NFL DIVISION THREE Cavan 4-10 Tipperary 0-14:TIPPERARY'S relegation fears were compounded in Thurles yesterday as the hosts suffered a fourth defeat in Division Three of the Allianz National Football League.

Cavan eased their own relegation worries with a comfortable eight-point victory as corner forward Martin Dunne bagged 2-4.

On a thoroughly miserable afternoon for Tipperary, the home side finished the match with 13 men as midfielder Brian Jones was sent off before half-time while corner forward and top scorer Barry Grogan also received a straight red card in stoppage time at the end of the game.

Cavan did not finish with their full complement either as Brendan Fitzpatrick was dismissed seven minutes before half-time.

Tipperary did lead by 0-3 to 0-2 in the early stages but Dunne and centre forward Mark McKeever scored first half goals to help open up a 2-6 to 0-6 lead for Cavan. The visitors added further goals in the second half from Dunne and wing-back Barry Watters.

TIPPERARY: M O'Donnell; E Connolly, L Egan, C McDonald; D Lynch, T Ryan, R Kiely; G Hannigan, B Jones; S Carey, P Austin, D Heffernan (0-1); P Acheson (0-1), S Ryan (0-1), B Grogan (0-9, seven frees). Subs: H Coghlan (0-1) for Hannigan (h/t.), D Butler for S Ryan (43), B O'Brien (0-1f) for Carey (52), E Ryan for Lynch (59).

CAVAN: K Fannin; D Barkey, D Reilly, R Flanagan; B Watters (1-0), P O'Reilly (0-1), R Maloney-Derham; D Givney, G McKiernan (0-1); N Smith, M McKeever (1-1), K Meehan; B Fitzpatrick, N McDermott (0-3, one free), M Dunne (2-4, one free). Subs: D O'Dowd for O'Reilly ( 59), S McCormack for Meehan (64), D McKiernan for G McKiernan (70+2).

Referee: M Meade(Limerick).