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Tipperary's Ciaran McDonald and Paddy Codd clash with Eoin McCartan and Brendan Coulter of Down. INPHO/James Crombie
AS IT HAPPENED

As It Happened: Down v Tipperary, All-Ireland SFC round four qualifier

There was a place in the All-Ireland senior football quarter-finals at stake in Mullingar today as Tipperary and Down went head to head. Here’s how it all unfolded.

The Tipperary football revolution has gathered pace in recent weeks and they were on the cusp of a historic first All-Ireland quarter-final appearance today. But Down were eager to deny them that opportunity as they hoped to bounce back from last week’s Ulster final defeat against Donegal

We were live from Mullingar and went minute by minute from the throw-in at 4pm to record all the action.

Send us your thoughts and comments on tonight’s action. E-mail  fintan@thescore.ie, tweet us@thescore_iefind us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

RESULT: Down 1-13 Tipperary 0-11

Welcome to Mullingar for this afternoon’s clash as Down face Tipperary at 4pm. Here’s the Down team for the game with one late change as Niall MacParland comes in at right half-back for Aidan Brannigan.

The other big news is that Danny Hughes is not fit enough to take his place on the bench with Arthur McConville instead named.

DOWN SF: 1. Brendan McVeigh (An Ríocht); 2. Darren O’Hagan (Cluain Daimh), 3. Dan Gordon (Loch an Oileáin), 4. Conor Garvey (Droicheád Mhaigh Eo); 24. Niall McParland (An Ghleann), 6. Brendan McArdle (Eanach Chluain), 7. Aidan Carr (Cluain Daimh); 8. Ambrose Rogers (Cloch Fhada), 9. Kalum King (Áth Bhriain); 10. Kevin Duffin (Caisleán an Mhuillin), 11. Mark Poland (Cloch Fhada), 12. Conor Maginn (Áth Bhriain); 13. Eoin McCartan (Boireann), 14. Conor Laverty (Cill Chua), 15. Brendan Coulter (Droichead Mhaigh Eo).

No changes on the Tipperary team from the side that defeated Antrim last Saturday.

Here’s all you need to know about today’s game.

TIPPERARY: Paul Fitzgerald (Fethard); Andrew Morrissey (Galtee Rovers), Paddy Codd (Killenaule), Ciarán McDonald (Aherlow); Brian Fox (Eire Óg, Anacarty), Robbie Kiely (Arravale Rovers), Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers); George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers), Hugh Coghlan (Portlaoise); Richie Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty), Philip Austin (Borrisokane), Donagh Leahy (Arravale Rovers); Alan Maloney (Rockwell Rovers), Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers), Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials).

One change to the Tipperary substitutes as well with Martin Dunne from Moyle Rovers replacing Conor O’Sullivan.

Interesting Down team selection as they seek to recover from last Sunday’s hiding against Donegal in the Ulster final. Can they turn matters around in six days? James McCartan is attempting to do that with Conor Garvey, Conor Maginn,  Eoin McCartan and Kevin Duffin all coming into the team while Kevin McKernan, Liam Doyle, Donal O’Hare and Dan McCartan all miss out.

Both teams putting the finishing touches to their warm-ups and getting set for the National Anthem. We’re almost set to go in Mullingar.

There’s a huge wind blowing downfield in the first-half and it is Down who are going to have it to their advantage. We’re set for throw-in.

Down 0-1 Tipperary 0-0: 2 mins – First blood to Down as Ambrose Rogers uses the wind to hammer a long-range from the ground over the bar after Benny Coulter had earlier been fouled.

Scoring chances on both sides but Brendan McArdle knocks his shot wide and then Tipperary’s Alan Maloney sees a difficult free from the right wing drop short into the wind. Conor Garvey is just off target with a long-rang effort for Down. 6 minutes gone.

Down 0-2 Tipperary 0-0: 11 mins – Mark Poland taps over a close-range free to stretch Down’s lead. Tipperary nearly grabbed a point at the other end before that but Michael Quinlivan’s free from the left touchline just dropped shot. Cagey opening to the game so far with the play largely scrappy.

Down 0-3 Tipperary 0-0: 12 mins – Poland then registers a point from play after great work by Conor Laverty and Conor Maginn to keep the ball alive when Ambrose Roger’s long-range shot struck the upright.

