Tipperary 1-21
Derry 2-17
CONOR SWEENEY ETCHED his name in Tipperary football folklore with the 75th minute winning point that secured the Premier county a first-ever All-Ireland quarter-final place.
Trailing by two points in injury-time at Kingspan Breffni Park it wasn’t looking good for Liam Kearns’ side who scored a famous Munster championship win over Cork earlier in the championship.
It was the third weekend in a row that Derry had come from behind to take the lead at that stage of the game with 1-4 on the trot between the 61st and 70th minutes.
But Tipp simply refused to wilt and conjured three injury-time points in a row to win by the narrowest of margins.
Michael Quinlivan got the first of those points before Sweeney leveled it up in the 73rd minute with a high, booming point.
And just as extra-time loomed Sweeney did it again from the left wing, capitalising on great work from Quinlivan and Josh Keane by blasting a left footed shot over.
Brendan Rogers still had a chance to level it for Derry but sent his kick just wide at the other end and full-time sounded soon after.
Remarkably, Munster neighbours Clare and Tipperary have now qualified for maiden All-Ireland quarter-finals within hours of each other.
Tipp will remember this game for some time to come because it was a thrill a minute ride and the lead crossed over on plenty of occasions.
Tipp raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead but Derry bossed the next 20 minutes or so to lead by 1-8 to 0-10 at half-time. Sweeper Danny Heavron was brilliant for Derry and set up Mark Lynch for their opening goal.
Tipp were terrific in the third quarter though and piled on the scores to open up a 1-18 to 1-13 lead, their own goal coming from Kevin O’Halloran, who finished the day with 1-4.
Derry finished strong against Cavan and Meath in previous rounds and turned the game on its head again late on with that 1-4 blast, their second goal coming from Eoghan Brown in the 66th minute.
Damien Barton’s men led by two and will kick themselves for not holding on but Tipp simply had the greater desire late on and came good when it counted with Sweeney the star.
Scorers for Tipperary: Kevin O’Halloran 1-4 (1 45, 0-3f), Michael Quinlivan 0-7 (0-5f), Conor Sweeney 0-5, Josh Keane 0-2, Philip Austin 0-1, Peter Acheson 0-1, Bill Maher 0-1.
Scorers for Derry: Mark Lynch 1-4 (0-3f), Danny Heavron 0-4, Eoghan Brown 1-0, Niall Loughlin 0-3, James Kielt 0-2 (0-1f), Enda Lynn 0-1, Emmett Bradley 0-1, Liam McGoldrick 0-1, Christopher Bradley 0-1.
TIPPERARY
1. Evan Comerford
4. Ciaran McDonald
3. Alan Campbell
7. Jimmy Feehan
5. Bill Maher
6. Robbie Kiely
2. Colm O’Shaughnessy
14. Michael Quinlivan
9. George Hannigan
13. Philip Austin
8. Peter Acheson
12. Brian Fox
11. Kevin O’Halloran
10. Josh Keane
15. Conor Sweeney
Subs
17. Alan Moloney for Hannigan (h/t)
18. Shane Leahy for Kiely (67)
21. Mark Hanley for O’Shaughnessy (75)
DERRY
1. Thomas Mallon
21. Oisin Duffy
3. Chrissy McKaigue
7. Ciaran Mullan
4. Karl McKaigue
5. Ciaran McFaul
6. Brendan Rogers
8. Conor McAtamney
9. Niall Holly
10. Danny Heavron
23. Niall Loughlin
25. Enda Lynn
13. James Kielt
14. Emmett McGuckin
15. Mark Lynch
Subs
22. Niall Toner for Lynn (43)
11. Christopher Bradley for Kielt (50)
24. Emmett Bradley for Holly (52)
18. Liam McGoldrick for Duffy (56)
12. Eoghan Brown for McGuckin (62)
17. Neil Forrester for Heavron (73)
Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo).
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