Tailteann Cup: Wicklow progress after defeat of Tipp
Tipperary manager Niall Fitzgerald. Pic: INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon
An eight-point second-half streak powered Wicklow into their third consecutive Tailteann Cup quarter-final, beating Tipperary by that very margin at Echelon Park, Aughrim.
Last year’s semi-finalists weathered the gale with an early Kevin Quinn goal and the full-forward tacked on a pair of two-pointers after the break to complete a 1-6 tally.
Tipp had just two scorers from play, and three overall, as Malachy Stone was stuck tight to Seán O’Connor throughout. Paddy Creedon was their standout performer with 0-5 from play on his first championship start.
Niall Fitzgerald made four late changes to the published Tipp team. They included a first start of the year for Jimmy Feehan, Steven O’Brien’s first championship start of 2026, and Creedon’s full championship debut. Killian Butler also came in, with Mark Corcoran, Emmet Moloney, Eoin Craddock, and Cian Smith missing out.
In the first-ever championship meeting between these sides, Wicklow won the toss and chose to play against a strong wind. Between the conditions and the high error count, it was no thriller.
There was a seven-minute wait for a score until a quickfire 1-1 had Wicklow in pole position.
Within 20 seconds of Pádraig O’Toole’s opening point, the ball was in the back of the Tipp net. As Shane Garland sought to get the kick-out away quickly, Quinn swooped to claim possession and fed Eoin Darcy. His shot was saved by Garland, but Quinn was on hand to tap in the rebound.
Creedon broke Tipp’s duck in the 11th minute and they were almost level moments later. Daithí Hogan squared for O’Brien, whose palmed effort was tipped over by Mark Jackson.
After Oisín McGraynor’s fisted point, Wicklow would add just one more in the subsequent 21 minutes.
Garland came up with a crucial intervention to deny O’Toole before Creedon and O’Connor, after a free for dissent, landed two-pointers to edge ahead.
Joe Prendergast, during a brief blood-sub cameo, brought the sides level for the first time, but O’Brien sent Tipp in with a slender 0-7 to 1-3 half-time lead.
They came out strong with an O’Connor free and Creedon’s fourth boosting them three clear.
Wicklow were level within five minutes as McGraynor kicked two frees and laid on a point for Quinn. When Quinn played a sideline one-two to split the posts, the hosts were back ahead.
A sloppy Tipp pass was almost punished with a goal, only for Garland to produce a double-save from O’Toole. Once the exasperated Paudie Feehan was pinged for charging at Jackson when in with a goal chance, Wicklow countered for their first orange flag, through Quinn.
Substitute Mark Kenny and a Darcy free completed an eight-point streak for 1-11 to 0-9.
Creedon’s fifth snapped that burst, but Wicklow came upfield for Quinn’s second two-pointer.
Tipp battled on as Jackson made a fine save from Jack O’Neill. Even when he was beaten by O’Connor, Gavin Fogarty got back for a goalline block.
Liam O’Neill added the cherry on top for Wicklow with a last-kick orange flag.
: K Quinn (1-6, 2tp); O McGraynor (0-3, 2 frees); P O’Toole, L O’Neill (tp) (0-2 each); J Prendergast, J Carlin, E Darcy (free), M Kenny (0-1 each).
P Creedon (1tp), S O’Connor (1tpf, 3f) (0-5 each); S O’Brien (0-2 each).
: M Jackson; T Moran, M Nolan, M Stone; D Fee, E Murtagh, G Fogarty; D Healy, J Kirwan; J Carlin, P O’Toole, C O’Brien; O McGraynor, K Quinn, E D’Arcy.
Subs: J Prendergast for Carlin (24-27, blood), M Kenny for Kirwan (57), Prendergast for O’Brien (62), C Deering for Murtagh (66), L O’Neill for McGraynor (67), C Fee for Darcy (68).
: S Garland; J O’Neill, E O’Connell, J Feehan; K Butler, J Morris, C King; J Higgins, P Feehan; K Costello, M Freaney, S O’Brien; P Creedon, S O’Connor, D Hogan.
Subs: L Boland for Butler (42), E Craddock for Hogan (53), D Brennan for Freaney (62), D O’Connor for Higgins (67), E Moloney for King (68).
Referee: K Eannetta (Tyrone).
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