Tipperary seal promotion with win over London in Allianz Football League

A fifth win on the bounce secured promotion for Tipperary as they saw off the stubborn challenge of London in their key Division 4 contest in Thurles.

A disastrous start to the campaign saw Tipp drop three points in their opening two games but David Power's charges played their way back into the promotion race, and they were rewarded with a deserved but hard-earned victory which carries with it the bonus of a final clash with table-toppers Cavan at Croke Park next weekend.

Tipperary started strongly and buoyed by a Mark Russell goal after 21 minutes went 1-06 to 0-01 clear. Kevin Fahey added a Tipp point before London found their feet.

With Matt Moynihan, Liam Gavaghan and James Hynes showing the way, four points without reply had London breathing down Tipp’s neck but a Sean O’Connor injury-time point from a free gave Tipp an interval lead of 1-08 to 0-06.

London kept up the chase in the second half and might have had a goal but Stephen Dornan blazed over the bar in the 43rd minute with a gilt-edged chance.

Tipperary were doing enough to protect their interval lead but again London were denied a goal when Tipp goalkeeper Michael O'Reilly’s outstretched leg turned a Liam Gavaghan effort out for a '45 after 50 minutes.

London needed a goal and threw everything into attack but Tipp coped well with the pressure, never letting their five-point interval lead slip to clinch an immediate return to Division 3.

Despite the unavailability of a number of key players, manager Power and his squad achieved their objective in securing promotion and can look forward with confidence to the forthcoming championship.

Conal Kennedy and Jack Kennedy were outstanding in this contest but Kevin Fahey, Mikey O’Shea, Robbie Kiely and goalkeeper Michael