Details
Date | Time | Competition | Season |
---|---|---|---|
14 May 2023 | 1:00 pm | Tailteann Cup | 2023 |
Match Report
Antrim overpower Leitrim in Tailteann Cup opener
Having lost this match up in last year’s edition of the Tailteann Cup, Antrim produced a massive turnaround to defeat Leitrim with ten points to spare as Adam Loughran hit 2-3 to inspire the saffron’s to opening day victory.
In a mirror image of their New York defeat Andy Moran’s charges will rue a number of early goal chances that went to waste but they did manage to reach half time just two points behind the northerners despite having played the entire opening period into the wind.
Antrim had their own plans and hit a purple patch early in the second half tacking on 2-2 in seven minutes to open a gap that Leitrim just weren’t able to close despite an impressive cameo from substitute Paul Keaney who contributed four late points.
Leitrim had started with a dream start as Barry McNulty making his first championship start goaled within the first four minutes of the game before Loughran and Pearce Dolan swapped points.
In an ominous sign Antrim then hit four unanswered points to take the lead through Conor Steward, Ruairí McCann (2) and goalkeeper Michael Byrne before Mark Plunkett drew the visitors level on the quarter hour mark.
The rest of the first half proved to be nip and tuck as Dominic McEnhill and Darragh Rooney traded a couple of points before a strangely subdued Keith Beirne hit his solitary point of the day. Points from McEnhill and Ronan Boyle in the closing stages would give the home side a two point lead into the break.
Antrim threatened to open up a gap when Loughran and McEnhill scored in the opening minutes of the second half but Jack Heslin palmed the ball to the Antrim net to reduce the deficit to a single score in the fifth minute of the second half.
Ruairi McCann & James Rooney’s points would cancel each other out before another placed ball from Byrne and Rooney traded scores once more to leave the Saffron’s one point ahead.
The game was effectively over in the next seven minutes as first Loughran burst through to find the net, tacking on a point alongside full back Peter Healy but when Ruairi McCann goaled just shy of the hour mark the game was secured for the home side.
Keaney was introduced as Beirne left the game and the St. Mary’s clubman would hit four points in the last quarter hour but another Antrim goal from Adam Loughran killed any hope Andy Moran’s side had of a comeback in Corrigan Park.
Dominic McEnhill and Jack Heslin would also trade scores but as the benches were emptied for both teams the game petered out into a comfortable win for the home side which now set’s them up for a decent campaign ahead of their trip to Wexford next week. Leitrim will host Fermanagh on Saturday in what has become a key game for Moran’s men.
Timeline
3' | Barry McNulty | |
Adam Loughran | 4' | |
7' | Pearce Dolan | |
Ruairí McCann | 10' | |
Conor Steward | 11' | |
Ruairí McCann | 12' | |
Michael Byrne | 14' | |
16' | Mark Plunkett | |
Dominic McEnhill | 18' | |
19' | Darragh Rooney | |
Dominic McEnhill | 21' | |
23' | Darragh Rooney | |
James McAuley Patrick McCormick |
27' | |
Dominic McEnhill | 30' | |
Ronan Boyle | 35+3' | |
Dominic McEnhill | 35' | |
35+2' | Keith Beirne | |
Adam Loughran | 36' | |
Dominic McEnhill | 37' | |
38' | Darragh Rooney | |
40' | Jack Heslin | |
Ruairi McCann | 44' | |
45' | James Rooney | |
Michael Byrne | 47' | |
Jack Dowling Cathal Hynds |
47' | |
48' | Darragh Rooney | |
Adam Loughran | 51' | |
52' | Shane Quinn | |
53' | James Rooney Tom Prior |
|
53' | Keith Beirne Oisin McLoughlin |
|
Adam Loughran | 54' | |
Peter Healy | 56' | |
56' | Domhnaill Flynn Paul Keaney |
|
Ruairí McCann | 58' | |
60' | Paul Keaney | |
Dominic McEnhill | 61' | |
61' | Conor Farrell Cillian McGloin |
|
Adam Loughran | 63' | |
64' | Jack Heslin | |
65' | Paul Keaney | |
Ruairí McCann Pat Shivers |
66' | |
Patrick Finnegan Odhran Eastwood |
66' | |
69' | Mark Plunkett Diarmuid Kelleher |
|
Patrick McCormick | 70+4' | |
70+2' | Paul Keaney | |
70+5' | Paul Keaney | |
Marc Jordan Cormac McGettigan |
74' |
Past Meetings
(First Round)
2-14 1-12Tailteann Cup
Pairc Sean MacDiarmada
Leitrim 2-14 - 1-12 Antrim |
(Round 3)
2-17 1-19NFL Division 4
Casement Park
Antrim v Leitrim |
(Round 3)
0-14 1-10NFL Division 4
Pairc Sean MacDiarmada
Leitrim v Antrim |
(Round 1)
0-15 0-5NFL Division 4
Corrigan Park
Antrim v Leitrim |
Ground
Corrigan Park |
---|
Corrigan Park, Naomh Eoin CLG, Belfast, County Antrim |