TIPPERARY SENIOR FOOTBALLER Emmet Moloney was injured on club duty last night – less than two days before the Premier County’s promotion shoot-out with Armagh.
Tipp will be without the Drom & Inch player for tomorrow’s winner-takes-all Allianz Football League Division 3 clash at the Athletic Grounds after he was taken off in his club’s defeat to JK Brackens in the Mid U21 football final in Templetuohy.
Tipp manager Liam Kearns had requested a postponement of the game but his plea fell on deaf ears.
And there’s a heavy price to pay as Moloney, who has featured in four of Tipp’s League games this season, has been ruled out of the Armagh showdown.
His place in the 26-man matchday squad has been taken by Loughmore-Castleiney’s Liam Treacy, while Tipp will also make late calls on the fitness of defender Jimmy Feehan and forward Philip Austin.
Meanwhile, the South U21 final between Clonmel Commercials and Moyle Rovers, which had been scheduled for tomorrow morning, has been postponed.
It is understood that Kearns also sought a postponement of that game due to the involvement of Commercials player Jack Kennedy, who has impressed at midfield in his debut season at senior inter-county level.
The Commercials camp has suffered a bereavement and the game may have been deferred to a later date in any case.
Kearns won’t be happy with the Moloney situation, however, as the former dual minor made substitute appearances against Antrim and Sligo in Tipp’s opening two League fixtures, before starting in the victories over Laois and Longford.
He hasn’t been involved in the last two matches – victory over Offaly and defeat to Louth – but has impressed whenever called upon this season, and was tipped to play some role off the bench in Armagh.
Kearns was anxious to have as many players as possible fully fit and available for the trip to Armagh but is concerned that his players are now facing into a fourth game in as many weekends.
The postponement of the Longford game earlier in the game left Tipp with a fixtures pile-up and the Premier County looked leggy in the second half of what could turn out to be a costly loss to Louth last weekend.
It was the first time that the postponement of club fixtures was requested from the Tipp senior football camp this year but officials chose to proceed with the U21 decider involving Moloney.
Captain Brian Fox has insisted, however, that it’s no time for excuses as Tipp still have their promotion fate in their own hands.
He told Tipp FM’s Extra-Time: “The reality is, our position hasn’t changed. If we win, we’re promoted. If we lose, we’re not. We want to win, we’re going up there to win, we’ll see how it goes.”
Fox also believes that Tipp have some unfinished business with Armagh, following a stormy end to the fixture against the Orchard County in 2015.
Armagh won by a point with two late Jamie Clarke efforts and Tipp had Robbie Kiely sent off late on.
Then manager Peter Creedon was also slapped for his post-match criticism of match referee David Coldrick, insisting that too much added time was added on, which allowed Clarke to strike with a late, late double-whammy.
Fox recalled: “I remember that game well, we played pretty well in the second half (but) it was a dire first half from both teams.
“Then in the second half, we started to express ourselves and they couldn’t really handle us. Then Jamie Clarke kicked two great scores to beat us by a point and Robbie got sent off.
“That would chaw away at you, hopefully we use that to motivate ourselves, go out there and win.”
Tipperary
1. Evan Comerford – Kilsheelan-Kilcash
2. Alan Campbell – Moyle Rovers
3. Paddy Codd – Killenaule
4. Willie Connors – Kiladangan
5. Bill Maher – Kilsheelan-Kilcash
6. Robbie Kiely – Carbery Rangers
7. Jimmy Feehan – Killenaule
8. Liam Casey – Cahir
9. Jack Kennedy – Clonmel Commercials
10. Josh Keane – Golden-Kilfeacle
11. Kevin O’Halloran – Portroe
12. Brian Fox – Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill (captain)
13. Conor Sweeney – Ballyporeen
14. Michael Quinlivan – Clonmel Commercials
15. Liam McGrath – Loughmore-Castleiney
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