Tailteann Cup Round 2A: Antrim resist Tipp comeback

Tailteann Cup Round 2A

ANTRIM 4-12 TIPPERARY 2-12

By Maghnus Dunne at Corrigan Park

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.

It was 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 25^th 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 as Ryan McQuillan shimmied past the keeper and 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 billowed again 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 up when Ronan Boyle latched onto the pass from Tiernan McCormick.

Despite the heavy lead, Antrim 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 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 by 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 third round.

Antrim Scorers: Ryan McQuillan 2-1, Ronan Boyle 1-0, Conor Hand 1-0, Paddy McAleer 0-2, Dominic McEnhill 0-2 (0-2F), Niall Burns 0-2, Tomas McCann 0-1, Eoghan McCabe 0-1, Marc Jordan 0-1, Tiernan McCormick 0-1, John McNabb 0-1

Tipperary Scorers: Sean O’Connor 0-5 (1xTPf, 3F), Steven O’Brien 1-1, Joe Higgin 1-0 James Morris 0-1, Paddy Creedon 0-2, Cian Smith 0-1, Paudie Feehan 0-1, Charlie King 0-1,

Antrim: John McNabb; John Morgan, Joseph Finnegan, Kavan Keenan; Eoghan McCabe, Peter Healy, Marc Jordan; Paddy McAleer, Conor Hand; Tiernan McCormack, Ryan McQuillan Ronan Boyle; Pat Shivers, Niall Burns, Dominic McEnhill. Subs: Eunan Walsh on for Peter Healy (HT), Adam Loughran on for Dominic McEnhill (54’), Cathal Hynds on for Tiernan McCormick, Tomas McCann 0-1 on for Conor Hand (67’), Benen Kelly on for Ronan Boyle (72’)

Tipperary: Shane Garland; Jack O’Neill, Eoin O’Connell, Mark Corcoran; Charlie King, James Morris, Emmet Moloney; Joe Higgins, Paudie Feehan; Eoin Craddock, Michéal Freaney, Kieran Costello; Cian Smith, Sean O’Connor, Daithi Hogan. Subs: Paddy Creedon 0-2 on for Cian Smith (46’), Killian Butler on for Ciaran Costello (54’), Steven O’Brien 1-1 on for Eoin Craddock (56’), Jimmy Feehan on for Mark Corcoran (59’), Darragh Brennan on for Daithi Hogan (65’)

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)