Ryan insists Tipp rebuild will take time

London's Liam Gallagher celebrates kicking the winning point. Pic: Ken Sutton/Inpho

Division 4: Tipperary 0-17 (0-3-11) London 2-13 (2-1-11)  

Philly Ryan stressed that his Tipperary rebuild will take some time after fumbling their opportunity to go top of Division 4 by losing to London.

The Premier boss conceded that the Exiles were fully deserving of their victory at Semple Stadium, secured with Liam Gallagher’s last-gasp two-pointer after 74 minutes of play.

That winner was initially ruled a one-pointer but even though the orange flag wasn't waved, it was upgraded to two upon the final whistle.

“We just didn’t turn up in areas of the pitch that we would be very disappointed with,” said Ryan.

“When you leave a team in a game, there’s always a chance of them nicking it. They took it at the end and deservedly so. We can’t have any complaints.

“London are probably a small bit ahead of where we are in their athletic development.

“We’re hugely disappointed but we have to remember three lads got their first start so over the course of the last few games, we’ve had nine lads who started their first game for Tipp.

“This is a work in progress. It’s going to take a while. I did say previously I felt we outboxed ourselves so we’re going to have to work at it.” Ciarán Diver and Shay Rafter’s goals pushed London 2-3 to 0-7 ahead at half-time but they still needed Thomas Lenihan to equalise in the second added minute.

Postponements had given Tipp the opportunity to leapfrog Wexford but this first defeat sees them fall behind Limerick into third on points difference.

The Munster rivals will meet at Rathkeale on Saturday evening with Steven O’Brien facing a “race against time” to make that trip due to a quad injury.

“Wicklow would’ve considered themselves a promotion hope, they went to London and lost, so there’s other teams going to lose as we go,” added Ryan.

“We’re not going to get downbeat over this. We didn’t target promotion from the outset, we would’ve looked at developing a young team and that’s still where we are.” 

Scorers for Tipperary: S O’Connor (0-8, 1 two-point free, 5 frees); M Russell (0-3, 1 two-pointer); C Smith, M Barlow (1 two-pointer) (0-2 each); L Boland, M Freaney (0-1 each).

Scorers for London: C Diver (1-3); S Rafter (1-1); L Gallagher (0-4, 1 two-pointer); T Barry (0-2); K Healy, T Lenihan, P Dolan (free) (0-1 each).

TIPPERARY: S Ryan; M McFadden, J Feehan, J Harney; T Condon, L Boland, M Stokes; C Deely, M Russell; J Nevin, M O’Shea, M Freaney; C Smith, M Barlow, S O’Connor.

Subs: E Moloney for Harney (35, inj), B Comerford for Freaney (h-t, inj), P Feehan for Nevin (41), D Brennan for Barlow (58), K Costello for

Condon (63).

LONDON: A Walsh; S Taylor, D Rooney, N McElwaine; E Walsh, C Gallagher, A McLoughlin; L Gallagher, T Barry; J Obahor, D Clarke, K Healy; P Dolan, S Rafter, C Diver.

Subs: DJ O’Flaherty for Obahor (43), T Lenihan for Dolan (54), S Tucker for McLoughlin (60), M Walsh for C Gallagher (63).

Referee: C Ryan (Galway).