Antrim and Tipperary upset the odds

Gaelic football: There were some major upsets in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers today as both Galway and Wexford saw themselves…

Gaelic football:There were some major upsets in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers today as both Galway and Wexford saw themselves dumped out of the championship by supposed lesser lights.

Tipperarydefeated Wexford on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-15 in Semple Stadium. Tipperary started the game impressively and a goal from Donagh Leahy saw them take charge early on, and they arguably should have been further in front at half-time, going in just three up at half-time.

Tipperary started the second half well again with Philip Austin and Michael Quinlivan helping them to open a five-point gap. Ciaran Lyng and Ben Brosnan dragged Wexford back into the game but Tipp were always able to keep their noses in front with some vital scores from Alan Maloney and Brian Fox. Wexford had a late chance to snatch a draw but Brosna’s effort drifted wide and the Premier county held out.

There was another shock result in Casement Park, with Antrimedging out Galway 0-11 to 0-10. The game was tight all through, with rarely less than a point between the teams. A nervy Galway introduced Padraic Joyce late on and his first contribution on the field was to put his side ahead, but a determined Antrim fought back and clinched victory through points from Tomás McCann and substitute Deaglán O'Hagan.

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Elsewhere, Tyroneadvanced to the next round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers with something to spare in a 1-16 to 0-8 win over Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park.

Roscommon could have gone in front just before half-time with the scores tied at 0-4 apiece, but a quickly taken free was wasted and Tyrone swept down the field to score through Eoin Mulligan and kickstart a run of three unanswered points before the break

Three minutes into the second half Tyrone moved further clear, Mark Donnelly was fouled inside the area and Peter Harte buried the resultant penalty. From there they moved through the gears and closed out an easy win, with substitute Darren McCurry adding the grace notes after coming on as a substitute and registering 0-4 from play.

An impressive Limerickdefeated Longford on a scoreline of 1-21 to 1-15 after extra time in Pearse Park. A Longford goal from Niall Mulligan had put them in the lead approaching half-time, and it would take until three minutes into extra time before Limerick would regain the upper hand.

Longford led by three points at various stages in the second half but Limerick were slowly reeling them in and a Derry O’Connor point sent the game into extra time with the sides tied at 1-12 to 0-15.

Limerick took charge in extra time thanks to some sharp shooting from Ian Ryan, and two red cards for Longford – Declan Reilly and David Barden – didn’t help their cause. A late goal from O’Connor sealed the win for the Treaty County.

In the day's final football game Leitrimrecorded their first ever win in the qualifiers when they defeated Wicklow 0-13 to 0-10 in Carrick-on-Shannon.

All Ireland SFC qualifiers, Round Two

Tyrone 1-16 Roscommon 0-8
Limerick 1-21 Longford 1-15 (After extra time)
Tipperary 1-13 Wexford 0-15
Antrim 0-11 Galway 0-10
Leitrim 0-13 Wicklow 0-10