Tailteann Cup Group 2, round one
Antrim 4-12 2-13 Tipperary
ANTRIM made use of home advantage in a high-scoring opening win over Division Four side Tipperary.
Antrim’s starting forward line kicked an impressive 2-8, Ruairí McCann of Naomh Mhuire grabbing the goals, with Dominic McEnhill adding another two points off the bench.
Tipp’s challenge was led by the evergreen Conor Sweeney – back after 16 months out with injury – and they were much improved, having been shocked in the Munster Championship by Waterford off the back of a fairly average League campaign that never threatened a concerted effort at promotion.
Paddy McAleer was a thorn in the Munster men’s side in the early exchanges, with opening half goals from Kavan Keenan and Eunan Walsh giving Antrim a healthy cushion, even if they never fully pulled away.
Defender Keenan’s goal was typical of an open display, throwing caution to the wind as he ghosted in and greatly contrasted the tense Corrigan Park atmosphere that saw Andy McEntee’s side overcome Wicklow and secure Division Three status a matter of months ago.
Walsh’s effort then opened up a 2-6 to 0-4 lead, one which made the two points look safe as early as 25 minutes in, but Tipp’ rallied before the break.
Centre-back Paudie Feehan maximised his own venture up the pitch to cut the margin to just two at the interval.
Naomh Mhuire’s McCann pinned them back again, however, his 37th-minute major shaking a little pressure off his side’s shoulders.
Although Sweeney landed a penalty 11 minutes later to go with his five points from play, it never really looked as though Antrim would collapse, even if they had their moments of imperfection.
Three was as small as the margin got after the second McCann strike, and Tipp’ failed to score from 63 minutes until the final whistle as McEnhill clipped the insurance scores for the Saffrons.
Having went through the group phase in 2023 unbeaten, Antrim have proven they know how to navigate this competition, with a fixture to come away to Wexford in round two.
For Tipperary, it is another tricky fixture against Tony McEntee’s Sligo.
If results go as expected next weekend, they could well face a shoot-out against Division Four rivals Wexford to determine who makes it to the preliminary quarter-finals.
Antrim M Byrne; D Lynch, E Walsh (1-0), K Keenan (1-0); N Burns, J Finnegan, D McAleese; P McAleer (0-2), C Hynds; C Hand (0-1), P McBride (0-2), R McCann (Creggan, 0-1); R McQuillan (0-3), R McCann (St Mary’s, 2-0), M Jordan
Subs C McLarnon for McAleer (29); D McEnhill (0-2) for R McCann (St Mary’s) (59); A Loughran for M Jordan (65); J McDonnell for K Keenan (68); C McGettigan for McQuillan (70+5)
Tipperary E Comerford (0-1); T Condon, J Feehan (1-0), M Stokes, S Grogan, P Feehan, C Cadell J Morris, S O’Brien, P McGarry (0-1), C Kennedy, T Doyle (0-1), C Sweeney (1-7, 1-0 pen, 0-2 frees), S O’Connor (0-1 free) J Kennedy (Commercials, 0-1)
Subs E Moloney for Cadell (26), M Russell for Doyle (47) L Boland for O’Brien (47), S O’Connell for Condon (53), K Costello for Morris (64); D Brennan (0-1)