Tailteann Cup Round 2B: Sligo progress as Waterford drop out
Niall Murphy of Sligo in action against Conor Ó Cuirrín of Waterford during the Tailteann Cup round 2 match between Waterford and Sligo at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field in Dungarvan, Waterford. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.
Tailteann Cup Round 2B
SLIGO 0-29 WATERFORD 3-12
By Gavin Cawley At Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field
Sligo booked their place in Round 3 of the Tailteann Cup and secured a first championship victory under joint managers Dessie Sloyan and Eamonn O’Hara with a comfortable win over Waterford, who finish the season without a victory.
Lee Deignan starred for the Yeats County with an impressive tally of 11 points as Sligo claimed their first championship win of 2026.
Waterford made the brighter start and opened the scoring through Michael O’Brien after just two minutes. However, Sligo quickly settled, with Lee Deignan landing an early two-pointer before Niall Murphy added another score to leave the visitors two points ahead after five minutes.
The hosts responded well with points from Caolan Mac Cathmhaoil and Dermot Ryan to level matters after eight minutes.
Sligo soon regained control as Lee Deignan converted his second two-pointer of the game, underlining the visitors’ attacking threat.
After both sides exchanged scores, Sligo took firm control with five unanswered points, including another two-pointer from Shane Deignan, to move 0-12 to 0-5 ahead after 28 minutes.
The visitors continued to dominate approaching half-time and added a fourth two-pointer of the opening period to take an 11-point advantage into the break at 0-18 to 0-7.
Jack Lavin opened the second-half scoring for Sligo after 40 minutes, but Waterford responded immediately with their first goal when Aaron Ryan finished to the net following excellent work from Alan Dunwoody.
Sligo reacted well to the setback and reeled off five unanswered points, with the Deignan brothers and Cian Lally all on target, to stretch their lead to 14 points once again.
Waterford struck for a second goal on 55 minutes to give themselves hope of a comeback after Aaron Ryan’s effort came back off the post and Liam Mulligan reacted quickest to finish the rebound.
Two further Waterford points reduced the deficit to nine, but an important score from Niall Murphy halted their momentum and restored Sligo’s ten-point cushion.
To their credit, Waterford finished strongly and added 1-2 in injury time, with Dermot Ryan grabbing their third goal, but it proved only a consolation as Sligo ran out deserving winners.
Scorers for Sligo: Lee Deignan (0-11,3tp); Shane Deignan (0-5,1tp); Niall Murphy (0-4,1f); Darragh Cummins (0-2); Luke Towey (0-2); Jack Lavin (0-2); Cian Lally (0-2); Gavin Gorman (0-1)
Scorers for Waterford: Aaron Ryan (1-2); Dermot Ryan (1-2); Liam Mulligan (1-0); Stephen Curry (0-2); Alan Dunwoody (0-2,1f); Michael O’Brien (0-2); Caolan Mac Cathmhaoil (0-1); Adam Murray (0-1)
Waterford: Paudie Hunt; Tommy Martin, Billy Hynes, Conor Ó Cuirrín; Glen Power, Michael Curry, Dermot Ryan; Caolan Mac Cathmhaoil, Conor Murray; Darragh Walsh, James Walsh, Liam Mulligan; Stephen Curry, Michael O’Brien Alan Dunwoody. Subs: Aaron Ryan for Caolan Mac Cathmhaoil (18); Donal Fitzpatrick for Darragh Walsh (31); Adam Crawford for Glen Power (HT); Adam Murray for Alan Dunwoody (45); Conor Fennell for Stephen Curry (68)
Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Jack Lavin, Luke Casserly, Tommy Ross; Daire O’Boyle, Conor Sheridan, Luke Towey; Gavin Gorman, Darragh Cummins; David Quinn, Alan McLoughlin, Lee Deignan; Cian Lally, Niall Murphy, Shane Deignan. Subs: Eddie McGuinness for Daire O’Boyle (20); Pat Spillane for David Quinn (45); Paul Kilcoyne for Darragh Cummins (54); Kyle Cawley for Cian Lally (61); Mark McDaniel for Niall Murphy (66)
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)
