Five-goal Wexford knock Antrim out of Tailteann Cup

Antrim's season ended in dismal fashion as they crashed out of the Tailteann Cup with a 5-23 to 2-21 defeat by Wexford in the preliminary quarter-finals.

Having narrowly earned a spot in the prelims as the third best of the third-placed teams in the round-robin stage, Andy McEntee's side hoped to stage another stirring run through the knockout rounds after back-to-back semi-final appearances in 2023 and 2024.

But they were well beaten in Wexford Park as they were put to the sword by the Model County's full-forward line of Sean Nolan (2-3), Ben Brosnan (1-2) and Jack Higgins (0-3).

Goals from Nolan and Brosnan, and a couple of Darragh Brooks two-pointers, helped Wexford establish a commanding 2-14 to 0-7 lead at the break.

And John Hegarty's side pulled clear after the restart and led by 22 points at 4-21 to 0-11 with 12 minutes left after Nolan and Mark Rossiter added to their goal tally.

To Antrim's credit, they refused to give up as quickfire goals by Patrick Finnegan and Dominic McEnhill and three two-pointers helped them reduce the deficit to eight points.

However, substitute Robbie Brooks added a fifth goal for Wexford to bring the curtain down on a disappointing year for Antrim, who were also relegated from Division Three.

Fermanagh, who qualified for the quarter-finals by topping their group, are the sole Ulster representation left in this year's Tailteann Cup.