Laois 1-16
Antrim 0-13
Laois got the better of Antrim in tonight’s Leinster hurling championship opening round tie in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.
The Midlands County had six points to spare over the Saffron County and will now advance to face Carlow at the quarter-final stage.
Tommy Fitzgerald grabbed the only goal of the game after six minutes to set Laois on the road to victory while Zane Keenan, Stephen Maher, Brian Dunne and Willie Hyland all impressed with their point-taking.
Antrim recovered from the concession of that early goal to lead by 0-5 to 1-1 after 20 minutes with Shane McNaughton and Jackson McGreevy on the mark. Laois made a strong burst before half-time to forge ahead by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.
Antrim emerged strongly after the break with Neil McManus sparkling in attack. It was a tightly contested period with the teams trading scores and when Shane McNaughton pointed in the finale, it was delicately poised as Laois lead 1-12 to 0-13.
But Laois finished strongly as they reeled off four points on the trot with Hyland and Keenan, who pointed an injury-time penalty, to the fore.
They now advance to face Carlow who were victors over London earlier today in Dr Cullen Park. In contrast Antrim, who had defeated Westmeath in their earlier round, must attempt to revive their campaign in the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Laois’ Matthew Whelan tackled by Shane McNaughton and Kevin McShane of Antrim
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Scorers for Laois: Zane Keenan 0-5 (0-1 pen), Stephen Maher 0-4 (0-2f), Tommy Fitzgerald 1-1, Brian Dunne, Willie Hyland 0-3 each.
Scorers for Antrim: Shane McNaughton (0-4f), Neil McManus 0-5 (0-2f, 0-1 ’65) each, Jackson McGreevy, Paul Shiels, Conor McKinley 0-1 each.
LAOIS: Eoin Reilly (St Lazarian’s, Abbeyleix); Brian Stapleton (Borris-in-Ossory Kilcotton), Brian Campion (Rathdowney-Errill), John A Delaney (Clough Ballacolla); Cahir Healy (Portlaoise), Matthew Whelan (Borris-in-Ossory Kilcotton), Gearoid Burke (Camross); Joe Fitzpatrick (Rathdowney-Errill), James Walsh (Ballinakill); Stephen Maher (Clough Ballacolla), Zane Keenan (Camross), Willie Hyland (Clough Ballacolla); John Brophy (The Harps), Tommy Fitzgerald (Portlaoise), Brian Dunne (The Harps).
ANTRIM: Ryan McGarry (Ballycastle); Barry McFall (St John’s), Aaron Graffin (Cushendall), Mark McFadden (Loughgiel Shamrocks); Conor McKinley (Cú Chullain), Neal McAuley (Ballycastle), Jackson McGreevey (St Gall’s); Matthew Donnelly (Ballycastle), Tony McCloskey (Loughgiel Shamrocks); Paul Shiels (Cú Chullain), Neil McManus (Cushendall), Eddie McCloskey (Loughgiel Shamrocks); Shane McNaughton (Cushendall), Conor Carson (Cushendall), Ciaran Clarke (Ballycastle).
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
Laois manager Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett.
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
