Gaelic Games

Tailteann Cup wrap: London beat Offaly to record first championship win in 11 years

Donegal native Ciaran Diver finishes with 1-5 for the Exiles in their 14-point hammering of Offaly in Tullamore

The London team stand for the national anthem. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho

Paul Fitzpatrick
Sun May 12 2024 - 17:04

London produced arguably the biggest upset since the Tailteann Cup was launched in 2022 as they recorded a first championship victory in 11 years with a 14-point thumping of Offaly in Tullamore.

The Exiles were 0-8 to 0-6 ahead at the break, with Donegal native Ciaran Diver (who finished with 1-5) impressive up front. The Faithful struggled to break down a packed London defence and the visitors hurt them on the break, with Stephen Dornan and Diver running in goals which secured just London’s second win of the season.

Last year’s runners-up Down, meanwhile, bolstered their credentials with a 1-20 to 1-6 win over Limerick at Páirc Esler. When the sides met at the same venue in round two of the league, Down won by 16 points and they were similarly dominant here against a Treaty side who only registered one score – Peter Nash’s goal – from play.

Thirteen Down players got on the scoresheet, with Daniel Guinness bagging the goal.

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Fellow top seeds Fermanagh had an eye-catching 3-16 to 0-9 win over Wicklow at Brewster Park. Conor Love came off the bench to rattle in two goals in two minutes as Kieran Donnelly’s men bounced back emphatically from their heavy recent loss to Armagh.

A rousing point from full-back Che Cullen helped the Erne men into an early lead. They were four up at the interval and dominated the second half, Sean Cassidy also raising a green flag as they ran out easy winners over a Wicklow side who showed some impressive form in Leinster.

Another of those who will fancy their chances of going all the way are Sligo, who pushed Galway close in the Connacht semi-final and followed that up with a 2-21 to 2-15 win over Wexford in Markievicz Park.

Alan McLoughlin (1-5) and Sean Carrabine (0-6) were the key marksmen for Sligo but the hosts didn’t have things all their own way as a Dylan Furlong goal helped Wexford to lead by one at half-time. A Glen Malone goal for Wexford dragged them back late on and he also hit the crossbar but Sligo finished strongest to ease home.

At Carrick-On-Shannon, Ryan O’Rourke landed 0-5 from play and goalkeeper Nevin O’Donnell bagged 0-3 from placed balls as Leitrim held off Waterford by 0-17 to 0-12.

Andy Moran’s side were just a point up at the break but kicked on with five unanswered points in the third quarter.

Elsewhere, a haul of 1-7 (0-5 from play) from All-Star Conor Sweeney wasn’t enough to salvage anything for Tipperary, who went down by 4-12 to 2-13 against Antrim at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Ruairi McCann hit the net twice for the Saffrons, who were seven points to the good early in the second half before a Sweeney penalty ensured a competitive final quarter.

The last of the Tailteann games was worth waiting for as Carlow came back from the dead to force a draw against Laois.

First half goals from Rioghan Murphy and Mark Barry (penalty) helped Laois build up a commanding lead. They were eight up with five minutes left but Carlow made them sweat with late points from Conor Doyle and Eric Molloy and a goal from Aaron Amond – and then, in the sixth minute of injury time, Amond found the net from the spot to draw it, 2-17 apiece.

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