Mixed emotions as Leitrim score first win of 2025 but fall short in Tailteann Cup win over Tipperary

A long awaited and first win of 2025 for Leitrim was worthy of celebration in TEG Cusack Park on Sunday but instead the Green & Gold were left bitterly disappointed as their eight point victory over Tipperary was not enough to see them into the Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter-Finals.

Steven Poacher’s side needed an awful lot in other games to go their way if they were to make the knockout stages next weekend and incredibly, they were on course to do just that after 57 minutes, leading by ten points as Antrim only led by two, leaving the Green & Gold with a two point advantage.

But as Leitrim tried to pad their lead to guarantee qualification, both Tipperary in Mullingar and Antrim in Newry surged. The Saffrons would eventually secure an eight point win over London while Tipp’s obstinacy and a few late missed goal chances meant that Leitrim only won by eight points.

Twice Leitrim missed great goal chances in added time, scores that would have left the Green & Gold two points adrift of the Saffrons but it was not to be, despite a dominant display from Poacher’s men as they picked up their first victory of a tough and trying 2025 campaign.

Truth be told, Leitrim have often played better without reward than they did in the first half in Mullingar yet there was a clinicalness on show against the wind in Cusack Park that bode well, goals from Jack Flynn and Tom Prior giving Leitrim a deserved five point lead at the break.

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With the wind at their backs in the second half, Leitrim never looked like losing - Poacher’s defence was tigerish and tight, blocking two or three Tipperary goal chances and never looking like the Munster men might overcome them as they battled for the third place spot in the group.

Joe McGloin got a great poacher’s goal to put Leitrim ten points ahead, excitement rising among the fanatically loyal but disappointingly small Green & Gold support in Cusack Park, social media and local radio being consulted as it looked as if Leitrim were about to pull off a miracle.

But in keeping with the luck they’ve had all year, Antrim finished very strong down the final stretch to seal their place in the preliminary quarter-final, leaving Leitrim fans happy to have broken their duck this year but wondering what might have been had their heroes got the result they deserved against Sligo two weeks ago.

For a team scoring 3-9, it seems strange to report that this victory was built on a magnificent defensive effort with Mark Diffley really leading the way with shining roles from everyone wearing a Leitrim jersey. Daire O’Shea was commanding under the high ball, Eanna McNamara ravenous in the battle for possession and Donal Casey a real Rolls Royce of a player.

Strange also to say that it was probably one of Barry McNulty’s quieter games - Tipperary tried to quell his influence on the game but the Glencar Manorhamilton man came up with decisive contributions at just the right time.

Disappointment is the over-riding emotion right now but once these Leitrim players consider what they’ve had to endure this year and how far they’ve come, they’ll attack the 2026 Allianz League with a ferocity and ambition that will have to be seen to be believed. The disappointment of today may well sow the seeds of success next year.

The Leitrim team who defeated Tipperary in the Tailteann Cup in TEG Cusack Park Mullingar Picture: Willie Donnellan

A tight and tense game took time to trouble the scoreboard operators although that didn’t mean there weren’t chances as Tipperary hit an early wide before a great move involving Cillian McGloin and Keith Keegan was thwarted when Ben Guckian’s shot was blocked, necessitating a lengthy delay and blood sub for Tipperary’s Manus McFadden who was injured making the block.

Cian Smith opened the scoring with an ominous two pointer from play on six minutes and as Riordan O’Rourke, Barry McNulty and Donal Casey all saw chances fly wide or drop short, Daire O’Shea did very well to punch out a dangerous shot from Smith.

The game exploded into life from a Leitrim perspective after 15 minutes - Ben Guckian’s run saw him cut through the Tipp defence before he offloaded to Jack Flynn cutting in from the left wing. The Leitrim Gaels clubman had a lot to do, breaking past two defenders and firing low into the bottom right hand corner.

Tipp’s Micheal Freaney tried to hit back with a two point attempt but it flew wide while a shot from Keith Keegan hit the post, Jack Foley unable to get a touch on the ball when it dropped in front of him. Cillian McGloin had a bad wide before a catch and run from Stephen O’Brien released Emmet Maloney on a surging run that threatened a goal before the corner-back fired over the bar.

Ben Guckian’s strong running with the ball led to another score, this time a point from the St Mary’s man after 21 minus and after O’Rourke had a wide, Leitrim took control of the game with a second goal - a long Daire O’Shea came to Barry McNulty who quickly released a charging Tom Prior.

The Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins man rode a hefty challenge and managed to fire low to the bottom corner to leave Leitrim 2-1 to 0-3 ahead after 26 minutes.

This was far from a free flowing contest, Leitrim content to hold onto the ball against the wind and Tipperary unable to break down Leitrim’s resilient defence. Guckian but a free well wide, Tipperary’s Daithi Hogan saw a long effort claimed by a leaping O’Shea before McNulty converted a free.

Tipperary were pressed hard for scores, Mark Stokes wide with a two point effort while Darragh Brennan saw a goal bound shot blocked. Leitrim almost had a third goal when a quick counter attack ended with Donal Casey getting through but keeper Shane Ryan made a good save to deny the full-back.

The goal chances kept coming - Ben Guckian drove a shot wide across the goal while Tom Prior blocked a shot from Tipperary’s Cian Smith, both in added time as Leitrim led 2-2 to 0-3 at the halftime break.

The Munster men cut the gap to four in the first minute of the second half when Hogan pointed after they briefly threatened a goal but Leitrim responded well, Riordan O’Rourke taking a pass from Casey to score and McNulty setting up Jack Flynn for a good point.

Cian Smith put an eighth minute free wide as both teams struggled to convert chances but a break from a kickout saw Guckian convert well under pressure with Leitrim becoming a bit more wasteful as they chased a lead that might overtake either Antrim or London in the battle for the top three third places.

Tipp lost the ball in attack, Leitrim went long to McNulty who set up O’Rourke for his second point on 17 minutes. The Premier county hit back with a Cian Smith free but with 15 minutes to go, and the scores level in Newry, it looked as if Leitrim were about to win their way into the knockout stages.

Eanna McNamara’s long ball found Ben Guckian who released a charging Mark Diffley right down the centre and the Leitrim captain’s perfectly flighted pass was met brilliantly by Joe McGloin for a goal that left the Green & Gold nine points clear.

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Tom Prior burst through a tackle, knocking two defenders to the ground in the process, to score as it looked as if a Leitrim miracle was about to be pulled off. But then word came of Antrim’s late surge, the Saffrons grabbing a killer goal that moved them ahead of Leitrim on scoring difference.

Tipp keeper Shane Ryan did very well to keep a dangerous Keegan ball out of his net while Mark Diffley blocked a shot from Darragh Brennan. Daire O’Shea then made a huge catch under pressure with Mark Diffley injured in the collision with an opponent, forcing the St Mary’s clubman from the game.

Just as Leitrim were starting to dream, Tipperary seemed determined to burst their bubble with Cian Smith hitting a monster two point free into the wind over the Leitrim crossbar to cut Leitrim’s lead to eight point, adding another in the final seconds of normal time after an O’Brien fisted effort was saved by O’Shea.

James Rooney and Jack Foley both hit fine points but Leitrim needed goals and they almost goal them - Barry McNulty got onto the end of a high ball but his palmed effort flew inches wide while a low Riordan O’Rourke shot went between the post and the Glencar Manorhamilton man as it flew wide.0

LEITRIM

Scorers: Jack Flynn & Tom Prior 1-1 each, Joe McGloin 1-0, Ben Guckian & Riordan O’Rourke 0-2 each; James Rooney, Jack Foley & Barry McNulty (f) 0-1 each

Team: Daire O’Shea; Kieran Clancy, Mark Diffley, Éanna McNamara; Jack Foley, Donal Casey, James Rooney; Barry McNulty, Cillian McGloin; Jack Flynn, Keith Keegan, Tom Prior; Ben Guckian, Joe McGloin, Riordan O’Rourke. Subs: Conor Quinn for C McGloin (23), Tom Hughes for Diffley (65), David Feeney for J McGloin (67), Evan Harkin for Keegan (70)

TIPPERARY

Scorers: Cian Smith 0-7, 2 tp; 3f; Daithí Hogan 0-2; Emmet Moloney 0-1

Team: Shane Ryan; Manus McFadden, Eoin O’Connell, Emmet Moloney; Luke Boland, Mark Stokes, Jack O’Neill; Paudie Feehan, Kieran Costello; Micheál Freaney, Steven O’Brien, Cian Smith; Daithí Hogan, Darragh Brennan, Seán O’Connor. Subs: Jason Madigan for McFadden (6-14, temp), Madigan for McFadden (30), Conor Fahey for Freaney (34), Eoghan Power for Feehan (52), Mikey O’Shea for O’Connor (57), Mark Russell for Boland (60)

Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway)