Antrim survive late Tipperary surge to claim vital Tailteann Cup win
Ryan McQuillan score 2-1 for Antrim against Tipperary. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
TIPPERARY were stopped of a precious comeback as Antrim fended off a late surge to clinch a vital victory in the second round of the Tailteann Cup at Corrigan Park.
A game which started in a rather slow fashion with the scoreboard left without any change after the first seven minutes, but the contest was nonetheless competitive with tackles and physicality reigning supreme in the early moments.
Paddy McAleer’s driving run ended with the first score of the contest, as the All-Saints midfield star clipped his effort over the blackspot and the game was finally underway.
Niall Burns executed a terrific score with an amazing piece of skill as his dummy completely dumbfounded his marker before planting his effort over the bar for a second score for Antrim.
The Premier County did hit back with a great force when James Morris drove and led from the back finding himself in scoring range to fist a ball between the posts, and Sean O’Connor followed with a free.
Dominic McEnhill struck two close range frees for the hosts and kept Antrim’s lead intact before they managed to strike a major blow on the 25th minute when Ryan McQuillan drilled his left-footed strike into the roof of the net to give the hosts daylight.
Kieran Costello was shown a Black Card and Antrim managed to take advantage striking a further six points to their tally.
Once Antrim got their first, a quick second soon followed and after Ryan McQuillan had shimmied past the keeper the net was at his mercy as the Saffrons looked to pile on a thumping of their Munster opponents.
The half-time tally was firmly in favour of Antrim, and as the game resumed the net was burst soon after when Conor Hand expertly struck his effort into the top corner of the net.
Antrim soon had a fourth goal which saw a 13-point gap open at one stage after Ronan Boyle latched onto the pass from Tiernan McCormick.
Despite the heavy lead, Antrim soon had to rely on strong defensive performances as the Munster side rallied to produce a great ending.
Joe Higgins found the net first and gave his side a glimmer of hope, before a long-ranged effort from Sean O’Connor was punched into the net by Steven O’Brien and the gap was soon cut to five points when O’Connor notched a tally of scores over the bar.
The comeback was stopped in its tracks when Daithi Hogan’s goal-bound effort was saved terrificly from John McNabb. Antrim once again took the momentum back and ended strongly with Paddy McAleer capping a standout performance in midfield with a score to seal the win.
The cherry was put on top when Tomas McCann pointed from a dead ball and the whistle sounded to earn Antrim a home-tie in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Sligo progressed to round 3 with a 0-29 to 3-12 victory over Waterford while Fermanagh beat Wexford. The Deise are now eliminated. The draw for round 3 and the preliminary quarter-final will take place on GAA+ at 1pm on Monday.
Round 3 features the four round 2A losers against the four round 2B winners. One of the round 2A winners will be drawn to face New York in the preliminary quarter-final. That game, and those in round 3, will all be played on the weekend of June 6/7.
R McQuillan 2-1, R Boyle 1-0, C Hand 1-0, P McAleer 0-2, D McEnhill 0-2 (0-2F), N Burns 0-2, T McCann 0-1, E McCabe 0-1, M Jordan 0-1, T McCormick 0-1, J McNabb 0-1
S O’Connor 0-5 (1xTPf, 3F), S O’Brien 1-1, J Higgin 1-0, J Morris 0-1, P Creedon 0-2, C Smith 0-1, P Feehan 0-1, C King 0-1
J McNabb; J Morgan, J Finnegan, K Keenan; E McCabe, P Healy, M Jordan; P McAleer, C Hand; T McCormack, R McQuillan, R Boyle; P Shivers, N Burns, D McEnhill
E Walsh on for P Healy (HT), A Loughran on for D McEnhill (54’), C Hynds on for T McCormick, T McCann 0-1 on for C Hand (67’), B Kelly on for R Boyle (72’)
S Garland; J O’Neill, E O’Connell, M Corcoran; C King, J Morris, E Moloney; J Higgins, P Feehan; E Craddock, M Freaney, K Costello; C Smith, S O’Connor, D Hogan
P Creedon 0-2 on for C Smith (46’), K Butler on for C Costello (54’), S O’Brien 1-1 on for E Craddock (56’), J Feehan on for M Corcoran (59’), D Brennan on for D Hogan (65’)
C Dourneen (Cavan)
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