Tailteann Cup – Round 2A
Antrim v Carlow
Corrigan Park – Sunday 3-15
Antrim entertain Tipperary in the Tailteann Cup this Sunday at Corrigan Park, fuelled by a burning sense of unfinished business.
The Saffrons’ reward for their nail-biting, eight-goal extra-time thriller of a win over Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park is a massive home draw in Round 2A. When these sides met earlier this year in Division 4 of the National League, Tipperary ran out four-point winners. However, most of the Antrim contingent in attendance that day feel the Saffrons should have won. The controversial dismissal of two Antrim players completely shifted the momentum, a setback manager Mark Doran previously stated cost his side promotion. With Tipp coming to the Belfast cauldron of Corrigan Park, Antrim have the perfect opportunity to set the record straight.
Tipperary travel north after an impressive away victory against Sligo in the opening round, but they face a completely different animal this weekend. Boosted by the incredible character shown in their dramatic victory on Sunday, Antrim possess the scoring power and the home crowd advantage to exploit Tipperary’s vulnerabilities. With a place in the knockout stages firmly in their sights, the Saffrons are primed to avenge their league heartbreak and prove they are true contenders for the silverware.
That league defeat still rankles but Antrim are a much more settled side after that which featured in that poor start to their league campaign.
Dominic McEnhill has been in fine scoring form for the Saffrons
John McNabb, Joseph Finnegan, Kavan Keenan, Marc Jordan, Eoghan McCabe, Paddy McAleer, Eunan Walsh, Ryan McQuillan, Ronan Boyle, Pat Shivers, Niall Burns, Dominic McEnhill and Peter Healey have been regular starters and Sunday’s lineout is unlikely to show too many changes than the one who succeded in Dr Cullen Park.
The Saffrons have also built a strong bench as the season has progressed and Benen Kelly, who scored that winning goal in Carlow is just one of a number who will be hoping for a starting nod in Corrigan.
Tipperary showed that they should be considered as a serious threat thanks to an impressive two-point win over Sligo at Markievicz Park last day out and the league victory over Antrim earlier in the season.
A strong first half, during which they scored four two-pointers, was the foundation for Tipperary’s fine win over Sligo. Full-forward Sean O’Connor scored two of these two-pointers and 0-06 in all.
.Tipperary, who were breeze-assisted in the first half, made a blistering start and had built up a five-point lead by the ninth minute, 0-06 to 0-01.
Two early two-pointers set the tone for Tipperary, with Micheal Freaney and Daithi Hogan finding the range from distance. Sean O’Connor would also impressively land a brace of two-pointers for the visitors, who were good value for a seven-point lead by the 30th minute, 0-11 to 0-04.
Peter Healey whoes return tio the side has strengthened the Antrim defence
Sligo, who trailed all the way through, only played in fits and starts but Pat Spillane’s brace of two-pointers ignited a second-half rally that almost forced extra-time
Midfielders Joe Higgins and Paudie Feehan, with Charlie King also impressed for the Munster side as they held on for a deserved win and will travel North with confidence.
That piece of unfinished business and a packed Corrigan crowd could be the catalyst to drive the Saffrons on to victory however and keep their season alive.