Tailteann Cup Roundup: Group Stage Round 2

Cavan, Down, Limerick and Antrim are the group stage leaders going into the final weekend, but only Limerick look assured of finishing top by the end of Round 3.

Group 1 has Cavan fighting with Offaly for top spot Laois could snatch second at one of their expenses however, Down and Meath have four points each in Group 2, while Group 4 has Antrim ahead of Fermanagh by a point, all teams play on the final day to fight for a straight route to the Quarter Finals.

Group 1:

London 2-06 Cavan 0-18, Ruislip

Cavan made it two wins from two in Group 1 of the Tailteann Cup, as they overcame a valiant London side in Ruislip on Saturday.

Paddy Lynch kicked 0-7 in their victory which caused issues to Cavan, as London did put them under pressure as goals from Liam Gallagher and Enda Lynn made it a real contest.

Full Match Report Available Here

Laois 1-11 1-11 Offaly, Laois Hire O’Moore Park

A double of brilliant late points from Offaly substitute Nigel Bracken helped them to a thrilling tie against Laois, as the action at O’Moore Park ended 1-11 to 1-11.

It is a result that gains both teams a point in Group 1 but given their late salvation act and an opening Tailteaan Cup win last weekend, one that will leave Offaly more optimistic of progressing.

Full Match Report Available Here

Group 2:

Waterford 1-14 3-17 Meath, Fraher Field

Meath got their second win of the group stage, but finished the weekend second in the group, as they had nine to spare against a battling Waterford.

Aaron Lynch hit three early points along with efforts from Matthew Costello to build a 0-5 to 0-2 lead, put Jason Curry’s goal after 19 minutes saw the dynamic shift as he levelled the tie after 20 minutes. Lynch and Costello both kicked scores to put Meath ahead 0-9 to 1-4 at the interval.

Costello kept us his scoring to hit 1-1 as the second half got underway, Waterford were just five behind but Jordan Morris put ,more breathing room between them after 56 minutes as he converted a penalty, Donal Lenohan hit their third after 64 minutes for a 3-15 to 1-10 lead, but the Deise hit some late points that has them third in the standings.

Tipperary 0-6 2-18 Down, FBD Semple Stadium

Down put in an emphatic result against Tipperary to top Group 2 of the Tailteann Cup, as they ran home 18 point winners, in a tie they never looked like losing after a strong second half push.

Pat Havern was influential in the tie from his free taking and scoring abilities, he notched 0-5 for the afternoon, while Odhran Murdock and Shelan Johnston found the net, finishing the day on 1-2 and 1-1 respectively. 

Tipp gave plenty of frees away in this contest, Down had numerous different takers and on plenty of occasions added points as Tipp faded especially in the second half, scoring just two points as they struggled in front of the posts.

Full Match Report Available Here

Group 3: 

Carlow 0-14 1-19 Limerick, Netwatch Cullen Park

Limerick’s blistering start to the second half allowed them to take control of their Tailteann Cup group fate as they won 1-19 to 0-14 at a battling Carlow.

Limerick in pole position for an automatic QF place now whilst Carlow will take it to the wire in their crunch final Group game with Longford as they bid to reach the knockout stages.

Full Match Report Available Here

Longford 3-17 2-9 Wicklow, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Longford could well finish as the second best side in Group 3 as they put in a sensational display over Wicklow, as Oran Kenny was in prolific form.

Wicklow remained competitive for the opening ten minutes as the sides were level two points a piece, Kenny put Longford into one point lead, before Joe Hagan and Dylan Farrell found the net for a 2-3 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Seven points followed before Eoin Murtagh hit the net for Wicklow, Eoin Darcy followed up with a free before the break leaving nine between them, but Dessie Reynolds and Farrell added late points as the hosts led 2-11 to 1-3 at the break.

Kenny pointed three points early in the second half to cancel out early Wicklow scores, Joe Hagan’s goal in the 46th minute gave Longford that hope of a first win in the group stage, Wicklow pushed on as both teams got scores, they got a consolation goal in added time as Darcy struck a penalty to the net, they sit bottom of Group 3.

Group 4:

Wexford 0-14 2-15 Antrim, Chadwicks Wexford Park

Two goals from Ruarí McCann helped Antrim to top Group 4, as they battled back to come out seven point winners in the second half.

It was anyone’s game in the early exchanges as Wexford were ahead by a point, they started to build a lead as Mark Rossiter, Kevin O’Grady and Michael Furlong all pointed for a four point lead after 12 minutes, Michael Byrne kept the Saffrons in the tie in the opening half, he kicked four scores, while Patrick Finnegan and Dominic McEnhill left two between them at the break 0-11 to 0-9.

McCann struck in the 43rd and 45th minute to swing the momentum back Antrim’s way, putting them ahead 2-9 to 0-11, Ben Brosnan got the hosts on the board, but points from McEnhill, Byrne and Finnegan, put Antrim in the ascendancy, 2-13 to 0-12 with  65 minutes elapsed. Both sides swapped two points each in the final minutes as Antrim remained unbeaten with a massive clash with Fermangah to come.

Leitrim 2-07 1-19 Fermanagh, Avant Money Páirc Sean MacDiarmada

Fermanagh overcame Leitrim to keep second spot in the standings, working hard in the second half they held their ground to prevail.

Oisin McLoughlin had Leitrim off to a great start with two quick points, but four points from Sean Quigley, two from Ryan Lyons and a Tommy McCaffery point had the visitors ahead 0-7 to 0-2 after 19 minutes.

Donal Wrynn and Paul Keaney cut the gap to three, before the Ulstermen hit 1-1 through Ryan Jones and Lyons sent over another point to lead 1-9 to 0-4 at the break.

A pulsating start to the second half followed, Paul Keaney and Mark Plunkett both struck the net for the home side within a matter of minutes, but a Lyons point in between had the Ulster sides lead at three, 1-10 to 2-4.

Pearce Dolan quickly made it two before Josh Largo Ellis was on the mark to cancel it out, Fermanagh hit four points in a row before Tom Prior stopped the rut after 58 minutes, but Leitrim were trailing by six, 1-15 to 2-8.

Luke Flannagan, Brandon Horan and Ryan Lyons all pointed inside the final ten minutes to keep the visitors comfortably ahead, Keaney pointed in added time to cut the scoring deficit for the standings, but Ultan Kelm made it a nine point loss in Carrick-On-Shannon.

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.

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