ANTRIM SECURED THEIR second win of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship qualifying group with a four point win over Carlow in Dr. Cullen Park today.
PJ O’Connell got his side’s first goal after just seven minutes and it proved to be the difference at the break as the northerners went into half-time with a 1-11 to 0-12; the hosts taking advantage of the breeze in the opening period.
O’Connell’s second maximum of the game with 63 minutes on the clock looked to have secured the win for Antrim but a late Marty Kavanagh penalty for Carlow set up a tense finish. However, Kevin Ryan’s men held on to win 2-18 to 1-17.
In the day’s other game, Laois survived a slow start to secure a six point win over Westmeath in Cusack Park.
Both teams were guilty of some wayward shooting in the early stages with Derek McNicholas’ goal direct from a free the only thing separating the sides at the break; Westmeath leading 1-5 to 0-5.
It took Laois 18 second half minutes to draw level when Stephen Maher’s goal eventually settled Chedder Plunkett’s men’s nerves and – by keeping Westmeath to just four scores in the second half – they ran out 1-15 to 1-9 winners.
