Advertisement
Tipperary's Colin O’Riordan celebrates after the final whistle. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Report

Tipperary advance to round 4 after stunning victory over Laois

The hosts overturned a ten-point deficit to level matters in the 63rd minute.

All-Ireland SFC 3A qualifier

Laois 4-9
Tipperary 3-17

PETER CREEDON’S TIPPERARY have taken themselves to within 70 minutes of the All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-finals with a stunning victory over Laois in this evening’s round 3A qualifier in Portlaoise.

The hosts had overturned a ten-point deficit to level matters in the 63rd minute but Tipp rallied again and will now meet the Connacht final losers, Galway or Mayo, in round 4.

This was another noteworthy win for Tipp against a Laois side that finished with 14 men.

Three players — Robbie Kehoe, Padraig McMahon and Niall Donoher — were blackcarded, and with Laois having used six substitutes, they had to finish the game a man down.

Meredith was the last to go in the closing minutes and Tipp finished with a flourish, as Barry Grogan netted in the 69th minute to seal a famous win.

Tipp did beat Laois in the 2010 qualifiers before the O’Moore County gained revenge a year later. But in terms of Tipperary’s development and where they want to go, this was a huge success.

And they showed real character to close the game out after being pegged back.

In a first half littered with goal chances, Conor Sweeney netted twice for Tipperary to establish a 2-10 to 1-3 half-time lead, while Laois had also lost captain Ross Munnelly to injury.

John O’Loughlin had struck an early goal for Laois and the home side were on fire after the restart.

Sub James Finn raised a green flag in the 38th minute and when Meredith netted four minutes later, the comeback was well and truly on.

Laois kept plugging away and 1-1 from sub David Conway had Laois level with seven minutes remaining.

Scorers for Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 2-2 (0-1f), Barry Grogan 1-3 (0-1f), Philip Austin 0-4, Michael Quinlivan 0-3, Brian Fox & Colin O’Riordan 0-2 each, Peter Acheson 0-1.

Scorers for Laois: David Conway 1-1, Donal Kingston 0-4 (3f), James Finn & John O’Loughlin 1-0 each, Billy Sheehan, Niall Donoher, E Costello & Michael John Tierney (45) 0-1 each.

Sligo beat Limerick by two points in Round 3A Qualifier>

Kilkenny repeat league final dose to dismiss courageous Clare>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
5
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.