The opening weekend of group stage action in the Tailteann Cup finished up, with Cavan, Meath, Limerick and Antrim, topping their respective groups.
Group 1:
Cavan 2-20 1-14 Laois, Kingspan Breffni
Cavan started strong in their hopes of making back to back Tailteann Cup finals, as they overcame a sluggish start to get past Laois in their opening round tie.
The sides exchanged scores in a tight opening few minutes, until Evan O’Caroll hit the net for Laois in the tenth minute, keeping that up they built up a 1-5 to 0-6 lead by the 20 minute mark. Cavan hit back five minutes later as Paddy Lynch hit the net, Gearoid McKiernan made it a two point lead but Marry Barry cancelled that out, Cavan held on to lead 1-10 to 1-8 at the break.
They started well kicking seven unanswered points before Laois hit back as Kieran Lillis pointed after 58 minutes, after the hour mark Cavan got some scores together to make it 1-18 to 1-13 after 67 minutes, but a Geard Smith point followed by a Jonathan McCabe goal in added time put the gap beyond doubt.
Offaly 2-14 0-11 London, Glenisk O’Connor Park
Last year’s beaten Semi Finalist Offaly opened their Tailteann Cup campaign with a nine victory over London in Tullamore.
A blistering opening period for the hosts put the game out of reach as they used the wind to their advantage in the first half to stretch out a ten-point lead before the first London score of the day.
Cian Farrell’s 2-04 was the outstanding performance of the afternoon with two well-taken goals capping off a comfortable afternoon for the hosts.
Full Match Report Available Here
Group 2:
Down 2-14 1-6 Waterford, Pairc Esler
Down ran home comfortable winners in the finish, as they overcame the challenge of Waterford.
Both exchanged two points each, before Connor Murray put the Deise ahead in the 18th minute with a goal, Down replied well as Pat Havern and Ceilum Doherty pointed either side of Eamon Brown hitting the net, after 25 minutes they led 1-4 to 1-2. That scoring form continued and Havern and Andrew Gilmore pointed to lead by four at the break.
Darragh Corcoran made it a three point game six minutes into the second half, but again Down hit the ground running, Havern and Donagh McAleenan added points before Odhran Murdock hit the net for their second goal after 50 minutes. Down finished strong as Waterford faded before any fightback was on the cards.
Meath 1-19 0-11 Tipperary, Pairc Tailteann
Meath will certainly feel their opening win in the competition was morale boosting as they built on their half time lead to see off Tipperary.
Tipp started strong for a three point lead after 11 minutes, the Royals however answered that with four quick points enough to put them ahead after 20, Steven O’Brien drew the game level before Jordan Morris, Jack Lynch and Aaron Lynch made it a three point lead for Meath at the break.
O’Connor and Morris made it five soon after the restart, Jack Kennedy replied for Tippearary but that was quickly cancelled out as Morris pointed before Aaron Lynch found the back of the net. A youthful looking Royals side battled late on but stuck to their plan and the scoreboard was always in their favour.
Group 3:
Limerick 2-16 1-16 Longford, TUS Gaelic Grounds
Limerick started life in the Tailteann Cup with a tight, but deserved victory over Longford at the Gaelic Grounds.
This, their first ever game in this competition, saw them win thanks to a goal in either half. Cathal Downes and Brian Donovan on target for a side who were looking for a first win since a McGrath Cup victory in early January.
Full Match Report Available Here
Wicklow 1-13 0-17 Carlow, Aughrim
Carlow completed a crowning comeback to steal victory late on by 0-17 to 1-13 as Wicklow were sucker-punched in the sides’ opening Talteann Cup match.
Full Match Report Available Here
Group 4:
Fermanagh 1-13 1-13 Wexford, Brewster Park
Wexford keeper Darragh Brooks pointed an injury time 45′ to secure a draw for Wexford in their opening Tailteann Cup clash with Fermanagh in Brewster Park.
The game had been a tight affair with little to separate the sides and the keeper’s intervention was a fair reflection on a pulsating 70 minutes of action between the two sides.
Full Match Report Available Here
Antrim 3-18 2-12 Leitrim, Corrigan Park
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.
Full Match Report Available Here
Fixtures, Stats and Group Stages Tables can be found here
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.