Sport

Antrim push it up a gear

NHL DIVISION TWO: Antrim 2-18 Laois 0-18

Mon Apr 06 2009 - 01:00

NHL DIVISION TWO:Antrim 2-18 Laois 0-18

ANTRIM HURLERS, after a few indifferent performances, produced an improved display at O’Moore Park against Laois.

Antrim, aided by a strong breeze, were a goal and three points to the good after five minutes, their goal coming from Karl Stewart in the fourth minute.

Laois opened their account with a point from play by Dayne Peacock, and he added two more from play, and points from James Young kept them in touch.

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The visitors were much sharper, however, and managed to score great points through midfielder Paul Shields from placed balls and Stewart added four more from play.

Laois finished the half with a brace from James Young but at the interval the visiting side led by 1-13 to 0-7.

Karl Stewart and James Young traded points in the opening minutes and when Laois substitutes Willie Hyland and Eoin Holohan each got points a revival looked as though it was on the cards.

Antrim substitute PJ O’Connell got one back for the visitors and midfielder Brian Herron added another point.

Laois responded with four points in a row before Seán Delargy replied for the visitors.

Laois now hit three more points from James Young and Willie Hyland and an excellent score by Tom Fitzgerald brought the deficit to six points but that was as good as it got as the Antrim men held on for a win that means that their trip to Tullamore takes on a whole new meaning with Offaly suffering a rare drubbing at Wexford Park.

Antrim will compete in the Leinster championship and they will use next week’s game as further preparation ahead of that and, having already beaten Wexford, by next weekend they could have beaten three Leinster teams ahead of their visit to Croke Park in May.

ANTRIM:C O'Connell; C McCarthy, C Donnelly, S Delargy (0-1); N McAuley, A Graffin,J Campbell; B Herron (0-1), P Shields (0-7); K Stewart (1-6), N McManus (1-1), K McKeegan; J Scullion (0-1), K Kelly, S McNaughton; PJ O'Connell (0-1) for S McNaughton (half-time), M Herron for K Kelly (53 mins).

LAOIS:T Doran; K Fitzpatrick, D Maher, B Stapleton; JA Delaney, M Whelan, R Young; S Dwyer, J Walsh (0-1); C Coonan, J Young (0-9), D Peacock (0-4); J Phelan, T Fitzgerald (0-1), D OMahoney; J Walsh for R Young (half-time), W Hyland (0-2) for D OMahoney (half-time), O Holohan (0-1) for C Coonan (40 mins), M Maloney (43 mins) for M Whelan (43 mins, yellow), E Jackman for S Dwyer (50 mins).

Referee:T Ryan (Tipperary).