Leitrim end Tailteann Cup campaign on a high with Tipperary victory
Tailteann Cup Group 1 round 3: Leitrim 3-9 Tipperary 0-10
It was a long time coming, but Leitrim signed off on 2025 with their first victory as they defeated Tipperary by eight points at TEG Cusack Park.
It wasn't enough for the Connacht men to progress, however, as their -21 score difference was bettered by Antrim's -16 for the final third-placed qualification place.
Stephen Poacher's debut win was achieved with goals from Jack Flynn, Tom Prior, and Joe McGloin, although they left a handful more behind them.
This contest brought together two teams carrying a huge turnover of players from last year. Still, the opportunity for Tailteann Cup progression was clear, although Leitrim needed a heftier margin of victory than Tipp.
Leitrim full-forward Darren Cox was a late withdrawal as McGloin came into their attack.
Shorn of full-back line regulars in Jimmy Feehan and Jack Harney, Tipp U20 star Eoin O'Connell came in for his first start at full-back alongside Emmet Moloney.
Leitrim targeted goals from the off. Moments after they met for the coin toss, Steven O'Brien slid in to strip opposite captain Mark Diffley before he could aim for the net.
Then, Ben Guckian got inside only for Manus McFadden to produce a goal-saving block, which resulted in the corner-back exiting the field. From the subsequent move, Tipp opened the scoring with a lovely two-pointer by Cian Smith. The Clonmel Commercials youngster ended with 0-7 to his name.
Leitrim didn't land a score until the 16th minute, but it was worth the wait. Guckian played a one-two with McGloin before slipping the ball to Flynn. Shane Ryan got a solid touch to Flynn's shot, but it bounced in off the crossbar.
O'Brien's kick-out mark led to a levelling point by Emmet Moloney, but they wouldn't score again between the 20th minute and half-time.
Guckian's pacy point moved Leitrim ahead before striking for a second goal in the 27th minute. Goalkeeper Daire O'Shea booted a free long, Barry McNulty won it on the run, and he released the influential Prior, who confidently picked out the bottom corner.
McNulty won and converted a free, and it remained 2-2 to 0-3 at half-time despite a couple of late goal chances. Jason Madigan got in the way of Donal Casey's shot, while Prior dived to block Smith's drilled effort.
The sides shared the first four points of the second half, with Daithí Hogan and Smith scores sandwiching those from Riordan O'Rourke and Flynn.
But Leitrim were beginning to exploit the conditions through Guckian and O'Rourke points.
After a Smith free, the Connacht side struck for their third goal. Conor Quinn produced a diving block on Seán O'Connor, and they countered with Diffley squaring for McGloin to palm home.
Prior could've tacked on a fourth goal but chose to point for a 3-7 to 0-6 lead.
Smith stroked over a two-point free in response, while Darragh Brennan had a shot at goal blocked by Diffley, who then limped off.
Leitrim came close twice more in stoppage time, but McNulty and O'Rourke fired wide.
Scorers for Leitrim: J Flynn, T Prior (1-1 each); J McGloin (1-0); B Guckian, R O'Rourke (0-2 each); J Rooney, J Foley, B McNulty (free) (0-1 each).
Scorers for Tipperary: C Smith (0-7, 1tp, 1tpf, 3 frees); D Hogan (0-2); E Moloney (0-1).
LEITRIM: D O'Shea; K Clancy, M Diffley, É McNamara; J Foley, D Casey, J Rooney; B McNulty, C McGloin; J Flynn, K Keegan, T Prior; B Guckian, J McGloin, R O'Rourke.
Subs: C Quinn for C McGloin (23, inj), T Hughes for Diffley (65, inj), D Feeney for J McGloin (67), E Harkin for Keegan (70).
TIPPERARY: S Ryan; M McFadden, E O'Connell, E Moloney; L Boland, M Stokes, J O'Neill; P Feehan, K Costello; M Freaney, S O'Brien, C Smith; D Hogan, D Brennan, S O'Connor.
Subs: J Madigan for McFadden (6-14, temp), Madigan for McFadden (30, inj), C Fahey for Freaney (34), E Power for Feehan (52), M O'Shea for O'Connor (57), M Russell for Boland (60, inj).
Referee: T Murphy (Galway).
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