Offaly and Westmeath cruise into Tailteann Cup quarter-finals

June 07, 2025

Ruairi McNamee points for Offaly as New York's Tiarnan Mathers looks on during the Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter Final at O'Conor Park Tullamore

Offaly and Westmeath put themselves into Monday morning’s Tailteann Cup quarter-final draw after recording emphatic home preliminary quarter-final victories today.

Offaly sent New York packing with 2-25 to 1-12 win at Glenisk O'Connor Park where Dylan Hyland starred for the hosts with a personal tally of 1-12, including a goal right on the eve of half-time.

That sent the Faithful men in with an unassailable 1-14 to 0-2 lead at the break and they continued to put their foot on the throttle with a Ruairi McNamee goal in the 49th minute.

Jack Robinson pulled back two points ahead of Bobby O’Regan firing in a sensational goal to try and take some tarnish off the scoreboard for the Exiles, but 16 points would still separate the sides in the end as Offaly progressed to the last eight.

The day’s later game saw Westmeath comfortable 3-26 to 1-15 winners over Laois at TEG Cusack Park.

Dermot McCabe’s side were 0-11 to 0-7 to the good when Luke Loughlin struck their first goal from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute and they’d net again two minutes later thanks to skipper Ronan Wallace who was set-up by Matthew Whittaker to palm the ball in.

Wallace’s strike was the score of the first-half, sending the Lake men in with a 2-12 to 0-7 lead, and with seven minutes of the restart the ball would be in the Laois net again via Whittaker.

It left the visitors with a mountain to try and climb and they wouldn’t scale it, as a late Jonah Kelly goal only proved consolation in what proved to be their last game of the 2025 campaign.

Tomorrow afternoon sees the competition’s remaining two preliminary quarter-finals down for decision, with Wexford hosts Antrim at Chadwicks Wexford Park (1.30pm) and Sligo welcoming Carlow to Tubbercurry (2pm).


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