Tipp fall to Antrim in Tailteann Cup
GAA: Tailteann Cup Senior Football Round 2A
Antrim 4-0-12 (24)
Tipperary 2-1-10 (18)
Report: Shane Brophy at Corrigan Park, Belfast
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Ryan McQuillan (Antrim)
SCORERS – Antrim: Ryan McQuillan 2-1; Ronan Boyle, Conor Hand 1-0 each; Eoghan McCabe, Dominic McEnhill (frees), Paddy McAleer 0-2 each; John McNabb (45), Marc Jordan, Tiernan McCormack, Niall Burns, Tomas McCann 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Sean O’Connor 0-5 (1x2free, 3 frees) Steven O’Brien 1-1 (0-1 ’45); Joe Higgins 1-0; Paddy Creedon 0-2; James Morris, Cian Smith (free), Charlie King, Paudie Feehan 0-1 each.
Tipperary will have to go via the round 3 route to progress to the quarter final of the Tailteann Cup after defeat to Antrim on Sunday.
A clash of round 1 winners, it wasn’t knockout for either team but it never fully ignited in the shadow of a large fire at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast City which thankfully didn’t threaten to impact the game.
There was one change to the Tipperary starting fifteen from the win over Sligo with Kieran Costello coming in for Killian Butler.
Tipperary played against a stiff breeze in the opening half and were defensively very well organised with the home side taking a full nine minutes to register through Paddy McAleer before Eoghan McCabe pointed a minute later.
Tipp enjoyed a lot of the ball in the early going but struggled to penetrate until centre back James Morris made a burst run through the middle before fisting over on twelve minutes.
Sean O’Connor levelled from a free but Antrim were frustrated in their ability to add to their lead with two Dominic McEnhill frees pushing them two clear. They finally penetrated Tipp in devastating fashion on 26 minutes with Ryan McQuillan bursting through before rifling to the net.
Tipp responded well with Sean O’Connor winning a free which he converted himself.
However, Tipp had a poor end to the first half with Kieran Costello black-carded shortly after Shane Garland made a superb save from McQuillan.
But from the kickout, the Tipp defence were caught short off the break with Marc Jordan playing in McQuillan for his second goal.
Sean O’Connor pulled a point back for Tipp but Eoghan McCabe had the final say of the half with his second point as the Saffron’s led 2-6 to 0-4.
Early second half points from Charlie King and a two-point free from Sean O’Connor gave Tipp the perfect start as Kieran Costello came back onto the field but Tipp couldn’t build on it as Antrim began to dominate the kickout but didn’t make it count until the 47th minute when Conor Hand cut easily through the middle for their third goal, 3-7 to 0-7.
Points from Paudie Feehan and sub Paddy Creedon gave Tipp hope but Ronan Boyle’s goal on 57th minute killed off any hope.
However, Tipp didn’t throw in the towel with Steven O’Brien goaling on 65 minutes and Joe Higgins fisted to the net four minutes later to bring them within five but they couldn’t find anymore as the home side eased to victory and a place in the quarter finals.
TEAMS – Antrim: John McNabb; John Morgan, Joseph Finnegan, Kavan Keenan; Eoghan McCabe (Capt), Peter Healy, Mac Jordan; Paddy McAleer, Conor Hand; Tiernan McCormack, Ryan McQuillan, Ronan Boyle; Pat Shivers, Niall Burns, Dominic McEnhill.
Subs: Cathal Hynds for McAleer (20-22 blood); Adam Loughran for McEnhill (54); Cathal Hynds for McCormack (63); Tomas McCann for Hand (68); Benen Kelly for Boyle (70+3).
Tipperary: Shane Garland (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney), Mark Corcoran (Clonmel Commercials); Charlie King (Ballina), James Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule, Capt); Eoin Craddock (Holycross/Ballycahill), Micheal Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Daithi Hogan (St Patrick’s).
Subs: Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields) for Smith (46); Killian Butler for Costello (54); Steven O’Brien (Ballina) for Craddock (57); Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule) for O’Neill (60); Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen) for Hogan (65).
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)