Huge goal chances for both teams. Firstly a let off for Tipperary as Down cut open their defence with brilliant play by Conor Laverty and Mark Poland but the ball slips from the grasp of Conor Maginn as he bears down on goal. Then Michael Quinlivan’s point attempt is blocked down and the ball falls kindly for Alan Maloney but his side foot shot is blocked by Brendan McVeigh.

The Tipperary opportunity to raise a green flag was more straightforward but both teams had cause to rue those missed chances. 16 minutes gone and Tipperary need a point to settle their challenge as Down are dictating the game.

Scuffles break out in the centre of the pitch and after matters calm down it’s Tipperary’s Paddy Codd and Down’s Benny Coulter that are shown yellow cards.

Down 0-4 Tipperary 0-0: 22 mins – Dan Gordon gets on the end of a productive team move to fire over a point and then the theme of Down defenders showing the way continues with Brendan McArdle splitting the posts. Down have defended excellently so far, not yet conceding a score but Tipperary aren’t helping their cause with their forwards being isolated and their shot towards goal under hit. They are struggling to adjust to kicking into this fierce breeze.

Down 0-5 Tipperary 0-1: 23 mins – Finally Tipperary get off the mark and it was a score that was badly needed. Michael Quinlivan taps over a close-range free after Richie Ryan was initially fouled.

Down 0-5 Tipperary 0-2: 27 mins – And now Tipperary have grabbed a point from play. It’s a fantastic score as well from Peter Acheson who launches a high shot into the air under severe pressure from the Down defence, the ball hangs in the air before dropping over the bar. Better from Tipperary.

Down 0-6 Tipperary 0-2: 28 mins – Great goal chance for Down as they piece together another intricate move but when the ball is played across to Mark Poland his first attempt for goal goes just over the bar. At the other end Tipperary look to have been denied a free when Brian Fox appears to be fouled 20 yards out but the referee waves play on.

Down 0-6 Tipperary 0-3: 32 mins – A vital point for Tipperary to help relieve the pressure with Michael Quinlivan, after being fouled himself, stepping up and assuredly sweeping the ball between the posts. It’s starting to rain heavily in Mullingar which is going to make conditions extremely difficult in the second-half for the players.

Down 0-6 Tipperary 0-4: 36 mins – Down try to bring the ball out of defence but their handling is sloppy, which is understandable given the conditions, and Peter Acheson pokes it clear for Brian Fox to run onto. The wing-back has the space and time to clip over a fine point as we enter first-half injury-time.

HALF-TIME: Down 1-6 Tipperary 0-4: The half ends in a brilliant fashion for Down as they fire home the game’s first goal of the game. Kevin Duffin punts in a long ball that skids off the surface, hits the upright and in the subsequent scrum, it appears that Conor Laverty bundled the ball over the line. There’s confusion over who registered the goal but it definitely stands and Down retire with a five-point lead at the break.

That could be a defining moment in the game as Down finally found the net having been thwarted on several occasions during the first-half. They needed that score to help establish a five-point lead that will be an important buffer playing against the driving wind and rain in the second-half.

It’s a major setback for Tipperary but they did at least show considerable signs of improvement as the half wore on. For the first 22 minutes they failed to register a score yet they worked hard, refined their shot selection and were rewarded with a spate of points that helped them cut into the Down lead.

It turns out that Benny Coulter actually got the last touch to register that goal for Down before the break. There were so many players crowded around the goalmouth that it was difficult to see.

Here are the scorers from the first-half of the action.

DOWN: Benny Coulter 1-0, Mark Poland 0-3 (0-1f), Dan Gordon, Brendan McArdle, Ambrose Rogers (0-1f) 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: Michael Quinlivan 0-2 (0-2f), Peter Acheson, Brian Fox 0-1 each.

One change to the Tipperary team at half-time with Bernard O’Brien in for Richie Ryan in attack. No changes on the Down side. The rain has eased in Mullingar and the sun is out for the second-half action with the throw-in about to take place.

Down 1-6 Tipperary 0-5: 36 mins – Tipperary make a bright start with substitute Bernard O’Brien offloading to Philip Austin and the team captain lobs over a point. The attendance has been announced as 3,592.

Down 1-7 Tipperary 0-5: 38 mins – Down respond with a point courtesy of Ambrose Rogers to restore their lead to five points once more.

