Tailteann Cup, Round 2A 

Antrim 4-12-2-12 Tipperary 

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park 

ANTRIM had two goals to spare as they advanced to the quarter finals of the Tailteann Cup with a 4-12-2-12 victory over Tipperary at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon 

Victory over Carlow two weeks ago ensured that a victory for the Saffrons would guarntee a quarter final spot with victory or a second shot at redempotion should they need it. 

It took eight minutes for the first score to arrive at a sun-soaked Corrigan as Paddy McAleer took a pass inside the arc and clipped over. 

The Saffrons doubled their advantage a minute later, this time Eoghan McCabe laid the ball off to Niall Burns to send the ball over the black spot. 

Tipperary hit back and were off the mark through a fisted James Morris point, and two minutes later a close range Sean O’Connor free levelled things up. 

A foul on Paddy McAleer allowed Dominic McEnhill to edge Antrim infront again on the quarter hour mark and McEnhill kicked his second free of the half after referee Conor Dourneen blew up Tipp goalkeeper Shane Garland for taking too long over a kick out. 

The games opening goal arrived after 26-minutes and fell to the hosts, Ryan McQuillan showed fast footwork to drive towards goal and unleashed a powerful drive into the net to make it 1-4-0-2. 

In response, Sean O’Connor converted his second free of the half for a shirt pull and Daithi Hogan almost found the net for the visitors, though his close range angled attempt was held by John McNabb. 

Antrim should have doubled their goal tally when Ronan Boyle forced a turnover and found McQuillan and he in turn slipped the ball to Marc Jordan in front of goal, but his low attempt was somehow turned past the post by Shane Garland. 

Before the resulting 45’ was taken, Tipp were temporarily reduced to 14-men with Kieran Costello black-carded.John McNabb eventually took the 45’ and shot over to extend his sides lead. 

Two minutes before the break the Saffrons found their second goal. Paddy McAleer broke the kick out from Garland and Ronan Boyle took up the reins and slipped the ball to McQuillan to round Garland to fire home making it 2-5-0-3. 

The sides traded scores in injury time before the break, Cian Smith clipped over a straightforward free and just before the whistle Marc Jordan popped the ball to Eoghan McCabe to end the halfs scoring and make it 2-6-0-5 at the midway point. 

Playing with the breeze advnatage in the second period Tipperary were a threat from the outset. 

Paudie Feehan launched a high ball into the square where Michael Freaney gathered and goal bound shot on the turn crashed off the post, with Charlie King eventually shooting a point. 

A two-pointed Sean O’Connor further narrowed the deficit before Antrim got on the scoreboard when Tiernan McCormack fisted over after good work from Eoghan McCabe in the build-up. 

The Saffrons looked to have taken a huge step towards victory with their third goal in the 47th minute. 

A quickly taken free was played into Marc Jordan and he picked out Conor Hand and on his home turf, Hand blasted home to put three goals between the sides (3-7-0-7). 

Successive points from Paudie Feehan and subsitute Paddy Creedon kept Tipp in touch, but Marc Jordan halted momentum with a point and in the 56th mintue a fourth goal arrived. 

Conor Hand claimed mark in midfield and switched the ball to Tiernan McCormack to bare down on goal and then opt to pop it across to Ronan Boyle to slam home and extend the advantage to double figures (4-8-0-9). 

The lead stretched through further points from Niall Burns and Ryan McQuillan before Tipp came charging back in the closing stages. 

John McNabb did well to divert Daithi Hogan’s shot behind for a 45’ that  was converted by subsitute Steven O’Brien. 

Talisman Sean O’Connor clipped over a free and in the 65th minute the visitors grabbed a consolation goal, O’Brien firing into the bottom corner from close range. 

The Tipp subsitute brought his tally to 1-2 with an angled shot that dropped between the posts, with Paddy McAleer temporarily steming the tide with a point at the other end. 

The nerves were jangling in the 69th minute when Sean O’Connor dropped in an attempt from the edge of the arc that Joe Higgins bundled to the net to make it 4-11-2-12. 

However, in the closing four minutes Antrim steadied things and subsitute Tomas McCann ended the afternoons scoring as Mark Doran’s charges booked their place in the quarter-final in two weeks time. 

ANTRIM: J McNabb (0-1 45’), J Morgan, J Finnegan, K Keenan, E McCabe (0-1), P Healy, M Jordan (0-1), P McAleer (0-2), C Hand (1-0), T McCormack (0-1), R McQuillan (2-1), R Boyle (1-0), P Shivers, N Burns (0-2), D McEnhill (0-2f). SUBS: E Walsh for P Healy (HT), A Loughran for D McEnhill (54), C Hynds for T McCormack (64), T McCann (0-1) for C Hand (68), B Kelly for R Boyle (70+2). 

TIPPERARY: S Garland, J O’Neill, E O’Connor, M Corcoran, C King (0-1), J Morris (0-1). E Moloney, J Higgins (1-0), P Feehan (0-1), E Craddock, M Freaney, K Costello, C Smith (0-1f), S O’Connor (0-5, 0-4f, 1×0-2ptf), D Hogan. SUBS: P Creedon (0-2) for C Smith (46), K Butler for K Costello (55), S O’Brien (1-2) for E Craddock (57), J Feehan for M Corcoran (60), D Brennan for D Hogan (65). 

