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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.

Antrim

1Michael Byrne Goalkeeper 14', 47'
2Ronan Boyle Defender 35+3'
3Peter Healy Defender 56'
4James McAuley 18 Defender
5Patrick McBride Forward
6Joseph Finnegan Defender
7Marc Jordan 20 Defender
8Jack Dowling 22 Defender
9Conor Steward Midfielder 11'
10Patrick Finnegan 24 Forward
11Adam Loughran Forward 51', 63'
4', 36', 54'
12Ruairí McCann 13 Forward 58'
10', 12'
17Dermot McAleese Defender
14Ruairi McCann Forward 44'
15Dominic McEnhill Forward 18', 21', 30', 35', 37', 61'
16Luke Mulholland Goalkeeper
13Pat Shivers 12 Forward
18Patrick McCormick 4 Defender 70+4'
19Barry McCormick Defender
20Cormac McGettigan 7 Defender
21Conall McGirr Forward
22Cathal Hynds 8 Defender
23Calum Higgins Forward
24Odhran Eastwood 10 Forward
25Conor Johnston Forward
26Oisin Doherty Forward

Leitrim

1Nevin O’Donnell Goalkeeper
2Paddy Maguire Defender
3Mark Diffley Defender
4Conor Farrell 17 Defender
5James Rooney 10 Defender 45'
6Shane Quinn Forward 52'
7Aidan Flynn Defender
8Pearce Dolan Midfielder 7'
9Donal Wrynn Midfielder
19Darragh Rooney Forward 19', 23', 48'
38'
11Keith Beirne 23 Forward 35+2'
12Mark Plunkett 20 Forward 16'
13Jack Heslin Forward 40'
64'
18Barry McNulty Forward 3'
15Domhnaill Flynn 14 Forward
16Darren Maxwell Goalkeeper
10Tom Prior 5 Forward
14Paul Keaney 15 Midfielder 60', 65', 70+2', 70+5'
17Cillian McGloin 4 Midfielder
20Diarmuid Kelleher 12 Forward
21Paul Moran Forward
22Radek Oberwan Defender
23Oisin McLoughlin 11 Forward
24Stephen McLoughlin Forward
25Michael McKiernan Forward
26Jack Casey Forward

Past Meetings

(First Round)
2-14 1-12
Tailteann Cup
Pairc Sean MacDiarmada

(Round 3)
2-17 1-19
NFL Division 4
Casement Park

(Round 3)
0-14 1-10
NFL Division 4
Pairc Sean MacDiarmada

(Round 1)
0-15 0-5
NFL Division 4
Corrigan Park

Ground

Corrigan Park
Corrigan Park, Naomh Eoin CLG, Belfast, County Antrim

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