Down 1-9 Tipperary 0-5: 39 mins - Kevin Duffin curls over a free for Down after an earlier let off for Tipperary when the ball ricocheted off defender Andrew Morrissey and struck the butt of the upright. Then Benny Coulter is at the heart of a good team move and finishes it off by curling over a point. Down starting to get a grip on the game and it’s noticeable that the wind has died down from how strong it was in the first-half.

Down 1-9 Tipperary 0-6: 42 mins – Tipperary pull a point back courtesy of Austin again after Bernard O’Brien collected an Alan Maloney delivery and fed the Premier team captain.

Tipperary do have another point chance but Quinlivan’s effort drops short into the arms of Dan Gordon. That’s the fourth catch Gordon has made from a Tipperary attempt to point a free today.

Down change with Kevin McKernan coming on for Aidan Carr in defence. Ambrose Rogers just missed an opportunity from a free to stretch Down’s lead.

Down 1-9 Tipperary 0-7: 48 mins – Superb point from Michael Quinlivan for Tipperary as he gathered a long delivery, swiveled and launched a shot between the posts. Tipperary are still in this match but there is a sense they will need a goal to launch a revival.

Down 1-10 Tipperary 0-7: 50 mins – That’s a magnificent point by Ambrose Rogers as he galloped down the right touch line and rounded his good work with a lovely point.

Referee Cormac Reilly is making some strange decisions here and the Down supporters are infuriated with his calls over the last few minutes. Substitute on the Down team sees Liam Doyle being brought on for Niall McParland.

Changes on the Tipperary team with Brian Mulvihill coming on in attack and Robbie Costigan on at midfield as Philip Austin and George Hannigan are asked to make way. Down bring on Donal O’Hare in attack for Eoin McCartan. 15 minutes left and Down remain in control.

Down 1-11 Tipperary 0-8: 58 mins – Down are just doing enough to stay ahead with Benny Coulter firing over a point but it is quickly cancelled out by a similar score from Alan Maloney. Tipperary need a goal at this stage it seems. Down are bringing on Aidan Brannigan for Kevin Duffin.

Down 1-11 Tipperary 0-9: 62 mins – Tipperary not gone away yet with Alan Maloney tapping over a free after a strong surging run by Bernard O’Brien saw him fouled by the Down rearguard. Two more Tipperary substitutes with Martin Dunne replacing Hugh Coghlan while John O’Callaghan is in for Robbie Kiely.

Down 1-11 Tipperary 0-10: 64 mins – And another point by Alan Maloney, a fine shot from distance after Ciaran McDonald, Michael Quinlivan and Brian Fox helped engineer the chance.

Down 1-11 Tipperary 0-11: 65 mins – The gap is down to three. Substitute Brian Mulvihill grabs the latest point for Tipperary with a lovely shot under pressure.

Down 1-12 Tipperary 0-11: 66 mins – Vital point for Down from Mark Poland which may take the sting out of Tipperary’s revival.

Down 1-13 Tipperary 0-11: 69 mins – It looks like Down are just going to hold on with Ambrose Rogers, who has been fantastic today, fisting over another point.

FULL-TIME: Down 1-13 Tipperary 0-11: And it’s all over, Down holding on to claim a five-point victory. The game concludes in a bizarre fashion as Tipperary substitute Brian Mulvihill palmed the ball into the net following a Donagh Leahy cross, but the referee said he had blown full-time just before it. It would not have mattered as Down had built up a sufficient lead.

Ultimately Down deserved their triumph with Benny Coulter’s first-half injury-time goal proving critical while Ambrose Rogers gave a towering display at midfield and Dan Gordon was excellent in defence. They become the first team since Dublin in 2001 to lose a provincial final and bounce back six days later to claim a qualifier victory. They’ll now go into the draw for the All-Ireland quarter-finals tonight. Tipperary bow out at the last twelve stage but they gave a brave and committed performance here. The gap was down to three points at one juncture but they failed to grab the goal that would have vaulted them back into contention. Their summer may be over but after three consecutive qualifier wins, they have certainly made progress and have plenty to build on.

Here are the scorers from today’s game.

DOWN: Benny Coulter 1-2, Mark Poland, Ambrose Rogers 0-4 (0-1f) each, Dan Gordon, Kevin Duffin (0-1f), Brendan McArdle 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: Michael Quinlivan (0-2f), Alan Maloney (0-1f) 0-3 each, Philip Austin 0-2, Brian Mulvihill, Peter Acheson, Brian Fox 0-1 each.

That’s all from Mullingar. Thanks for joining us this afternoon.

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