Dermot McAleese, Antrim, and Cillian Fahy, Limerick, pictured at the launch of the Tailteann Cup. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Saturday, May 17
Tailteann Cup, Round 2
Group 1
Tipperary v Kildare, Clonmel, 4pm
It wasn't quite a scoring record for the Tailteann Cup but the 0-36 that Kildare hit in Round 1 against Leitrim was mightily close.
Alex Beirne was terrific for Brian Flanagan's side with 12 points while U-20 Ryan Sinkey and Darragh Swords impressed too. Flanagan has recalled goalkeeper Didier Cordonnier, defenders Brian Byrne and Tommy Gill, midfielders Aaron Masterson and Brendan Gibbons and attacker Ben McCormack for this one.
The challenge for Kildare is to maintain their form. They similarly hit 3-24 in their first Tailteann Cup game last year but were disappointed not to advance beyond a quarter-final.
Tipperary fought gamely in Tubbercurry against Sligo last weekend. They had the goal chances to tie the game late on but slipped to a five-point loss.
It was a baptism of fire for debutants Manus McFadden, Jack O'Neill and Daithi Hogan who have been retained in their lineup.
KILDARE: Didier Cordonnier; Brian Byrne, Mark Dempsey, Ryan Burke; Tommy Gill, David Hyland, Mick O'Grady; Aaron Masterson, Brendan Gibbons; Ryan Sinkey, Alex Beirne, Ben McCormack; Darragh Swords, Darragh Kirwan, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Cian Burke, Harry O'Neill, Niall O'Sullivan, James McGrath, Jack McKevitt, Kevin Flynn, Kevin Feely, Tony Archbold, Paddy McDermott, Brian McLoughlin, Daniel Flynn.
TIPPERARY: Shane Ryan; Manus McFadden, Jimmy Feehan, Luke Boland; Mark Stokes, Kieran Costello, Jack O'Neill; Paudie Feehan, Mark Russell; Micheal Freaney, Steven O'Brien, Daithi Hogan; Cian Smith, Darragh Brennan, Sean O'Connor. Subs: Robbie McGrath, Michael Barlow, Ben Comerford, Conor Fahey, Jason Madigan, Emmet Moloney, James Morris, Jack Nevin, Eoin O'Connell, Mikey O'Shea, Eoghan Power.
Group 2
Waterford v Offaly, Walsh Park, Waterford, 1.30pm
Waterford were highly competitive against Laois, the 2024 Tailteann Cup finalists, last weekend, losing in the end by 1-16 to 0-28.
They have home advantage this time against the Allianz League Division 3 winners who had seven points to spare against Wicklow in Round 1.
That was an important win for Offaly as they'd failed to win any of their previous six Tailteann Cup games, bridging a two-year gap without success since a Round 1 win over London in 2023.
Jack Bryant - remember his stunning solo goal in the Division 3 final? - was at it again, hitting Wicklow for 1-5 and has kept his place at full-forward.
Waterford boss Paul Shankey has altered his team somewhat, handing starts to goalkeeper Aaron Beresford, defenders Tommy Martin and Billy Hynes and corner-forward Alan Dunwoody.
WATERFORD: Aaron Beresford; Tommy Martin, Caoimhin Walsh, Billy Hynes; Conor O Currin, Brian Everard, Donie Fitzgerald; Rory Furlong, Jason Curry; Michael O'Brien, James Power, Conor Murray; Alan Dunwoody, Ciaran Walsh, Dylan Guiry. Subs: Paudie Hunt, Adam Crawford, Joe Booth, Stephen Curry, Caolan MacCathmhaoil, Ciaran Looney, Darragh Jacob, Darach O Cathasaigh, Larry Walsh, Jamie Power, Loughlan Walsh.
OFFALY: Paddy Dunican; Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, Daire McDaid; Diarmuid Egan, John Furlong, Cormac Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Kyle Higgins, Cathal Flynn, Keith O'Neill; Dylan Hyland, Jack Bryant, Shane Tierney. Subs: Sean O'Toole, Cillian Bourke, Marcas Dalton, Cathal Donoghue, Rory Egan, Aaron Kellaghan, Oisin Keenan-Martin, Aaron Leavy, Ruairi McNamee, Shane O'Toole Greene, Morgan Tynan.
