Leitrim end Tailteann Cup campaign on a high with Tipperary victory
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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'We kept getting players in as well, and changing the team. I remember being in Croke Park against Tyrone and I looked at the physique they had compared to ours. We just upped that end of things.' Eamonn Murray and Aoibhín Cleary celebrate after Meath's victory in the 2021 All-Ireland senior final. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO The momentum of that victory propelled Meath to even greater heights in 2021. Facing a Dublin team aiming to complete an All-Ireland five in a row, Murray's Royals prevailed to conquer the top tier of ladies football. They defended their title the following year when Kerry were the challengers. And through it all, they honoured that promise to curtail the number of goals conceded. Dublin failed to score any goals in the 2021 final. And while the now retired Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored a goal for Kerry the following year, Niamh O'Sullivan, Emma Troy and Bridgetta Lynch clattered the Kingdom net. Meath's intermediate celebrations were understandably curtailed by the pandemic but no such barrier interfered with the parties that followed their senior triumphs. 'It was a strange feeling heading back to Navan that night with about 20 people watching us there,' Murray says referring to the afters of their 2020 decider. 'We went upstairs to the hotel with masks on, had a dinner at two or three pints of Guinness and home at 10 o'clock. 'Move forward to next year when we won senior and some of the girls didn't get home for a week.' Murray stepped down as Meath manager shortly after the 2022 season. At the time, it seemed that his exit was partly motivated by the Vikki Wall and Orlagh Lally's decision to take up offers in the AFLW. But others were departing too. Paul Garrigan and Eugene Eivers switched backroom teams in Meath to work under the then men's senior manager Colm O'Rourke. Aoibheann Leahy, Emma Troy and Kelsey Nesbitt were all stepping away, and Murray felt a rebuild would be too much. Everything was coming to a natural conclusion. 'It wasn't easy. My gosh, it broke my heart. I wasn't in good form for a few months after. You're so close to the players. 'Some of them I was with since they were 16. They are part of your family. You spend more time with them than they do with their own family.' Switching from mentor to supporter has been an interesting process for Murray. The calmness he brought to the sideline has been replaced by the sound of his voice cheering the team on. He can't help but compare his management style with that of the current boss Shane McCormack, but he accepts that as a natural part of the transition. He was thrilled to see his former side finally get the better of their 2022 All-Ireland final opponents Kerry in this year's semi-final after two consecutive championship defeats. And he looked on with furious confusion at some of the decisions given against Vikki Wall. Her sin-bin against Kildare in the All-Ireland series was a major talking point as she was adjudged to have fouled Claire Sullivan when many felt the decision should have gone in Wall's favour. Like others, Murray feels she is mistreated by match officials on account of her superior strength. 'It's one of my most frustrating things to watch. 'There's no other girl or man or person in the country that has to hold their hands up in the air when attacking someone. She has to hold her hands up now in a tackle so the referee sees clearly she's not using her hands. Meath's Vikki Wall. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO 'She's almost too big for the rules. It's very hard to change directions coming at her speed. And players are out there saying, 'I'll stop Vikki Wall.' Every team has a few players trying to stop her. And they're not trying to stop her legally but they get away with it.' Murray has coached Wall since her underage days, and has marvelled at her physical transformation as she moved up the grades. 'She never left the gym, and she was running day and night. That's what she does. You rarely see her injured. She's an example to every young player in the country. And she's probably one of the easiest players I've ever managed. She never complained. Related Reads 'I was trending number one in Ireland on Twitter ahead of Rashford and Coldplay!' Leading Meath, AFLW adventure, and a couple chasing All-Ireland glory Dublin beat Galway after extra-time to set up All-Ireland final showdown with Meath 'She's the ultimate team player. I think she really brought on Emma Duggan, her clubmate as well. Emma was very lucky to have her there at the time. The both of them get on very well and play very well together. 'The lift that gives the Meath team when she gets the ball.' There's no regrets about not being part of the Meath management team that has guided the Royals back to an All-Ireland final. He's happy to be a full-time fan. His family were glued to Meath's progress when Murray was in charge and remain full invested this weekend for another trip to Croke Park. It was their intervention that convinced him to stay when all he wanted to do was quit. A familiar foe awaits on the other side of the line, and just like in 2021, they're considered outsiders against Dublin. Murray knows how well Meath are suited to the underdog tag. 'We've always told them that you should always feel like you're an underdog. 'They're on a great roll and to beat the All-Ireland champions as well, that has to mean something. I'm sure it'll be well worth watching. 'I'd advise anybody who loves football and sports to go and watch it because there will be plenty of excitement to watch.' *****
