Tipperary 1-16
Sligo 2-14
Jackie Cahill reports from Semple Stadium, Thurles
TIPPERARY HAD JIMMY Feehan sent off and Philip Austin stretchered off as they fell to a first Allianz League Division 3 defeat of the season.
Visitors Sligo – who led by ten points in the second half – survived a Tipperary fightback to win by the bare minimum at a freezing Semple Stadium.
First half goals from Kyle Cawley and Niall Murphy proved crucial for Sligo as Niall Carew’s charges built on their opening day draw against Armagh with victory over last year’s beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists.
Austin’s 66th minute point saw him collide with Sligo goalkeeper Aidan Devaney – and the Borrisokane man left the field on a stretcher.
And Tipp lost the services of Feehan in the 45th minute to a second yellow card, the Killenaule man a fraction late on goalscorer Murphy with an attempted shoulder.
Despite trailing by 0-10 to 2-14 with 15 minutes left, Tipp could have taken something from the game at the end, but were left to rue what could be a costly defeat in the promotion race.
Michael Quinlivan sent a 76th-minute free wide from an inviting position before Robbie Kiely’s thunderous drive from distance was deflected out for a ’45 by Sligo skipper Neil Ewing.
In the eighth minute of stoppage time, O’Halloran drifted his ’45 over the crossbar and when play restarted, referee Niall Ward blew for full-time.
As they did in their opening day win over Antrim, Tipp produced a sluggish first half performance, with the matchday attendance on this occasion registered at 749, up 27 on the Antrim game.
Cawley struck in the ninth minute following good approach play from John Kelly and Niall Murphy.
And Murphy, who provided the assist for Cawley, goaled himself in the 27th minute.
It was an avoidable goal from a Tipp viewpoint as Keelan Cawley, who would go off injured before half-time, picked off Evan Comerford’s kickout before feeding Murphy for the finish.
Tipp were better in the second chance and while Austin missed a big goal chance with 17 minutes left, Quinlivan netted for Tipp seven minutes from time to give the 14 men some hope.
Scorers for Sligo: Kyle Cawley 1-2, Niall Murphy 1-1, Adrian Marren 0-4 (2f), Mark Breheny 0-3 (2f), Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch 0-2, Aidan Devaney (45) & Criostóir Davey 0-1.
Scorers for Tipperary: Michael Quinlivan 1-2 (0-2f), Conor Sweeney 0-5 (3f), Kevin O’Halloran 0-4 (2f, 1 45), Alan Moloney 0-2, Brian Fox, Philip Austin & Liam Boland 0-1 each.
Sligo
1 Aidan Devaney (Calry/St. Joseph’s)
2 Ross Donavan (Eastern Harps)
3 Kevin McDonnell (Castleconnor)
4 Noel Gaughan (Tourlestrane)
5 Keelan Cawley (Coolera/Strandhill)
6 Neil Ewing (Drumcliffe/Rosses Point (Capt))
7 Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch (St. Mary’s)
8 Paddy O’Connor (St. Farnan’s)
9 Adrian McIntyre (Tourlestrane)
10 Criostoir Davey (Coolaney/Mullinabreena)
11 Mark Breheny (St. Mary’s)
12 John Kelly (Tourlestrane)
13 Kyle Cawley (St. Mary’s)
14 Adrian Marre (Curry)
15 Niall Murphy (Coolera/Strandhill)
Subs
17. Eoin McHugh (St Molaise Gaels) for Keelan Cawley (inj., 32)
20. Stephen Gilmartin (Tubbercurry) for O’Connor (60)
19. Stephen Coen (St Mary’s) for Murphy (62)
21. James Hynes (St Farnan’s) for Davey (70+4)
25. Enda Connolly (St Patrick’s) for Donovan (inj., 70+8)
Tipperary
1. Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)
2. Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers)
3. Paddy Codd (Killenaule)
4. Willie Connors (Kiladangan)
5. Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials)
6. Robbie Kiely (Carbery Rangers)
7. Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule)
8. Alan Moloney (Rockwell Rovers)
9. Martin Dunne (Moyle Rovers)
10. Josh Keane (Golden-Kilfeacle)
11. Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
12. Brian Fox (Captain) (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill)
13. Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen
14. Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials)
15. Philip Austin (Borrisokane)
Subs
17. Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe) for McGrath (h.t.)
20. Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch) for Fahey (50)
23. Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials) for Keane (58)
22. Liam Casey (Cahir) for Dunne (58)
21. Liam Boland (Moyle Rovers) for Austin (inj., 69)
Referee: Niall Ward (Westmeath)
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