Leitrim do what they need to do to secure promotion in comfortable Tipperary victory

It might have been technically out of their hands but Leitrim did everything they had to on a tense afternoon in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Sunday to claim promotion and a place in the Allianz NFL Division 4 Final after an ultimately comfortable win over Tipperary.

Leitrim needed the result in Chadwicks Wexford Park to go their way and when the early news coming through from the sunny south east told of the home side cruising to victory over Longford, all Leitrim needed to do was get across the line and that they did, a six point win sealing promotion back to Division 3.

For only the second time in the four division era, Leitrim have won promotion (Terry Hyland led the Green & Gold to promotion in 2019) and they now set their sights on winning some silverware when they take on Division table toppers Laois next Saturday in Croke Park.

For all the joy and celebrations once the final whistle sounded, this was not a comfortable afternoon for any nervous Leitrim fans. At times, Leitrim looked as if they were going to steamroll the Premier County but an abundance of caution may have meant that Andy Moran’s side never really cut loose, leaving Leitrim fans fretting.

Those nerves were set jangling when Tipperary hit four unanswered points to take the lead in the first half with only an injury time Darragh Rooney point between the sides at the interval. The second half was equally tense, Leitrim not truly pulling away until the final 15 minutes.

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Yet for all that, there was never any real sense that Leitrim were in danger - the defensive solidity and ability to turn over the ball restricted Tipperary to long range shots while Darragh Rooney and Ryan O’Rourke, scoring 13 points between them, ran the visitors’s defence ragged.

It was, if anything, a thoroughly clinical and composed Leitrim performance - a new look Tipp in the early stages of a massive rebuilding project asked a few questions but they were easily answered by a confident Leitrim who did exactly what they needed to do to secure promotion.

Leitrim got off to a bright start with Darragh Rooney firing over two points inside the first six minutes, one from a free, but they also had a win from the Kinlough man and Barry McNulty. Tipperary keeper Evan Comerfored did well to field a Ryan O’Rourke shot under pressure from Donal Wrynn but a clash with the Fenagh man led to a throw-ball and then a free for Leitrim, converted by Rooney.

Three points to the good, Leitrim failed to push on and after a timid start, Tipperary started to grow into the game, Jack Kennedy’s mark after 15 minutes opening their account before keeper Comerford scored a staggering point from 60 plus yards out on the left wing, a booming effort that cleared the crossbar with space to spare.

The visitors drew level when a good run from Tadhg Condon release Conal Kennedy for a point 22 minutes in. Incredibly and to the growing murmurs among the Leitrim crowd, Tipp took the lead when they won their own kickout after a bad wide from Leitrim’s Donal Casey, Paddy Creedon running through the middle to score.

The Leitrim team who defeated Tipperary to secure promotion Picture: Willie Donnellan

Conor Reynolds set up Donal Wrynn for a fine point on 25 minutes before Evan Comerford showed his prowess as a stopper, sticking out a foot to deny Barry McNulty a certain goal after the ball fell to the Glencar Manorhamilton player when Tom Prior’s shot came off the post.

Leitrim went back in front thanks to a Darragh Rooney point but it was tit for tat now, Jack Kennedy replying with a 40 yard outside of the boot score. Rooney (free) and Shane Neville swapped points but another Rooney free in added time gave Leitrim a 0-7 to 0-6 halftime lead.

The home side made a big push again to start the second half with another Tom Prior run seeing the ball end up with Ryan O’Rourke who turned to fire over a smart point. A foul on the Fenagh man three minutes later allowed Darragh Rooney put Leitrim three up again.

Again the scoring rate slowed with a Tipperary attack breaking down before swift passing and good hands from Conor Reynolds, Aidan Flynn and Darragh Rooney ended with a Ryan O’Rourke score. Jack Kennedy came back with a fine Tipperary point following good move from the visitors.

Tom Prior was again the provider to set up Ryan O’Rourke for a point 49 minutes in but a brilliant point from Tipperary sub Mark Russell from the left wing kept Leitrim fans on edge, the gap again back to three points.

However, Leitrim would not be denied as they outscored the visitors four points to one down the home stretch, Aidan Flynn ghosting into space near the Tipperary goal to fist the ball over the bar on 51 minutes. Two minutes later, Rooney boomed over a 50 yard free and suddenly Leitrim were beginning to relax.

Jack Kennedy’s free on 56 minutes was Tipperary’s last but with few scores, or even scoring chances, Leitrim fans didn’t truly begin to relax until Ryan O’Rourke took a long ball, worked some space and fired over with just over five minutes of normal time left.

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Sub Paul Keaney put a free wide as did Tipp sub Jack Kennedy of JK Brackens. Darragh Rooney completed the scoring with just over a minute remaining in normal time from a free after an off-the-ball foul that earned James Morris a booking.

Pearse Dolan also went into the book, Tipperary’s Paudie Feehan fisted a high ball into the Leitrim area straight at keeper Nevin O’Donnell before Dolan shot wide on the break but it did nothing to lessen the celebrations once Maggie Farrelly sounded the final whistle.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Daragh Rooney 0-7, 5f; Ryan O’Rourke 0-6, 2f; Tom Prior & Donal Wrynn 0-1 each

Team: Nevin O'Donnell; Conor Reynolds, Donal Casey, Aidan Flynn; Donal Wrynn, Mark Diffley, Jack Foley; Jack Gilheaney, Pearce Dolan, Mark Plunkett, Ryan O'Rourke, Barry McNulty; Tom Prior, Darragh Rooney, Riordan O'Rourke. Subs: Shane Quinn for Plunkett (49); James Rooney for Reynolds (52); Paul Keaney for Prior (60); Niall Walsh for Riordan O'Rourke (64); Evan Sweeney for D Rooney (69)

TIPPERARY

Scorers: Jack Kennedy 0-4, 1M, 1f: Mark Russell, Evan Comeford, Shane Neville, Conal Kennedy & Paddy Creedon 0-1 each

Team: Evan Comeford; Tadhg Condron, Jimmy Feehan, J Morris; S Grogan, P Feehan, K Costello; Shane Neville, Conall Kennedy; Colm O'Shaughnessy, Teddy Doyle, Peter McGarry; Michael Lowry, Paddy Creedon Jack Kennedy. Subs: Conor Cadell for Lowry (HT); Mark Russell for Creedon (42); Jack Kennedy for McGarry (53); Jack Leamy for Neville (57); Rory O'Dowd for C Kennedy (61)

Referee: Margaret Farrelly (Cavan)