Wicklow v Laois, Echelon Park, Aughrim, 6pm
Wicklow enjoyed a positive Tailteann Cup experience in 2024, reaching the quarter-finals.
So Oisin McConville's crew started this year's campaign in an optimistic mood, particularly after a strong showing against Dublin in the Leinster championship.
But they failed to summon the same ferocity against Offaly in Round 1 last weekend, suffering an eight-point reversal.
If they can click this time, they have the quality in players like Mark Jackson, Paddy O'Keane, Dean Healy, Eoin Darcy and inside attackers Oisin McGraynor, Kevin Quinn and Mark Kenny to cause Laois trouble. They have home advantage on their side too.
But Laois have a strong Tailteann Cup pedigree, reaching a final (2024) and semi-final (2023) from the two previous times they've been involved. Laois defeated Waterford in Round 1 and manager Justin McNulty has announced an unchanged team for the trip to Aughrim.
WICKLOW: Mark Jackson; Tom Moran, Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast, Patrick O'Keane, Darragh Fee; Dean Healy, Padraig O'Toole; Christopher O'Brien, Eoin Darcy, Cathal Baker; Oisin McGraynor, Kevin Quinn, Mark Kenny. Subs: Cathal Fitzgerald, Jacques McCall, Gavin Fogarty, Liam O'Neill, Conor Fee, Adam Arslan, Cian Deering, Paidi Kavanagh, Brian Bohan, Ryan Harrison, James Fleming.
LAOIS: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins, Liam Knowles; Patrick O'Sullivan, Seamus Lacey, Fionn Holland; Conor Heffernan, Damon Larkin; Niall Corbet, Brian Byrne, Kevin Swayne; Mark Barry, Cathal Lee, Ronan Coffey. Subs: Aaron Cooney, Ryan Brady, John Brennan, Michael Doran, Shaun Fitzpatrick, Padraig Kirwan, Jonah Kelly, Jack Lennon, Aaron McEvoy, Sean O'Neill, Cian Ryle.
Group 3
Antrim v Limerick, Corrigan Park, Belfast, 4.30pm
Antrim will see this as a huge opportunity to register a first win of the campaign.
They will have home advantage at Corrigan Park and if they produce a performance to match their first-half there in the Ulster SFC against Armagh, Limerick will be under extreme pressure.
Andy McEntee's crew struggled on their travels in Round 1, conceding 4-24 to a fully focused and fired up Westmeath.
That was another case of Antrim being overwhelmed in the second-half so McEntee will have preached the need for a full 70-minute performance this time. Ruairi McCann is in at full-forward for Ryan Murray in their only change.
Limerick, the Allianz League's Division 4 winners, put 0-25 on the board when getting their campaign off to a winning start at London's expense last Saturday and have named an unchanged team.
Emmet Rigter, who made last year's Tailteann Cup Team of the Year, is in strong form again, as is the prolific James Naughton.
ANTRIM: Michael Byrne; Eoghan McCabe, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; James McAuley, Dermot McAleese, Patrick Finnegan; Conor Hand, Marc Jordan; Ronan Boyle, Adam Loughran, Patrick McBride; Ryan McQuillan, Ruairi McCann, Dominic McEnhill. Subs: Luke Mulholland, Calum Higgins, Conor Stewart, Daniel McNicholl, Eunan Quinn, Fionn Nagle, James McDonnell, John Morgan, Niall Burns, Peter King, Ryan Murray.
LIMERICK: Josh Ryan; Jason Hassett, Darren O'Doherty, Colm McSweeney; Mark McCarthy, Iain Corbett, Tadhg O Siochru; Tommie Childs, Darragh O'Hagan; Paul Maher, Emmett Rigter, Cillian Fahy; Danny Neville, James Naughton, Peter Nash. Subs: Jeffrey Alfred, Fiacra Cotter, Cormac Woulfe, Tony McCarthy, Killian Ryan, Diarmuid Buckley, Sean Clancy, Darragh Murray, Rory O'Brien, Andrew Meade, Rob Childs.
