Cavan 2-10 Tipperary 0-15
Division Four football gets a bad rap, but the standard on display today in Croke Park for the Division Four final between Tipperary and Cavan was excellent.
There’s no denying the Munster side set up very defensively, but they did kick some absolute wonder scores, including an outside the boot effort by Mark Russell that was so satisfying to watch split the posts.
Goals win games though, and Cavan found the net twice thanks to a Paddy Lynch double, as the forward managed to find the net in both halves.
The first goal in particular was beautiful to watch as Cavan just threaded the ball through the Tipp defence with a beautifully weighted pass, and Lynch just found himself in acres of space before slotting it home.
Thomas Galligan was his usual self, bombing up and down Croke Park like he was just hooked up to a fresh pack of Duracell batteries, and played a pivotal role in most of the Ulster side’s attacks.
No surprises that Conor Sweeney was the main threat for Tipperary, scoring six points, three from play, and was always dangerous.
With just a point in it, and the clock ticking well into injury time, Teddy Doyle received the ball in the half forward line, scanned his options and chose to put it right on top of the full forward.
That full forward was substitute Stephen Quirke, who did brilliantly to shield off the defender, before catching the ball cleanly and shuffling his feet to make just enough room to smash an effort for goal off his left boot.
74 nóim #CAVvTIP@CavanCoBoardGaa 2-10@TipperaryGAA 0-15
Críoch spleodrach gan dabht!
A point in the end for Tipp! 1 min to go #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO@GAA_BEO @AllianzIreland
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/bHD9Tu5S2x
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 2, 2022
However, Quirke’s effort, which would have put them two in front, rattled the crossbar, and even bounced straight down in such a way that any tap forward would have pushed it over the line.
Instead it was hoovered up by the Cavan defence, and Mickey Graham’s side managed to hold on to that one point lead, and claim the Division Four title.
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