Daithí Hogan's goal and a late string of points saw Tipperary maintain their unbeaten start to Allianz Football League Division 4, while knocking 13-man Antrim’s promotion hopes at Moneygall.
Saffron hopes of a bounce-back victory were severely wounded when John Carron received a straight red card before half-time.
Once Hogan rocketed Tipp ahead in the 38th minute, they were never headed.
The visitors still reeled them back within one point down the stretch, but Seán O’Connor scored the final three points of a 0-07 tally, while Pat Shivers was sent off for a second booking in stoppage time.
With Semple Stadium deemed unplayable on Friday following heavy rain, St Flannan’s Park, perched right on the Tipp-Offaly border, stepped in to host its first-ever inter-county football match.
Both teams made changes from their published teams. On the home side, Micheál Freaney and Steven O’Brien were drafted in for Eoin Craddock and Cathal Deely.
The visitors replaced full-back Kevin McCann and their half-forward line of Patrick McBride, Conor Small, and Seán O’Neill with James McAuley, Ronan Quinn, Conhuir Johnston, and Dominic McEnhill.
O’Donovan Rossa star McEnhill accounted for 0-05 from play, including the game’s only two-pointers in the eighth and 24th minutes.
However, Antrim only got off six shots with the wind in heavy underfoot conditions as Tipp bossed possession with a series of slow attacks. Hogan and O’Connor were their two scorers from play across the afternoon.
Both hit the target early on, but they were Tipp’s only points from their first nine attempts.Antrim led 0-05 to 0-04 when the game turned on Carron’s red card.
Linesman Conor Lane spoke with referee Ian Monaghan, who indicated a strike with the elbow on Paudie Feehan.
A Cian Smith free levelled at 0-05 apiece at the break.Turning to take the wind advantage as well as the extra man, Tipp looked well positioned.
Johnston slalomed through to give Antrim one last lead before a quick-passing exchange by O’Connor and Freaney created the goal for Hogan to blast home.
The St Patrick’s prospect would finish with 1-03.Shivers and McEnhill brought it back to a one-point game, but Tipp kicked the next three through a Hogan mark and frees from O’Connor and Smith.Antrim were right back in the mix after 54 minutes.
McEnhill’s shot dropped short and pinballed for Paddy McAleer to slide to the net; 1-09 to 1-08.
Freaney almost profited from a similar situation at the other end, but John McNabb and Eoghan McCabe scrambled off the line.
Midfielder McAleer had another chance in the 63rd minute, only for this shot to be blocked.
A Shivers free cut the gap to one, but Mark Russell’s high fielding, Hogan’s composure, and O’Connor’s scores wrestled control back in Tipp’s direction.
The Premier welcome table-toppers Carlow in a fortnight, while Antrim go in search of a first victory against Longford.
TIPPERARY: S Garland; J Harney, J Morris, E O’Connell; C King, P Feehan, L Boland; J Higgins, K Costello; M Stokes, S O’Brien, M Freaney; C Smith (0-03, 3f), S O’Connor (0-07, 5f), D Hogan (1-03, 0-01m).
Subs: M Russell for Higgins (58), K Butler for King (58), C Deely for O’Brien (58), P O’Keeffe for Smith (63), J O’Neill for Stokes (68).
ANTRIM: J McNabb; J McAuley, J Finnegan, K Keenan; E Walsh, E McCabe, M Jordan; P McAleer (1-00), J Carron; R Quinn, O Doherty, N Burns (0-01); P Shivers (0-02, 2f), C Johnston (0-01), D McEnhill (0-05, 2tp).
Subs: C Hynds for Burns (42), P McBride for Quinn (49), R McQuillan for Doherty (61), C Hand for Keenan (69).Referee: I Monaghan (Roscommon).
