Tailteann Cup Group Two

Down 2-18 Tipperary 0-6

By Noel Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

Down claimed their second successive victory in the Tailteann Cup when they totally outclassed a disappointing Tipperary side at FBD Semple Stadium.

A one-sided affair, Tipperary were well beaten by the visitors', who came with real intent and purpose and who had no great challenge.

Down came to Thurles and made four changes to their named 15 with Daniel Guinness, Ryan Johnson, Andrew Gilmore and Ceilum Doherty all starting in a sparsely populated stadium at the start.

By the time the half way mark was sounded, the visitors had three subs on despite holding a comfortable 0-9 to 0-4 lead.

Having lost the first round to Meath, Tipperary started well in this game with a Sean O’Connor point setting them on their way. Pat Havern levelled the tie with a pointed free for Down and the towering midfielder would fire over 0-5 in the first half to contribute significantly to the northerners lead – four of those coming from placed balls.

Tipp regained the lead through Jack Kennedy, but Down hit the next seven points in succession with Havern (4), Andrew Gilmore, Ceilum Doherty and Ryan Johnson all getting in the scoring act.

Tipperary were finding it hard to get out of their own half at this juncture and a lack of penetration up front was a real problem for them. Indeed, it took them 30 minutes after their second to score to grab their third point through a Jack Kennedy free and Kennedy followed up with another before the break to cancel a Shealan Johnson point for Down.

At the interval, few were in doubt that Down would secure their second victory of the Tailteann Cup in this game. They were operating at a different level to Tipperary and the fact that they made those first half changes indicated the managements intent.

They could have had a few green flags in the first half too, but were denied by bad luck as the post came to Tipperary’s rescue on one occasion and another few chances going abegging too.

Tipperary needed to up the ante big time in the second period if they were to make any kind of impression, but there were real question marks about their ability to do so.

Down had extended their lead to six points thanks to efforts from Danny Magill (2) against one from sub Teddy when Tipp were awarded a penalty after a foul on Sean O’Connor. However, Kevin Fahey’s effort went wide of the post and add to Tipperary’s woes, Down went up-field and netted through Shealan Johnston to end the game as a contest.

It got worse for Tipp as Odhran Murdock bagged a second Down goal and an indication of how easily they were ripping through the Tipp defence was the fact that they fisted five points over the bar during the course of the game.

Down left the field with a spring in their step and they will face Meath in the next round, while Tipperary cut a despondent look as they trudged off at the end with Waterford next on the agenda for them.

Scorers for Down: Pat Havern 0-7 (5fs), Shealan Johnston 1-2, Odhran Murdock 1-0, Danny Magill 0-3, Eamonn Brown 0-2 (2fs), Ryan Johnston 0-1, Andrew Gilmore 0-1(f), Ceilum Doherty 0-1, Ross Carr 0-1

Scorers for Tipperary: Jack Kenendy 0-4 (2fs), Sean O’Connor 0-1, Teddy Doyle 0-1.

Down: John O’Hare, Finn McElroy, Pierce Laverty, Anthony Doherty, Conor Francis, Gerard Collins, Patrick Branagan, Daniel Guinness, Pat Havern, Michael Rooney, Ryan Johnson, Odhran Murdoch, Andrew Gilmore, Ruairi O’Hare, Ceilum Doherty.

Subs: Shealan Johnston for Ruairi O’Hare; Donagh McAleenan for Andrew Gilmore; Danny Magill for Daniel Guinness; Ross Carr for Finn McElroy; Eamon Brown for Pat Havern.

Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly, Shane O’Connell, Jimmy Feehan, Willie Eviston, Kevin Fahey, Colm O’Shaughnessy, Colman Kennedy, Paudie Feehan, Conall Kennedy, Emmet Moloney, Jack Kennedy, Luke Boland, Mark Russell, Stephen Quirke, Sean O’Connor.

Subs: Teddy Doyle for Paudie Feehan; James Morris for Conal Kennedy; Mikey O’Shea for Stephen Quirke; Donagh Leahy for Colm O’Shaughnessy.

Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).