Tailteann Cup Group Four

Antrim 3-18 Leitrim 2-12

By David Mohan at Corrigan Park

Three second half goals proved the difference for Antrim as they got their Tailteann Cup campaign off to the best possible start at Corrigan Park.

Man-of-the-match Adam Loughran netted goals either side of one from Aghagallon's Ruairi McCann after the visitors had twice found majors to keep them in contention.

But the dam burst as Antrim powered home and will be extremely happy with their afternoon's work to bag the points.

Leitrim couldn't have asked for a better start as just four minutes in, late replacement Barry McNulty rose to meet Keith Beirne's dropping shot to palm home.

Adam Loughran hit back with a point for Antrim, but it could have been better only for Marc Jordan's shot at goal saved by Nevin O'Donnell.

Pearce Dolan replied for Andy Moran's charges, but Antrim again went close to goal when a teasing ball in from Loughran saw Aghagallon's Ruairi McCann get a touch but the ball hopped over.

Creggan's Ruairi McCann, Conor Stewart and Michael Byrne (45) kept Antrim momentum going but Byrne was called into action to deny Beirne at close range and the Rossa clubman would make further vital stops later in the half from McNulty and then Darragh Rooney at point-blank range.

Leitrim were looking a threat when they got on the attack as they were able to carve open the Antrim defence and always seemed to reply to Antrim points for a while through Mark Plunkett and a brace from Rooney as Dominic McEnhill was keeping the board ticking at the other end from frees.

Antrim had another big goal chance when Aghagallon's McCann got to a long ball but his low shot was stopped right on the line by O'Donnell in the nick of time.

Despite Antrim getting on the front foot more, there was little to choose between the teams and a superb score from Beirne out on the right left just the minimum between the teams in stoppage time, but Roanan Boyle would finish a great Antrim move to kick them into a 0-10 to 1-5 lead at the interval.

Antrim opened the second half brightly with points from Loughran and McEnhill, but were then caught again with Aidan Flynn floating from the right to the back post where Jack Heslin rose to palm home.

But the Antrim response was excellent as they grabbed the next score through Ruairi McCann, and although Leitrim got two of the next three, the Saffrons were in for their first goal as Patrick Finnegan did well to work along the right end line, play back to the on-rushing Loughran who blasted home.

The scores began to flow and when Patrick McBride squared for Aghagallon's McCann to palm home, the gap was out to nine.

The third goal wasn't far off and again it was Loughran who was on the end of a good ball for McBride and he stepped inside to crash to the net to end any hope for Leitrim.

To their credit, Andy Moran's side chipped away with Paul Keaney kicking four when introduced, but they needed much more with Antrim out of sight and Patrick McCormick became their ninth name on the scoresheet to complete an excellent start in the competition for Andy McEntee's men.

Scorers for Antrim: A Loughran 2-3, D McEnhill 0-6 (5fs), R McCann (Aghagallon) 1-2, M Byrne 0-2 (1f, 1 45), R Boyle 0-1, C Stewart 0-1, R McCann (Creggan) 0-1, P McCormick 0-1, P Healy 0-1.

Scorers for Leitrim: P Keaney 0-4 (2fs), J Heslin 1-1, B McNulty 1-0, D Rooney 0-3, M Plunkett 0-1, P Dolan 0-1, J Rooney 0-1, K Beirne 0-1.

Antrim: Michael Byrne; Ronan Boyle, Peter Healy, James McAuley; Paddy McBride, Joseph Finnegan, Dermott McAleese; Jack Dowling, Conor Stewart; Patrick Finnegan, Adam Loughran, Ruairi McCann (Creggan); Marc Jordan, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), Dominic McEnhill.

Subs: Patrick McCormick for J McAuley (27), Cathal Hynds for J Dowling (47), Pat Shivers for R McCann (Aghagallon, 66), Odhran Eastwood for P Finnegan (66), Cormac McGettigan for M Jordan (70+2).

Leitrim: Nevin O'Donnell; Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Farrell; James Rooney, Shane Quinn, Aiden Flynn; Pearce Dolan, Donal Wrynn; Darragh Rooney, Keith Beirne, Mark Plunkett; Jack Heslin, Barry McNulty, Domhnaill Flynn.

Subs: Tom Prior for J Rooney (54), Oisin McLoughlin for K Beirne (54), Paul Keaney for D Flynn (57), Cillian McGloin for C Farrell (62), Stephen McLoughlin for M Plunkett (70).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).