Antrim replace Laois at bottom of Division 1B after home defeat

Antrim 1-14 Laois 1-18

The Laois hurlers leapfrogged Antrim to move off the bottom of the Division 1B table yesterday after a 1-18 to 1-14 win over the Saffrons at Armoy.

The early stages were fairly even, the impressive Zane Keenan and Ross King putting the O'Moore men two points ahead, but Antrim restored parity through PJ O'Connell and Paul Shiels.

By the 22nd minute the visitors led by 0-7 to 0-3, with Keenan accounting for all their scores.The game was becoming a battle of the free-takers with Shiels and Keenan again exchanging points, with Willie Hyland finally providing a score from play worthy of the admission.

In the 31st minute Antrim catapulted themselves back into the game with the game’s first goal, Paul Shiels drawing on a rebound to cut the gap to two points, 0-9 to 1-4. The O’Moore men replied immediately through Charlie Dwyer, who also added the last score of the half to give his side a 0-11 to 1-5 advantage going into the break.

Antrim had the wind advantage in the second half and within five minutes of the restart the Saffrons were level with three Shiels frees tying the scores at 1-8 to 0-11. Antrim were beginning to get on top but a goal from Paddy Purcell put Laois back in the driving seat. The midfielder’s driving run ended with a low shot to McGarry’s left.

On 63 minutes Dwyer slotted over his third of the day to put Laois five to the good, and although three unanswered scores from Shiels, Niall McKenna and Michael Bradley brought Antrim to within two points, Paddy Whelan and PJ Scully tacked on insurance scores for the visitors.

Antrim: R McGarry; R McCambridge, N McAuley, A Graffin; S McCrory, C McKinley, M Bradley (0-2); N McManus, Ciaran Johnston; E Campbell, D McKernan, P Shiels (1-7, 7f); PJ O'Connell (0-1), N McKenna (0-1), C Clarke (0-2)

Subs: Conor Johnston for E Campbell (33), M Donnelly for D McKernan (ht), S McNaughton (0-1) for PJ O’Connell (43), C Carson for Ciaran Johnston (61), T O Ciarain for N McManus (65)

Laois: E Rowland; J Delaney, C Healy, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, J Walsh; P Whelan (0-1), P Purcell (1-0); W Hyland (0-2), Z Keenan (0-9, 7f, 0-1 '65'), C Dwyer (0-3); R King (0-1), T Fitzgerald, N Foyle

Subs: P Whelan for N Foyle (29), B Conroy (0-1) for T Fitzgerald (47), PJ Scully (0-1) for R King (65)

Referee: T Carroll (Offaly)