A crucial 3-19 to 0-14 win for Wicklow drove them to the top of Division 4, overtaking Carlow and Longford on the way.
Going into the match, Wicklow sat in fourth place, level on points with Tipperary, however, today’s result moved them into first place, tied with Carlow on points but ahead on score difference.
Tipp kept possession well in the opening minutes, working hard to find a decent scoring position against the solid Wicklow defence, as the gusty wind kept them at bay from attempting any long-range efforts.
Kevin Quinn opened the scoring after seven minutes, with a left-footed two-pointer from the top of the arc, followed by a second orange flag only three minutes later.
Wicklow’s opening goal arrived when Oisín McGraynor picked out Pádraig O’Toole with a backdoor pass, and the Kiltegan man buried the ball into the bottom corner.
Oisín McConville’s men almost put the game to bed in the first half, scoring 2-15 to Tipp’s 0-3, with the help of a strong wing towards Aughrim Village.
Kevin Quinn led the Garden County’s scoring, with 1-5 on the day, including two 2-pointers, while Mark Jackson once again popped up on the scoresheet, with two free kicks from past the 40-metre arc.
Perhaps the pinnacle of Wicklow’s performance today came through a goal scored by Eoin Darcy, where Mark Jackson launched a long kick to Dean Healy, who plucked it out of the sky and played it forward to Padraig O’Toole, fisting it onto Darcy for an open goal – three passes from backs to forwards.
Sean O’Connor of Tipperary launched a brief comeback for the Premier County, kicking 0-7 with three 2-pointers, but Tipp’s eight misses let the Wicklow men run away with the win.
Wicklow will play Longford in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park next week in hopes of promotion to Division 3, while Tipperary hosts Waterford, who are yet to get a point in this campaign.
Elsewhere in Division 4 this weekend, Carlow suffered a shock home loss to London (0-18 to 1-20), Antrim travelled to Waterford and walked away with a comprehensive victory (0-11 to 4-18), and Leitrim hosted their neighbours Longford, winning 3-19 to 1-13.
There is no guarantee who will be promoted next weekend, as only two points separate first and seventh place, leaving it all to play for on the final day.
Wicklow scorers: Kevin Quinn (1-5), Oisin McGraynor (0-5), Eoin Darcy (1-2), Mark Jackson (0-4), Pádraig O,Toole (1-1), Christopher O’Brien (0-1), Conor Fee (0-1)
Tipperary Scorers: Sean O’Connor (0-7), Cian Smith (0-2), Steven O’Brien (0-2), Luke Boland (0-2), James Morris (0-1)
