Round-up: Allianz FL D4 action:
Allianz Football League Division Four
London 2-13 (2-1-11) Tipperary 0-17 (0-3-11)
Limerick 1-17 (1-2-13) Carlow 0-13 (0-0-13)
Liam Gallagher’s two-pointer with the last kick of the game in Semple Stadium gave Michael Maher’s side a one-point win over Tipperary in Semple Stadium, edging them into the promotion mix in a fiercely competitive Division Four battle.
Tipperary came into this contest in excellent form with two wins and a draw in their first three starts, and they got out to a fine start here too, moving five points clear with scores from Micheál Freaney, Mark Russell and Michael Barlow.
London got a lifeline after 22 minutes from a Ciarán Diver goal and six minutes later they were suddenly right back on level terms when Shay Rafter hit the net, with Kristian Healy the creator.
The contest continued to be incredibly tight for the remainder of the game, with London leading by two at half-time, Tipp levelling through a Seán O’Connor orange flag, and then playing their part in a razor-tight contest right up until stoppage time.
Cian Smith drew the home side level, Mark Russell hit a double to give them a lead, but Thomas Lenihan and Gallagher kicked the scores to give London their second win of the campaign.
That result, combined with Limerick’s seven-point win in Netwatch Cullen Park, means that the Treaty County have leapfrogged their neighbours into the second promotion spot, behind Wexford, whose clash with Wicklow tomorrow has been postponed.
Most of the scores in the first half in Carlow came from frees. One – from Limerick’s Josh Ryan – came from outside the arc, and that proved to be the difference in between the sides at half time, with Limerick 0-7 to 0-6 in front.
James Naughton hit the net early in the second half to give Limerick some breathing room, and once Conor Crowley narrowly missed his chance to reply in kind for Carlow, the visitors always had a bit to spare.
Further encouragement for Jimmy Lee came from the strong contribution from his bench, with Tadhg Ó Siochrú, Peter Nash and Danny Neville kicking points off the bench to see them home.