Antrim fended off the potential comeback of the season from Tipperary as they managed to seal a six-point victory on home turf in Round 2A of the Tailteann Cup.
It was a game which started in a rather slow fashion with the scoreboard left without any change after the first seven minutes, but the contest was nonetheless competitive with tackles and physicality reigning supreme in the early moments.
Paddy McAleer's driving run ended with the first score of the contest, as the All Saints midfield star clipped his effort over the black spot.
Niall Burns executed a terrific score with an amazing piece of skill as his dummy completely dumbfounded his marker before planting his effort over the bar for a second score for Antrim.
The Premier County did hit back with a great force when James Morris drove and led from the back finding himself in scoring range to fist a ball between the posts, and Sean O’Connor followed with a free.
Dominic McEnhill struck two close-range frees for the hosts and kept Antrim’s lead intact before they managed to strike a major blow in the 25th minute when Ryan McQuillan drilled his left-footed strike into the roof of the net to give the hosts daylight.
Kieran Costello was shown a black card and Antrim managed to take advantage adding a further six points to their tally.
Once Antrim got their first, a quick second soon followed and after Ryan McQuillan had shimmied past the keeper, the net was at his mercy.
The half-time tally was firmly in favour of Antrim, and as the game resumed the net was burst soon after when Conor Hand expertly struck his effort into the top corner of the net.
Antrim soon had a fourth goal which saw a 13-point gap open at one stage after Ronan Boyle latched onto the pass from Tiernan McCormick.
Despite the heavy lead, Antrim soon had to rely on strong defensive performances as the Munster side rallied to produce a great ending.
Joe Higgins found the net first and gave his side a glimmer of hope, before a long-range effort from Sean O’Connor was punched into the net by Steven O’Brien. The gap was cut to five points when O’Connor rattled off a tally of scores.
The comeback was stopped in its tracks when Daithi Hogan’s goal-bound effort was saved by John McNabb. Antrim once again took the momentum back and ended strongly with Paddy McAleer capping a standout performance in midfield with a score to seal the win.
The cherry was put on top when Tomas McCann pointed from a dead ball and the whistle sounded to earn Antrim a home tie in the third round.
Antrim: John McNabb (0-01, 1 '45’); John Morgan, Joseph Finnegan, Kavan Keenan; Eoghan McCabe (0-01), Peter Healy, Marc Jordan (0-01); Paddy McAleer (0-02), Conor Hand (1-00); Tiernan McCormack (0-01), Ryan McQuillan (2-01), Ronan Boyle (1-00); Pat Shivers, Niall Burns (0-02), Dominic McEnhill (0-02, 2f)
Subs: Eunan Walsh for Peter Healy (HT), Adam Loughran for Dominic McEnhill (54), Cathal Hynds for Tiernan McCormick, Tomas McCann (0-01) for Conor Hand (67), Benen Kelly for Ronan Boyle (72)
Tipperary: Shane Garland; Jack O’Neill, Eoin O’Connell, Mark Corcoran; Charlie King (0-01), James Morris (0-01), Emmet Moloney; Joe Higgins (1-00), Paudie Feehan (0-01); Eoin Craddock, Michéal Freaney, Kieran Costello; Cian Smith (0-01), Sean O’Connor (0-05, 1tpf, 3f), Daithi Hogan
Subs: Paddy Creedon (0-02) for Cian Smith (46), Killian Butler for Ciaran Costello (54), Steven O’Brien (1-01) for Eoin Craddock (56), Jimmy Feehan for Mark Corcoran (59), Darragh Brennan for Daithi Hogan (65)
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
