Result
Armagh 1-17 Tipperary 1-15
*****************
Good afternoon and welcome to The42′s live minute-by-minute coverage of the first of this evening’s Round 3B qualifiers.
Tipperary, beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists last year, flirted with a short summer in Cavan last weekend but reeled in a six-point deficit to keep their qualifier challenge alive.
This evening, they have home advantage against an Armagh side that have rebuilt after an early exist from the Ulster championship. Will Kieran McGeeney’s return to the sidelines give them an extra edge in Semple Stadium?
Throw-in is at 5pm.
TEAM NEWS: This is the Tipperary team as named by Liam Kearns on Friday. No Michael Quinlivan, for now – he came off the bench against Cavan last week, and we’ll keep you up to date on any news of his involvement today.
1. Ciarán Kenrick (Moyle Rovers)
2. Willie Connors (Kiladangan)
3. Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers)
4. Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch)
5. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)
6. Robbie Kiely (Carbery Rangers)
7. Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule)
8. Liam Casey (Cahir)
9. George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers)
10. Josh Keane (Golden-Kilfeacle)
11. Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe)
12. Brian Fox (capt, Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill)
13. Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen)
14. Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)
15. Philip Austin (Borrisokane)
TEAM NEWS: And here’s the Armagh team as named earlier this week.
1. Blaine Hughes (Carrickcruppen)
2. James Morgan (Crossmaglen)
3. Charlie Vernon (Armagh Harps)
4. Mark Shields (Whitecross)
5. Paul Hughes (Crossmaglen)
6. Brendan Donaghy (Clonmore Robert Emmets)
7. Aidan Forker (Maghery Sean MacDermotts)
8. Stephen Sheridan (Forkhill)
9. Niall Grimley (Madden Raparees)
10. Ciaran O’Hanlon (Killeavy)
11. Anthony Duffy (Pearse Og)
12. Rory Grugan (capt, Ballymacnab)
13. Jamie Clarke (Crossmaglen)
14. Andrew Murnin (St Paul’s Lurgan)
15. Gavin McParland (Ballymacnab)
LATE CHANGES: Michael Quinlivan will start for Tipperary! He comes in in place of Philip Austin, while corner back Willie Connors – who was due to make his first championship start – is replaced by Paddy Codd.
Expect to see a bit of positional shuffling in the first couple of minutes.
Well, what a boost that is for Tipp – provided Quinlivan is fully fit, of course.
Who do you fancy here? The bookies have it on a knife edge, making Tipp favourites by a single point – will it be another big day for the Premier’s big ballers?
LATE CHANGE: Armagh make a late change of their own – Gregory McCabe starts in place of Anthony Duffy in the half-forwards.
THROW IN: We’re up and running in Semple Stadium
1 min – Ooh, that would have been some start for Armagh! Jamie Clarke flicks the ball across the face of goal and a flying Andrew Murnin pushes it just wide. Close call.
4 mins – Chance for Tipp to take the lead but Kevin O’Halloran pulls his free from just outside the 45m line to the right and wide.
5 mins – Tipp have definitely had the better of these opening exchanges but still no score. Michael Quinlivan plays in Josh King but he can’t steady himself to get a clean shot away and pokes a tame attempt into Blaine Hughes’s hands.
6 mins — Tipperary 0-1 Armagh 0-0: Kevin O’Halloran hits the mark this time, starting his free inside the left upright and allowing to curl back over the bar.
8 mins — Tipperary 0-1 Armagh 0-1: Gregory McCabe kicks Armagh level.
10 mins — Tipperary 0-2 Armagh 0-1: Stephen Sheridan appears to have Liam Casey under control, but Casey cuts back in on his left and swings over a point. Fine score.
11 mins — Tipperary 0-2 Armagh 0-2: Niall Grimley has a simple free, which he takes out of his hands and knocks over the bar to equalise.
Tipperary 0-3 Armagh 0-2
13 mins – Michael Quinlivan is dragged down near goal and Jack Kennedy pushes Tipperary ahead from the resultant free.
Jamie Clarke has a chance to draw Armagh level but hooks his shot across the goal and wide.
Tipperary 0-4 Armagh 0-2
15 mins – Tipperary’s lead is stretched further, Conor Sweeney popping over a straightforward free after Bill Maher was fouled.
Tipperary 0-4 Armagh 0-3
18 mins – Lovely kick from Niall Grimley for a pointed ’45 for Armagh.
Tipperary 0-4 Armagh 0-4
19 mins – Armagh draw level with a free from Rory Grugan. But they’ll feel they should have got more there. Gavin McParland was fouled but slotted the ball to the net yet the play was brought back for the free. Let off for Tipperary there.
Tipperary 0-6 Armagh 0-4
21 mins – Tipperary pounce twice in the space of a minute to break clear. Firstly Kevin O’Halloran swings over a stylish point after a neat crossfield ball from Conor Sweeney. Then Tipperary win the resultant kickout, break swiftly and captain Brian Fox caps off the move with his first point of the afternoon.
Tipperary 0-6 Armagh 0-5
22 mins – Class again from Grimley with a long-range pointed free off the ground, punishing a Tipperary foul on Jamie Clarke.
Tipperary 0-7 Armagh 0-6
25 mins – Jack Kennedy slots a free at one other end, Armagh counter with Mark Shields placing McParland for a neat point.
Correction, that was Niall Grimley who hit the last point for Armagh.
Sub: Armagh forced into a change as Joe McElroy comes in for Gregory McCabe, who comes off injured after a collision with Tipperary’s Robbie Kiely.
Armagh 0-7 Tipperary 0-7
29 mins – All square now as Aidan Forker dashes through and cuts across the ball for a lovely Armagh point.
Tipperary 0-8 Armagh 0-7
30 mins – Tipp back in front through a good Josh Keane score as Conor Sweeney laid it off following a good delivery pumped in by Jack Kennedy.
Tipperary 0-9 Armagh 0-7
36 mins – Same combination for Tipperary yields a point as Sweeney wins the hard ball again and Keane confidently splits the posts.
Tipperary 0-10 Armagh 0-7
37 mins – Booming point from Liam Casey and Tipperary go three clear.
Half-Time: Tipperary 0-10 Armagh 0-8
Armagh pulled a point back at the end there through Stephen Sheridan, all to play for at the interval.
Teams back out here for the second half. Rain starting to fall in Semple Stadium and most players putting on gloves for the second half.
Sub: Tipperary bring in Philip Austin for George Hannigan at half-time. He goes into the forward line with Jack Kennedy moving to midfield.
Tipperary 0-10 Armagh 0-9
36 mins – First blood to Armagh in the second half as Joe McElroy pops over a point.
Rory Grugan thinks he’s brought Armagh level but he’s blown for over-carrying. Tipperary still hanging on to a one-point advantage.
Goal for Tipperary from Michael Quinlivan!
Tipperary 1-10 Armagh 0-10
40 mins – Action packed few minutes. Tipperary hit the net through a brilliant finish by Quinlivan with his left foot after Austin, Robbie Kiely and Sweeney combined to prise Armagh apart. Then Armagh countered and Andrew Murnin was denied a goal by a fine block from goalkeeper Ciaran Kenrick. Rory Grugan has just knocked over a free for the Orchard County.
Tipperary 1-10 Armagh 0-11
44 mins – Grugan again from a free and Armagh cut the gap to two.
Black card for Tipperary midfielder Jack Kennedy, Hannigan is coming back on.
Sub: Armagh bring in Stefan Campbell for Ciaran O’Hanlon. Tipperary replace Emmet Moloney with Liam Boland.
Tipperary 1-10 Armagh 0-12
48 mins – Now Armagh are a single point adrift, excellent play by Niall Grimley and he kicks a super point.
Kevin O’Halloran off target with a good chance to point a free for Tipperary.
Aidan Forker’s point attempt for Armagh is ruled wide after Hawk-Eye is called for.
Tipperary 1-10 Armagh 0-13
53 mins – All the momentum now with Armagh as Grimley hits over a free. That’s four in a row now for them since Quinlivan’s goal.
Tipperary struggling to gain a foothold in this game now.
Good approach work by O’Halloran for Tipperary but his finish is poor with the ball dropping short into the arms of Blaine Hughes.
Tipperary 1-11 Armagh 0-13
57 mins – A vital point for Tipperary as Austin is fouled and Josh Keane knocks over the free.
Wild shot by Mark Shields for Armagh and the balls flies well wide of goal.
Tipperary 1-11 Armagh 0-14
60 mins – Level once more. McParland drills over a good point for Armagh.
Armagh 0-15 Tipperary 1-11
61 mins – Armagh turn Tipperary over from the kickout and Jamie Clarke swings over the point that nudges them ahead.
Tipperary looking tired now but they’ve managed to win a scoreable free with Liam Boland fouled.
Armagh 0-15 Tipperary 1-12
64 mins – Sweeney nails it to bring Tipperary level.
Armagh 0-16 Tipperary 1-12
65 mins – Tipperary protest at not being awarded a free at one end and Armagh counter-attack with Stefan Campbell pointing.
Goal for Armagh from Jamie Clarke!
Armagh 1-16 Tipperary 1-12
70 mins – Pressing hard for a levelling score, Tipperary leave gaps at the back and Armagh capitalise. McParland lays it across for Jamie Clarke who holds his nerve to roll the ball to the net.
Armagh 1-16 Tipperary 1-13
71 mins – Sweeney points a free for Tipperary.
Subs: Armagh bring on Ciaran McKeever for Clarke and Tipp introduce Diarmuid Foley for O’Halloran.
Armagh 1-16 Tipperary 1-14
73 mins – Keane points a free for Tipperary.
Armagh 1-17 Tipperary 1-14
74 mins – Sheridan fists over a point for Armagh.
Quinlivan drills in a free for Tipperary that’s diverted out for a ’45.
Full-Time: Armagh 1-17 Tipperary 1-15
Armagh hold on for victory. They had one late chance when Quinlivan blasted a free towards a crowded goalmouth but the shot was blocked and the rebound was fired over the bar by Philip Austin for Tipperary.
So Armagh advance to Round 4B while Tipperary bow out. Thanks for joining us today.
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