his second attempt and Limerick survived to take two valuable points on their travels.

Limerick bounced back from last week’s heavy home defeat against Tipperary to claim a fifth victory from six outings.

The Shannonsiders dominated the first half and led by 1-7 to 1-2 at the break. Lloyd Colfer’s penalty late in the first half gave the hosts some hope ahead of the second half, after John Riordan had netted a 14th minute goal for Limerick.

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Clare 1-12

Carlow 0-9

CLARE reignited their promotion hopes with a six-point victory over Carlow at a bitterly cold Dr. Cullen Park this afternoon.

David Tubridy bagged 0-6 and Rory Donnelly scored the crucial first half goal for Mick O’Dwyer’s visitors.

At the end of the first quarter, Clare held a narrow 0-3 to 0-2 lead and at half-time, they were 1-7 to 0-6 clear. Donnelly’s smashing finish on the half-hour proved to be a crucial score for the Banner County.

Carlow responded strongly in the second half and were two points behind before Shane McGrath pointed for Clare to steady their nerves. And the game took another decisive twist with 20 minutes remaining when Carlow’s influential midfield star Brendan Murphy was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Tubridy landed a couple of points as Clare finished strongly and Donnelly completed the scoring to cap a fine afternoon for O’Dwyer’s men.

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Offaly 2-15

Waterford 1-11

TWO late goals from Brian Connor sealed a crucial victory for Offaly against Waterford in this afternoon’s Allianz NFL Division 4 clash.

And as scoring difference could prove crucial in the race for promotion, Offaly did themselves no harm with a seven-point win.

With the sides deadlocked in the final quarter, Connor bagged his priceless brace and Offaly remain deadlocked in second place in Division 4 – level on points with Tipperary and two behind pacesetters Limerick. At half-time, Offaly led by 0-9 to 0-8 against the hosts at the WIT sports campus, Carriganore.

Offaly were 0-11 to 0-9 clear in the second half but Waterford regained the initiative when Liam O’Lionain netted. But Offaly would have the final say with that late double blast from Connor, which keeps the Faithful County firmly in the hunt for Division 3 status next year.

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