Powerful Tipperary wash away Leitrim's faint Allianz NFL Division 4 hopes in Clonmel rain

Leitrim’s faint hopes of mounting a late promotion bid in the Allianz NFL Division 4 this year were ruthlessly blown out of the water by a physically imposing Tipperary who defied the elements to put the game beyond the Green & Gold’s reach in the first half in the Clonmel Sportsgrounds on Sunday.

With Leitrim needing to win their remaining three games and other results to go their way, the faint dream of promotion was washed away by the driving rain and strong crossfield wind that the home side were able to master much more comfortably that those wearing green & gold.

The heavy pitch, softened considerably by the torrential rain, exacerbated the physical power of the Tipperary men as they won the midfield battle and kept Barry McNulty from exerting the sort of influence Leitrim so desperately needed.

You could make the case that Leitrim had enough chances to test Tipperary with six two point efforts, including three from frees, either dropping wide or falling short, along with a missed goal chances but the small and vocal band of Leitrim supporters who made the long journey to Clonmel will admit that the better team on the day won.

Who knows what might have happened had some of those long range efforts flown over the bar, certainly the two-pointers from Keith Keegan and Oisin McLoughlin lifted spirits, but the tone of the game was set by Tipperary’s physical advantage and they made the most of it.

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Playing against the strong wind, which admittedly came with a crossfield slant, the home side defied convention as their big powerful runners and patient play punched holes in the Leitrim rearguard while Steven Poacher’s side kicked a succession of costly wides and shots that fell short.

With keeper Killian Gaffey performing heroics to deny the home side goals on two occasions in the first ten minutes against the wind, Leitrim never got to impose themselves on the game as Tipperary visibly grew in confidence as their full-forward line tormented the Leitrim defence.

Livewire corner-forwards Cian Smith and Daithi Hogan caused the Leitrim defence awful problems with Sean O’Connor the main beneficiary, fisting home the game’s only goal on 26 minutes and getting on the end of several moves that left Leitrim gasping.

The second half saw Tipperary content to hold what they had, to hold onto possession for long periods and let the game meander to a slow conclusion but even then, the Premier county had too much, out-scoring the Green & Gold six points to three on their way to a comfortable 13 point victory.

Promotion may not be mathematically gone but to all intents and purposes, it is as Leitrim must rely on an unlikely series of results and a wild swing in scoring differences to go their way and that seems unlikely as the Green & Gold look destined for Division 4 football in 2027.

The Leitrim team that was defeated by Tipperary in Clonmel Sportsgrounds on Sunday Picture: Willie Donnellan

With Tipperary opting to play against the wind in the first half, the opening was tentative but the home side had the first big chance when Sean O’Connor was put clear with only keeper Killian Gaffey to beat after three minutes, the Leitrim netminder making a great save to deny Tipp a goal.

Leitrim’s first attempt saw Barry McNulty put a two point attempt wide while Eoin Craddock saw a Tipp effort hit woodwork and rebound clear. O’Connor opened the scoring after five minutes, collecting a free from the wing to score but Leitrim hit straight back, Keith Keegan breaking a tackle to thump over a huge two pointer.

Tipperary’s response was impressive - Sean O’Brien hit a great two point free into the wind over the bar before Gaffey made another great save to deny O’Connor a goal. The points, however, were starting to flow for Tipperary with Daithi Hogan dodging past a defender to score before O’Connor burst through for a point.

Cian Smith gathered a blocked Hogan shot to score on 13 minutes, O’Connor adding a free a minute later before centre-back Paudie Feehan beat two Leitrim defenders out the field to burst through and score from 30 metres.

Leitrim had two attempts either side of a fisted point for a marauding Stephen O’Brien to halt Tipperary’s gallop but Paul Honeyman two-point free attempts drifted wide and fell short.

Manager Steven Poacher didn’t wait to take remedial action, springing Oisin McLoughlin and Conor Reynolds from the bench and the Fenagh man had an instant impact, riding a heavy tackle and with advantage signalled, sending a brilliant two point attempt between the Tipperary posts.

Barry McNulty took over two point freetaking duties but hit a wide and the home side made them pad, Tipp turning over a kickout and a quick ball into Daithi Hogan seeing him skate through before floating the ball across the face of the goal for Sean O’Connor to fist home after 26 minutes.

Riordan O’Rourke did great work to pull back a point but Tipperary keeper Shane Garland, a former Monaghan player, tapped out a Honeyman two point attempt while a sniff of a goal chance was lost when the ball evaded Eoin McLoughlin’s grasp, Garland pouncing to clear the danger.

Tipperary finished the half with a flourish - two Cian Smith points and a Stephen O’Brien score left them 1-12 to 0-5 ahead, Ben Guckian seeing an injury time two-pointer go wide.

With the home side enjoying the advantage of the breeze in the second half, most Leitrim fans expected the worst in the second half but the game never truly got going. Ryan O’Rourke, booked shortly after, saw an effort hit the woodwork and Barry McNulty put two frees wide while Cian Smith saw a two point free attempt go well wide.

Tipperary's Daithi Hogan celebrates after setting up Sean O'Connor for the game's only goal Picture: Willie Donnellan

McNulty hit a nice point on the run ten minutes into the second half while Leitrim created a goal chance only to see Garland save Ben Guckian’s shot, Oisin McLoughlin converting a free as advantage was being played.

Tipperary had their first of the second half after 48 minutes, O’Connor pointing after Leitrim won a turnover but then lost it, Tipperary breaking at speed. Leitrim were trying to create chances, Keegan breaking and setting up the lively Ruairi O’Rourke but his shot was blocked by an alert Tipp defence.

Cian Smith landed a free before Stephen O’Brien, in his last action of the game, converted a huge two point free from out near the sideline.

To their credit, Leitrim kept fighting but, summing up a frustrating and disappointing day for the Green & Gold, Barry McNulty put his goal chance wide. Paul Honeyman hit Leitrim’s last point from a free after 68 minutes but Tipperary stamped their authority on the game when O’Connor landed a huge two pointer deep into injury time.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Oisin McLoughlin 0-3, 1f, 1 tp; Keith Keegan 0-2, tp; Riordan O’Rourke, Barry McNulty & Paul Honeyman (f) 0-1 each

Team: Killian Gaffey, Eoin McLoughlin, Kieran Clancy, Donal Feely, James Rooney, Cillian McGloin, Eanna McNamara, Barry McNulty, Keith Keegan; Fergal McLoughlin, Riordan O’Rourke, Gavin Reynolds; Ben Guckian, Ryan O’Rourke, Paul Honeyman. Subs: Oisin McLoughlin & Conor Reynolds for Clancy & Rooney (23); Mark Diffley & Ruairi O’Rourke for Feely & McGloin (HT); Conor Quinn (for G Reynolds (51)

TIPPERARY

Scorers: Sean O’Connor 1-6, 1f, tp; Stephen O’Brien 0-6, 2 tpf; Cian Smith 0-4, 1f; Paudie Feehan & Daithi Hogan 0-1 each

Team: S Garland; J Harney, E O’Connell, M McFadden; C King, J Morris, M Stokes; J Higgins, P Feehan; K Costello, S O’Brien, E Craddock; C Smith, S O’Connor, D Hogan. Subs: K Butler for Craddock (59), M Russell for Higgins (59), L Boland for Stokes (63), M Freaney for O’Brien (63), D Brennan for Smith (65)

Referee: A Coyne (Westmeath)