Tailteann Cup Round 2

Antrim v Limerick

Corrigan Park-Saturday 4-30

Following last weekend’s defeat to Westmeath in Mullingar, Saturday’s meeting with Limerick tomorrow (Saturday) at Corrigan Park is one that Antrim must win if they are to retain any ambitions of being involved in the later stages of the Tailteann Cup.

Westmeath at Cusack Park was always going to be a tough ask for the Saffrons and so it proved to be as a Luke Loughlin inspired home side ran out convincing winners in the end.

For 40 minutes though Andy McEntee’s side were performing well and looked to be still in contention but they would eventually concede 4 goals over the course of the game and ended up losing by 16 points.

It goes without saying then that Antrim will need to tighten up in defence for the visit of Limerick, who defeated London the day previous to Antrim’s meeting with Westmeath, but wholesale changes would not be the answer.

Antrim’s last meeting with tomorrow’s opponents was back in January 2024 in division 3 of the National League when the Saffrons travelled to Rathgael and recorded a good win over the home side.

Antrim had a descent season in the league in 2024 with three wins that maintained their division 3 status while Limerick were relegated and played their football in division 4 last year.

A year on its Antrim who are heading to the lower division after a season where they played well in spells but too often were unable to maintain it for the full 70 plus minutes.

Limerick are going in the opposite direction and will play their football in division 3 again in 2026 after finishing second to Wexford in division 4 and following last week’s win over London, will travel to Belfast with confidence.

It’s a game that Antrim should win if they can perform anywhere near the level they are capable of and Limerick at home is a different proposition to Westmeath in Mullingar but there is no margin for error.

LIMERICK 0-25 LONDON 1-15 (Tailteann Cup – Round 1)

A dominant third quarter propelled Limerick to a vital seven point victory in the Tailteann Cup as they got the better of London in Newcastle West.

Division Four runners up Limerick were slow to settle and it was the visitors who were able to find their feet early in the game. Ciarán Diver kicked two early points before Shay Rafter (free) put them 0-3 to 0-1 early on.

Jimmy Lee’s charges had a great 8 minute spell which pulled them well clear. Darragh O’Hagan landed the first two-pointer, before another youngster, Rigter, added a free from near the sideline – for another two.

Iain Corbett, Danny Neville and Naughton put the foot on the gas with accurate kicking as Limerick dominated the Andrew Walsh kick-out.

The Exiles rallied and Liam Gallagher (45), as well as a pair from Shay Rafter either side of a fine goal from Ruairí Rafferty saw the gap cut to just two at the interval.

It was 0-14 to 1-8 at half time but, London would only register six further points as the Limerick defence tightened considerably.

Substitute Barry Coleman and veteran Iain Corbett both kicked two pointers with Joshua Obahor and Shay Rafter replying in between.

The Treaty finished strongly and keeper Josh Ryan kicked a monster 2 pointer as they eventually won by 7 points in Newcastle West.

Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan, James McAuley, Dermot McAleese, Marc Jordan, Conor Hand, Paddy McBride, Ryan McQuillan, Dominic McEnhill and substitute Niall Burns all did enough in Mullingar to get the nod for a start against Limerick and I wouldn’t expect the side not to show too many changes for a game that Antrim should win.

Tailteann Cup Group Three

Westmeath 4-24 Antrim 1-17

Antrim’s opening game in this year’s Tailteann Cup didn’t go to plan when they were comprehensively beaten by a Luke Loughlin inspired Westmeath in Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday.

Loughlin finished the game with a personal tally of 1-17 which matched the visitors total for the afternoon and Antrim looked a dejected side as the clock counted down to conclusion.

Andy McEntee’s side made a promising start in Mullingar with full-back Eunan Walsh getting forward to point them ahead in the 3d minute with Sam McCartan levelling for the home side before Ryan Murray wasted an opportunity to restore the Antrim lead.

McCartan edged Westmeath ahead for the first time and Antrim hit a couple of wides before Dominic McEnhill edged them ahead for a seconds time with a well struck 2 pointer in the 10^th minute.

It got even better for the Saffrons when Paddy McBride hit a second 2 pointer from distance to move them 0-5 to 0-2 ahead before Luke Loughlin made his first contribution on the score board when he pointed a free in the 14^th minute.

Loughlin followed with another 2 pointer from a free to level the contest with 16 minutes gone but 30 seconds later Marc Jordan struck a fine point at the other end to edge the visitors ahead once more.

Up to this point Andy McEntee’s side had given as good as they got but Sam McCartan started and finished a move to fire home the game’s opening goal and things went from bad to worse for Antrim as Mick Byrne seemed to lose the flight of a Danny McCartan shot and it ended in the net.

That was in the 19^th minute and Adam Loughran replied with a point at the other end and Antrim then had what looked like a legitimate claim for a close range free and possibly a penalty waved aside when Marc Jordan was dragged down as he bore down on goal.

McEnhill for Antrim and Loughlin for the home side traded points before fortune finally seemed to favour the visitors as Kavan Keenan was on hand to collect a rebound shot from Paddy McBride and fire past McCormick in the Westmeath goal and reduce the gap to the minimum.