Sligo have been boosted by the fitness of Niall Murphy who will start for them again in the Tailteann Cup. Photo by Piaras O Midheach, Sportsfile.
Sunday, May 18
Tailteann Cup, Round 2
Group 1
Leitrim v Sligo, Avant Money Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, 1.30pm GAA+
A mini-Connacht championship encounter for both sides who met as recently as late March in the Allianz League.
Sligo streaked to a 22-point win over Leitrim on that occasion though they were at home then and will travel to Carrick-on-Shannon this time.
Sligo showed real grit last weekend, overcoming the early loss of captain and leading attacker Niall Murphy to injury, as well as a couple of black cards later on, to beat Tipperary by five points. Murphy is available to go again this time from the start.
Leitrim, meanwhile, slumped to a heavy defeat in Kildare though with home advantage this is an opportunity for them to rekindle the promising form they displayed against Mayo in the Connacht championship.
Leitrim manager Steven Poacher has brought wing-forward Jack Flynn into the team in the only change from last Saturday's game.
LEITRIM: Daire O'Shea; Eanna McNamara, Donal Casey, Kieran Clancy; James Rooney, Mark Diffley, Jack Foley; Barry McNulty, Cillian McGloin; Jack Flynn, Keith Keegan, Tom Prior; Ben Guckian, Riordan O'Rourke, Darren Cox. Subs: Stpehen McPartland, Ryan Bohan, Shane Finn, Tom Hughes, David Feeney, Joe McGloin, Sean Harkin, Conor Quinn, Evan Harkin, Eoin McLoughlin, Adam Reynolds.
SLIGO: Daniel Lyons; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins, Luke Towey; Paul Kilcoyne, Patrick O'Connor; Alan Reilly, David Quinn, Cian Lally; Alan McLoughlin, Niall Murphy, Pat Spillane. Subs: Aidan Devaney, Luke Casserly, Oisin Flynn, Mikey Gordon, Mark McDaniel, Conor Johnston, Donal Conlon, Shane Deignan, Jack Lavin, Peter Laffey, Ciaran O'Dowd.
Group 3
London v Westmeath, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 2pm
Westmeath won the inaugural Tailteann Cup competition in 2022 and on the evidence of their terrific Round 1 performance against Antrim, they have their eyes on silverware again.
That 4-24 to 1-17 home win over a strong Saffrons side was significant as it was Westmeath's first of the season.
Luke Loughlin has been terrific for Westmeath all year, despite their run of defeats, and cut loose with 1-17 against Antrim, registering five two-pointers. He starts again while Robbie Forde replaces Brian Cooney.
London put in a strong first-half against Limerick last Saturday in their Group 3 opener but ran out of steam in the second-half, slipping to a seven-point defeat.
Dunshaughlin's Ciaran McCarrick has been an interesting addition to the London team this year and the Meath man is retained in an unchanged Exiles team that will look to Shay Rafter and Ciaran Diver once again for vital scores.
LONDON: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Sean Taylor, Ciaran McCarrick; Eoin Walsh, Conal Gallagher, Matt Moynihan; Tighe Barry, Liam Gallagher; Joshua Obahor, Daniel Clarke, Kristian Healy; Shay Rafter, Ruairi Rafferty, Ciaran Diver. Subs: Conor Cox, Marc Friel, Nathan McElwaine, Conor O'Donohue, Micheal O'Reilly, Conor McKelvey, Fiontan Eastwood, Patrick Dolan, Aidan McLoughlin, Oran Hilley, Sean Tucker.
WESTMEATH: Conor McCormack; David Giles, Sam Smyth, Jamie Gonoud; Joseph Moran, Ronan Wallace, Sam McCartan; Kevin O'Sullivan, Eoghan McCabe; Matthew Whittaker, Danny McCartan, Nigel Harte; Luke Loughlin, Stephen Smith, Robbie Forde. Subs: Kieran Martin, Daniel Scahill, Tadhg Baker, Branon Kelly, Ray Connellan, Lorcan Dolan, Liam Daly, Shane Ormsby, Jack Geoghegan, Jonathan Lynam, Fionn O'Hara.
