Tipp promotion push on track after easy win over Carlow

Tipperary's promotion hopes remain in their own hands after Mikey O’Shea’s haul of 1-2 helped deliver an 11-point win over Carlow at FBD Semple Stadium.

The Premier go into their final Division 4 clash next weekend against London knowing a win will be enough, while the visitors suffered their fifth defeat from six outings.

Tipp shot out of the blocks with eight of the first ten points of the game, with midfielder Mark Russell stamping his authority on the visitors.

The Aherlow man fisted over after three minutes, and then thundered over two long-range bombs inside the opening 16 minutes to take his tally to 0-03.

Conor Sweeney clipped over a pearler from the sideline, and O’Shea added a couple from corner-forward to underline his growing reputation in Tipp.

Jamie Clarke’s two frees were all Carlow had to show inside the opening 19 minutes, though Darragh Foley could have made a big dent on the hosts but his close-range goal chance was blocked.

The Barrowiders were convinced there was a foot block by a Premier defender, yet referee David Murnane was unmoved.

Foley knocked over a point moments later to pare the deficit before Sean O’Connor notched his first for Tipperary.

At 0-09 to 0-03 behind heading towards the half-hour mark, Carlow needed to make an impression and did so with scores through Clarke (two frees) and Conor Crowley.

Tipp’s chances took a blow when sharpshooter Sweeeney had to be withdrawn before the interval, meaning their remaining attackers would have to step up.

O’Shea did just that when intercepting Ciaran Cunningham’s errant kickout on 37 minutes, soloing at a Carlow defender, and finding the net from ten yards.

His sidekick O’Connor then pinged over a pair of frees, giving Tipp a useful 1-11 to 0-07 lead by 42