REFEREE: Conor Dourneen (CAVAN)

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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 than 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 from the one that 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.

Following Antrim’s spectacular first round win away to Carlow, Antrim have received a home draw in Round 2A where they will entertain Tipperary.

Benen Kelly’s sensational last minute goal with the sides tied in extra time and a penalty shootout beckoning was the stuff that dreams are made of and sent the Saffrons up the road from Netwatch Cullen Park with a smile on their face.

Carlow had already defeated Antrim in the opening game of the division 4 league in Portglenone at the end of January and when the Saffrons went on to lose to Tipperary (away) and Longford at home, two weeks later their season looked to be over before it had started.

Antrim regrouped however to win four league games on the bounce, narrowly missing out on promotion to Carlow and Longford.

It was the Tipperary defeat that really rankled with Antrim manager, Mark Doran and his backroom staff adamant that it is a game they feel they should have won.

Antrim had two men sent off in that game in Moneygall on a pitch that was bordering unplayable but they will feel this is an opportunity to go some way to putting matters right.

The Full Draw

The draw for rounds 2A and 2B of the Tailteann Cup has taken place.

Round 2A sees the eight Round 1 winners meet, with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

In Round 2B, the eight first round losers face each other with season ending elimination on the cards for the teams that lose those ties.

First named teams have home advantage with the games to be places on 23 or 24 May.

Tailteann Cup Round 2A

Antrim v Tipperary

Fermanagh v Wexford

Offaly v Winner (Down v Leitrim)

London v Laois

Tailteann Cup Round 2B

Wicklow v Limerick

Clare v Longford

Waterford v Sligo

Loser (Down v Leitrim) v Carlow

Antrim 3-15 (24) — 1-05 (8) Wexford

Antrim’s minor footballers made a massive statement on Saturday afternoon, as they brushed aside Wexford with a dominant 16-point victory at the TU Dublin Blanchardstown campus. The Saffron youngsters showed exactly why they are a force to be reckoned with in the Electric Ireland Tier 3 All-Ireland Championship (Seamus Heaney Cup), securing a safe passage into the quarter-finals with a clinical and professional performance.

Clinical Saffrons Take Control

From the throw-in, it was clear that Antrim had arrived with a point to prove. Despite the long journey to the neutral Dublin venue, they settled almost immediately, racing into a 1-02 to 0-00 lead within the first 15 minutes with Shea McFerran causing all sorts of problems at the edge of the square. The Saffron forward line punished every Wexford mistake and kept the scoreboard ticking over with ruthless efficiency.

By the interval, the game was already tilting heavily in Antrim’s favour. The Glensmen had carved open the Wexford defence twice for two vital goals, heading into the dressing rooms with a commanding 2-05 to 0-03 lead.

No Let-Up in the Second Half

Any hopes of a Wexford fight-back were quickly extinguished after the restart. While the Model County managed to find the net once, they were completely overwhelmed by Antrim’s superior fitness and tactical discipline.

Moneyglass lad, Joey Griffin added to Shea McFerran’s double for a third goal with a flurry of points from McFerran, Colm Kane, Dara Campbell showcasing the depth of talent currently emerging from the county.

By the time Referee Ian Howley blew the final whistle, the gap had widened to 16 points, with Antrim finishing on a comprehensive scoreline of 3-15 to 1-05.

Quarter-Final Bound

This victory ensures Antrim’s name is firmly in the hat for the next round, as they continue their pursuit of the Seamus Heaney Cup. On this evidence, few teams will fancy the task of slowing down this high-scoring Saffron side.

The Saffron management team deserve a lot of credit in the manner in which they have stuck to their guns during a difficult Ulster League and Championship campaign where they showed in glimpses just what they are capable of.

None more so than when they travelled to Monaghan and led the Ulster League winners by six early in their Ulster Championship meeting and at the weekend it all came together with this encouraging win.

Antrim are scheduled to face Carlow, who had a big win over Kilkenny, in their quarter-final on Saturday, 16 May.

Antrim: 1. Niall Quinn 2. ⁠Cillian McKenna 3. ⁠Shea McLernon 4. ⁠Bradan O’Donnell 5. ⁠Sean McPeake 6. ⁠Conor McArt 7. ⁠Thomas Douthart 0:01 8. ⁠Dara Campbell 0:02 9. ⁠Tom Convery 10. ⁠Conall Wilson 0:01 11. ⁠Dàire Thornbury 0:01 12. ⁠Joey Griffin 1:00 13. ⁠Colm Kane 0:05 14. ⁠Shea McFerran 2:04 15. ⁠Tiernan Lee 17. Sionan McCormack 18. ⁠Sean McMullan 19. Nathan Burns 0:01 20. ⁠Ruairi O’Connell 21. ⁠Cillian McDonnell

Management: Donal Laverty, Owen Doherty, Ciaran Browne, Mark Carey, Che Connor.