Tipperary showed that they should be considered contenders for Tailteann Cup glory thanks to an impressive two-point win over Sligo at Markievicz Park.
A strong first half, during which they scored four two-pointers, was the foundation for Tipperary's fine win. Full-forward Sean O’Connor scored two of these two-pointers and 0-06 in all.
Sligo, who trailed all the way through, only played in fits and starts but Pat Spillane’s brace of two-pointers ignited a second-half rally that almost forced extra-time.
Sligo were back at the venue where they underperformed when losing by a point to their neighbours, Leitrim, in last month’s Connacht GAA Football Championship quarter-final.
That was a shock result for Sligo, given their Allianz Football League Division 3 status compared to Leitrim, who operated in Division 4 this year.
Sligo had recent bragging rights over Tipperary in the Tailteann Cup - they won by five points, 2-15 to 2-10, when the counties met at Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry on 11 May of 2025.
The visitors came into this game on the back of a Munster campaign that included a five-point defeat of Waterford and then a 15-point loss to Cork in the semi-final.
Tipperary finished fifth in Division 4 of this year’s Allianz Football League but just two points off Carlow, who topped the standings, and a point behind second-placed Longford.
Tipperary, who were breeze-assisted in the first half, made a blistering start and had built up a five-point lead by the ninth minute, 0-06 to 0-01.
Two early two-pointers set the tone for Tipperary, with Micheal Freaney and Daithi Hogan finding the range from distance. Sean O’Connor would also impressively land a brace of two-pointers for the visitors, who were good value for a seven-point lead by the 30th minute, 0-11 to 0-04.
Sligo were struggling to make inroads, even with good work from Ross Doherty and Gavin Gorman, but the gloom lifted when Lee Deignan netted in the 34th minute from a Niall Murphy pass.
This goal revived Sligo but Tipperary, who kicked four two-pointers in that opening period along with half a dozen wides, merited their 0-11 to 1-04 interval lead.
Sligo had the wind for the second-half but only sparked into life in the last 10 minutes when substitute Pat Spillane kicked a couple of mighty two-pointers.
Tipperary continued to control matters, especially through midfielders Joe Higgins and Paudie Feehan, with Charlie King also busy and shooting 0-02.
But they were lucky in the 56th minute when Cian Lally’s pass to the back post was overhit and it didn’t reach Niall Murphy as Sligo looked to profit from a counterattack led by Lee Deignan.
Sligo did manage to close the gap to two points as the clock ticked down but Niall Murphy’s attempt to convert a two-pointer free dropped short - had it gone over matters would have gone into extra-time.
Sligo: Aidan Devaney, Tommy Ross, Ross Doherty, Luke Casserly, Daire O’Boyle, Jack Lavin, Cian Lally, Gavin Gorman (0-01), James Donlon, Lee Deignan (1-00), Darragh Cummins (0-01), Conor Sheridan, Alan McLoughlin (0-01, 1f), Niall Murphy (0-04, 1f), Shane Deignan (0-01)
Subs: Paul Kilcoyne for Gavin Gorman (24, blood sub), David Quinn for Shane Deignan (43), Pat Spillane (0-04, 2tp) for Daire O’Boyle (49), Eddie McGuinness for James Donlon (56), Kyle Cawley for Cian Lally (58), Mark McDaniel for Darragh Cummins (65)
Tipperary: Shane Garland, Jack O’Neill, Eoin O’Connell, Mark Corcoran, Charlie King (0-02), James Morris, Emmet Moloney (0-01), Joe Higgins (0-01), Paudie Feehan, Killian Butler, Micheal Freaney (0-02, 1tp), Eoin Craddock (0-01), Cian Smith (0-02, 1f), Sean O’Connor (0-06, 2tp), Daithi Hogan (0-02, 1tp)
Subs: Darragh O’Connor for Joe Higgins (29, blood sub), Paddy Creedon for Cian Smith (56), Luke Boland for Killian Butler (59), Steven O’Brien for Eoin Craddock (69)
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)