Loughlin moved the home side three in front as he fired over from outside the arc and then Westmeath were awarded what seemed a very harsh penalty when Eunan Walsh got back to deny Ronan Wallace but referee Tommy Murphy pointed to the spot, much to the despair of the Antrim defender.

Luke Loughlin made no mistake from the spot and Westmeath could have had a fourth goal only for Byrne to do well to smother Danny McCartan’s effort as Antrim went upfield and won a free, which McEnhill converted.

Marc Jordan followed with one from play, but another from Loughlin, which brought his first-half tally to 1-7, ensured his team led 3-9 to 1-10 at the break.

McEnhill pulled two back straight after the restart from a free, but Eoghan McCabe hit back with a two from play immediately and Westmeath again went close to another goal, but Ronan Wallace’s shot rebounded off the crossbar.

It was a let-off for Antrim but they responded at the other end when Mick Byrne converted from distance for 2 points but Robbie Forde replied at the other end and Loughlin landed another two pointer to move his side six ahead.

Westmeath were starting to get on top as the Antrim resistance began to falter and Loughlin fisted over before Whittaker waltzed through for a fourth Westmeath goal and put the contest out of reach.

Substitute Niall Burns pulled one back, before the crossbar again came to Antrim’s rescue with the frame of the goal this time denying Lorcan Dolan but once again the hosts were able to cut Antrim open with their direct running.

The scores were now coming thick and fast and Stephen Smyth opened his account while the superb Loughlin continued to add to his personal tally with three, including a two-point free.

Ryan McQuillan (free) and Lorcan Dolan exchanged points as he game entered the final 10 minutes, but at this stage Westmeath were out of site and Antrim were looking deflated.

Niall Burns responded with a point and was then denied a goal by McCormack before Loughlin kicked a two with the lasts score of the game to finish with 1-17 and cap a spectacular performance.

Antrim now meet Limerick, who defeated London on Saturday, in Belfast next week and can still qualify if they defeat them and follow it with a win over the Exiles in their final game.

Westmeath: C McCormack; D Giles, Sam Smyth, J Gonoud; J Moran, R Wallace, S McCartan (1-2); K O’Sullivan, E McCabe; M Whittaker (1-0), D McCartan (1-0), B Cooney; L Loughlin (1-17, 1-0 pen, 3xtp, 2x2pf), Stephen Smith (0-1), N Harte (0-2, 1xtp). 
Subs: R Forde (0-1) for B Cooney (11), L Dolan (0-1) for D McCartan (41), K Martin for Stephen Smith (52), T Baker for R Wallace (55), D Scahill for S McCartan (64).

Antrim: M Byrne (0-2, 1xtpf); E McCabe, E Walsh (0-1), K Keenan (1-0); J McAuley, D McAleese, P Finnegan; C Hand, M Jordan (0-2); R Boyle, A Loughran (0-1), P McBride (0-2, 1xtp); R McQuillan (0-1f), R Murray, D McEnhill (0-6, 1xtp, 1xtpf, 1f) 
Subs: N Burns (0-2) for A Loughran (HT), Fionn Nagle for R Murray (HT), C Stewart for C Hand (48), C Higgins for R McQuillan (60), J Morgan for J McAuley (60).

Referee: T Murphy (Galway)

Antrim Masters 4-21 Down Masters 0-7

Antrim Masters got their 2025 season up and running when they recorded a comprehensive win over Down Masters at a sun kissed Slemish Park in Ballymena on Saturday.

The result was never in doubt as Frank Delargy’s side proved much too fast and fit for their Co. Down counterparts as they raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 9 minutes.

Michael McCarry, Ryan Boyd, Paddy Cunningham and Barry McMahon were the Antrim marksmen and when Cunningham fisted a McMahon delivery to the net, the Saffrons were in complete control.

Michael McCarry placed Paddy Cunningham for his and his side’s second goal in the 23d minute to move Antrim 2-8 to 0-2 ahead and the home side finished with a flurry of points from McCarry and Cunningham to lead by 16 at the break.

With the strong wind behind them the visitors were expected to put it up to their hosts in the second half but it made little difference as Antrim continued to call the shots.

Michael McCarry, Paddy Cunningham and Michael McCann extended their lead with early points before Declan McLarnon fired home their third goal in the 11^th minute to move the saffron 3-17 to 0-4 ahead.

Fergan Sherry added a fourth major, two minutes later with Ryan Boyd, Paddy Cunningham, Michael McCann and Barry McMahon adding late points to see Antrim side coast home.

Antrim had a good 2024 under the management of Frank Delargy and Timmy Connolly, coming up just short of silverware and they have strengthened their panel considerably this term with Michael McCann, Paddy Cunningham, Michael McCarry, Anto Healy and David McAlernon just a few of the new faces who have come on board.

The Antrim Masters management team of Timmy Connolly, Frank Delargy and Karl O’Neill presenta cheque for £500-00 to Paddy McIlwaine who received it on behalf of the Saffron Gael

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 Antrim v Down

Slemish Park -1pm Today Saturday 10^th May

Battle of the Masters – One for the Diary!
Join us at All Saints today, Saturday10th May, as we host a clash of legends: Antrim v Down Masters.
With the bar open from noon, come down, grab a drink, and enjoy a showcase of skill, passion, and decades of experience on the pitch.