Group 4
Carlow v Wexford, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 2.30pm
Carlow produced one of the standout performances of the opening round of Tailteann Cup games when they defeated Fermanagh 3-18 to 2-18 in Enniskillen.
It was a clear statement that life under new manager Joe Murphy is going well and captain Mickey Bambrick, who struck 2-4 against Fermanagh, appears particularly energised.
This is a significant derby game though with no love lost between the neighbouring counties. Wexford won Division 4, beating Carlow by nine points when they met in the group stage in February.
That was a cold, foggy day in Wexford while this one will be played on the summer sod in Carlow in anticipated sunshine.
Wexford had a long break between their Leinster SFC loss to Laois and last weekend's Tailteann opener but impressed against Longford, coming from behind at half-time to win 2-24 to 1-18. They have named the same team again.
CARLOW: Ben McCarron; Paddy McDonnell, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne; John Phiri, Niall Hickey, John Murphy; Kyle Nolan, Conor Doyle; Ross Dunphy, Darragh Foley, Mikey Bambrick; Conor Crowley, Kevin Murphy, Sean Murphy. Subs: Johnny Furey, Lee Moore, Jonah Dunne, Paddy Regan, Adam Burgess, Liam Brennan, Liam Gavin, Ciaran Moran, Josh Egan, Ian Atkinson, Jamie Clarke.
WEXFORD: Darragh Brooks; Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Liam O'Connor; Eoin Porter, Eoghan Nolan, Martin O'Connor; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Pairic Hughes, Shane Pettit, Mark Rossiter; Kevin O'Grady, Tom Byrne, Sean Nolan. Subs: Sean Nolan, Colum Feeney, Philip Dempsey, Ruairi Martin, Dylan Furlong, Cathal Walsh, Rian Fitzpatrick, Conor Carty, Michael Kinsella, Jack Higgins, Sean Ryan, Robbie Brooks.
Longford v Fermanagh, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford, 3pm
This is a meeting of two teams looking to bounce back after dispiriting Round 1 defeats.
Longford coughed up a half-time lead against Wexford, eventually slipping to a nine-point loss. Fermanagh were beaten on their home patch by Carlow.
New Longford manager Mike Solan is keen for a big performance to ignite their season and will hope that home advantage swings it.
Solan has made three personnel switches for this weekend, bringing in goalkeeper Patrick Collum, defender Iarla O'Sullivan and full-forward Keelan McGann.
Fermanagh, who are unchanged, will hope to make their superior Division 3 status count and after narrow losses to Down, in Ulster, and Carlow, will feel they are due a result.
LONGFORD: Patrick Collum; Patrick Fox, Oisin O'Toole, Bryan Masterson; Iarla O'Sullivan, Ryan Moffett, Cian Brady; Dessie Reynolds, Daire Duggan; Jayson Matthews, Matthew Carey, Dylan Farrell; Aaron Farrell, Keelan McGann, Oran Kenny. Subs: Micheal Hughes, James Moran, Darragh Finlass, Caolan Lynch, Sean O'Sullivan, Sean Morgan, Shane Campbell, Harry Kiernan, Paddy Moran, Jamie Brady Hynes, Diarmuid Farrell.
FERMANAGH: Sean McNally; Che Cullen, Lee Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Shane McGullion, Declan McCusker, Fionnan O'Brien; Joe McDade, Darragh McGurn; Conor McGee, Ryan Lyons, Ronan McCaffrey; Josh Largo Ellis, Garvan Jones, Conor Love. Subs: Ross Bogue, Luke Flanagan, Jonathan Cassidy, Diarmuid Owens, Aaron Jones, Aogan Kelm, Jack Largo Ellis, Oisin Murphy, Sean Cassidy, Glenn Treacy, Diarmuid King.
