Evans hails Tipp ‘Independence Day’ after morale-boosting win

JOHN EVANS declared July 4 as Independence Day for Tipperary football after Saturday’s landmark qualifier win against Louth.

The Premier County, impressive in the NFL this year, scored a first championship victory since 2003 as they came away with a gritty one-point win from Drogheda’s Gaelic Grounds.

Evans has masterminded two successive promotions since taking charge but this was his first championship success, at the fourth time of asking. Tipp’s long wait for success in the championship had stretched back six years, when they defeated Carlow, but the NFL Division 3 champions now face Sligo in the second round qualifiers with optimism.