Kevin Quinn of Wicklow in action against Ben Guckian of Leitrim during the Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final match between Leitrim and Wicklow at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile.
Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final
Wicklow 2-15 Leitrim 1-11
By Brendan Lawrence at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park
“And look who it is...it’s that flippin Dean Healy again,” was a line from the live commentary from the Shannonside radio station commentator in the pressbox of Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford as Wicklow tormented Leitrim in the second half of their Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final on Saturday evening.
The St. Patrick’s clubman scored four points in their 2-15 to 1-11 victory at the sunbathed Longford venue but had a hand in absolutely everything over the course of the 70 minutes.
Things were looking shaky enough for Oisin McConville’s charges at the half-time break with the ‘home’ side leading by 1-7 to 1-4 but you got the feeling that Andy Moran’s charges hadn’t built a strong enough lead in those opening 35 minutes, JP Nolan’s handpass that ended up in the back of the Leitrim net almost immediately after Barry McNulty had lashed home past Mark Jackson a massive score in the context of the game for the Garden County.
Wicklow could have led at the break had they taken their early goal chances, the first in the opening moments when Chris O’Brien got on the end of a sweeping move only to blast over Nevin O’Donnell’s crossbar instead of underneath it.
Leitrim looked in a good place when the impressive McNulty got on the end of an exquisite Ryan O’Rourke pass after Andy Moran’s side had turned Wicklow over and blasted home to the back of the net, but full credit to Oisin McConville’s charges, they registered a quick wide before Dean Healy cut Leitrim open with a surging run and JP Nolan’s pass across the face of the goal ended up in the back of the net off the body of a defender.
Wicklow started the second half like a train, with points from Healy and three on the trot from Kevin Quinn (one free) before a calamitous sideline ball was passed straight to Dean Healy who fed Eoin D’Arcy and the Tinahely men sent a ball across the goal to the waiting Chris O’Brien who palmed home to leave it 2-8 to 1-8 with nine gone in the second half.
Longford were in all sorts of bother at this stage, Jonny Carlin’s introduction and deployment on McNulty taking the midfielder out of the game during a key phase, and two further Healy points left Wicklow up by four at 2-10 to 1-9 with 13 gone in the second half.
Points were swapped between Ryan O’Rourke and Mark Jackson (free) before Jonny Carlin put his body on the line to block a certain goal chance from Mark Plunkett after 17.
And while Wicklow were wasteful with four wides in a row between the 22nd and 29th minutes, Leitrim weren’t doing any damage at the other end due to the hard work of Jack Kirwan, the intelligence of Eoin Murtagh at centre-back and the huge efforts of Darragh Fee, Podge O’Toole, Paddy O’Keane and Malachy Stone.
The Garden County powered home in the closing stages, with a quality impact off the bench, Oisin McGraynor and Gearoid Murphy both raising white flags to leave Wicklow worthy winners by 2-15 to 1-11.
Scorers for Wicklow: Dean Healy 0-4, Chris O’Brien 1-1, Kevin Quinn 0-3, 1f, Mark Jackson 0-2, 2f, JP Nolan 1-2, Oisin McGraynor 0-1, f, Gearoid Murphy 0-1, Podge O’Toole 0-1.
Scorers for Leitrim: Darragh Roney 0-4, 4f, Barry McNulty 1-2, 1f, Ryan O’Rourke 0-2, Nevin O’Donnell 0-2, 1 45, Mark PLunkett 0-1.
Wicklow: Mark Jackson; Tom Moran, Malachy Stone, Paddy O’Keane; Matt Nolan, Eoin Murtagh, Podge O’Toole; Dean Healy, Craig Maguire; Darragh Fee, Eoin D’Arcy, Jack Kirwan; Chris O’Brien, Kevin Quinn, JP Nolan. Subs: Cillian McDonald for T. Moran (20, inj.), Jonny Carlin for C Maguire (39), Oisin McGraynor for E. D’Arcy (60), G. Fogarty for C. O’Brien (64), G. Murphy for JP Nolan (65).
Leitrim: Nevin O’Donnell; Cathal McHugh, Mark Diffley, Aidan Flynn; James Rooney, Radek Oberwan, Tom Prior; Donal Wrynn, Barry McNulty; Jack Foley, Mark Plunkett, Ryan O’Rourke (0-1); Ben Guckian, Darragh Rooney, Jack Flynn. Subs: Shane Quinn for J. Foley (temp, 35, reversed 36), Riordan O’Rourke for B. Guckian (47), Conor Reynolds for R Oberwan (48), Arek Oberwan for K. Clancy (50), Darren Cox for T. Prior, 53), Shane Quinn for D. Wrynn ((62)
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone