Wicklow overturn nine-point deficit to book Tailteann semi-final berth

The travelling support breathed life into their side and they managed to get it over the line with a free from Oisin McGraynor before Dean Healy’s fisted point saw their bench erupt as 30 seconds remained

Wicklow Manager Oisín McConville. Pic: Grace Halton/Inpho

Tailteann Cup Quarter-Final: Antrim 3-15 Wicklow 2-19 

Wicklow managed to overturn a nine-point deficit in Belfast over Antrim to achieve a semi-final berth in the 2026 Tailteann Cup.

Conor Hand got Antrim underway when the midfielder retrieved possession from Pat Shivers before clipping his effort delicately over the black spot for an Antrim point inside the first minute.

A silly breach from the hosts allowed Wicklow to gain an early advantage and avail of the breeze when Mark Jackson split the post for two points and flip the scores in a tightly contested opening half.

Oisín McGraynor’s free from short range extended the away side’s lead but Conor Hand would be Antrim’s strongest forward foot when the St John’s midfielder replied with a terrific two-pointer for the hosts to level proceedings once again inside the opening ten minutes.

Ryan McQuillan and Dean Healy both exchanged scores, with the Wicklow midfielder piledriving an effort from 40-yards and an orange flag was raised as the ball settled in the catch-net.

Healy thought he had the first goal of the contest, but eventually the midfielder’s goal was cancelled out due to an overcarrying of possession, and Antrim drove to find a score from Conor Hand after a great spell in the final third.

Wicklow began to dominate the middle of the park, but were unable to make it count on the counterattack with wides being signalled for their resulting efforts from Christopher O’Brien and Eoin Darcy.

Antrim would register the first major blow of the contest when Ryan McQuillan found the net for a third consecutive Tailteann Cup game.

John McNabb switched up the kick-out routine and found Tiernan McCormick in space who popped a pass to Joseph Finnegan who cutely flicked the ball onto McQuillan, and with just the keeper to beat the net bulged.

Dean Healy thought he found the net when he found himself on the end of Eoin Darcy’s lay-up, but the midfielder had to settle for a point when his punched effort scraped the top of the bar.

Despite a quiet opening half, Niall Burns would close it out with Antrim on top as he managed to get the better of his tight-marker and strike a great point over the bar and the whistle sounded for the half.

Antrim started the second-half goal hungry and found their goals on two occasions when Tiernan McCormick rose high to thump McEnhill’s pass into the net Then Paddy McAleer managed to thump the ball into the net moments later when the midfielder found space and blasted it into the net after some nice linkups from St Gall’s duo Burns and McCabe.

The turning point of the game came when Antrim were awarded a penalty but a great stop from Mark Jackson prevented the game from being over.

Wicklow hit back after the penalty with O’Toole, Darcy and Murtagh all scoring befoe Kevin Quinn fisted over to reduce the scores to within four points.

Wicklow were awarded a spot-kick of their own when Jonathan Carlin was dragged down in the box. Eoin Darcy’s initial strike was saved by John McNabb, but the rebound was scrambled over the line and Wicklow had hope.

Four points separated the sides and time was limited, but the Leinster outfit rallied, and Antrim only managed two more scores in what remained and when Mark Jackson found a score for an orange flag.

The travelling support breathed life into their side and they managed to get it over the line with a free from Oisin McGraynor finding the inside post, before Dean Healy’s fisted point saw their bench erupt as 30 seconds remained.

Antrim went long and when Pat Shivers attempted to pull the trigger the ball soared high and wide and the hooter went for full-time.

Scorers for Antrim: T McCormick 1-1, C Hand 0-4 (1xTP), R McQuillan 1-1, P McAleer 1-1, D McEnhill 0-2 (1xTP), N Burns 0-2, P Shivers 0-2 (0-1F) M Jordan 0-1, E Walsh 0-1. 

Scorers for Wicklow: D Healy 0-5 (1xTP), O McGraynor 1-2 (0-2F), M Jackson 0-4 (2xTPf), E Darcy 1-1 (0-1F), P O’Toole 0-3, K Quinn 0-2, E Murtagh 0-1, T Moran 0-1.

ANTRIM: J McNabb; J Morgan, J Finnegan, K Keenan; E McCabe, E Walsh, M Jordan; P McAleer, C Hand; T McCormack, R McQuillan, R Boyle; P Shivers, N Burns, D McEnhill.

Subs: A Loughran on for R McQuillan (56’), T McCann for R Boyle (56’), C Hynds on for D McEnhill (64’), T Shivers on for P McAleer (66’).

WICKLOW: M Jackson; T Moran, M Nolan, M Stone; D Fee, E Murtagh, G Fogarty; D Healy, J Kirwin; J Carlin, P O’Toole, C O’Brien; O McGraynor, K Quinn, E Darcy. 

Subs: C Deering on for G Fogarty (47’), J Prendergast on for E Murtagh (64’), M Kenny on for D Fee (66’).