Allianz National Hurling League – Division 1b @ O’Moore Park, Portlaoise
Eoghan Campbell scores Antrim’s first goal shortly after coming on during the second half. Pic by John McIlwaine
Antrim 2-16 Laois 0-27
By Brendan McTaggart
Antrim fell to a five point defeat to Laois at O’Moore Park on Saturday evening as the Saffrons search for league points continues. Despite starting the match well and holding a three point lead after 12 minutes, Laois and Ross King in particular were in irresistible form. The Laois Captain finished the match with an astonishing 15 points to his name, all but one of those scores coming from placed ball as he punished any indiscretions in the Saffron defence.
Second half goals from substitute Eoghan Campbell and Nigel Elliott gave Antrim a brief glimmer of hope at different times in the second half, but the home side were deserving of their five point victory. The Saffron lads will be disappointed not only with the result, but they have set their standards high with their previous two outings in the League this year and on Saturday evening under the lights at O’Moore Park, they never quite hit the same heights.
They will look back on the performance and know that they are capable of much more, they have shown already this year that they have more in them. Even towards the end of the 70 minutes the points were still within reach, Elliott’s goal reducing the deficit to three points in the 67th minute but they were outfought and out manoeuvred by a slick Laois side who have clearly benefitted from playing in Division 1b for the last number of years. The Saffrons weren’t helped with some over fussy refereeing by Limerick official Johnny Murphy and King took full advantage, compounding Antrim’s pain on a disappointing night in Portlaoise.
Good start
It all started so well for Antrim, despite Laois opening the scoring from Cha Dwyer in the third minute, the Saffrons responded well and hit four unanswered points of their own. McManus continuing his brilliant form with two frees and two from play to give Antrim the early momentum. It could have been better for the travelling Antrim support but McManus’ goal bound effort in the fifth minute was well saved by Enda Rowland in the Laois goals.
The home side were putting Antrim under immense pressure all over the pitch and were squeezing any space available. As the half progressed, Antrim struggled for quality ball into the forward line and Laois took full advantage nailing six unanswered points – four frees for King with Dwyer and Neil Foyle adding their names to the score sheet.
McManus’ third free of the match in the 21st minute briefly halted the Laois charge but the home side were well on top with midfielders Patrick Purcell and James Ryan hugely influential. Ryan and Ciaran Comerford opened a four point lead by the 23rd minute but Antrim rallied by scoring three points in two minutes to leave one between the sides with five minutes of the first half remaining. Elliott, McManus (free) and Conor Johnston raising the white flags for the visitors.
Laois ended the half strongly though and again it was their accuracy from placed ball that confounded the Saffrons before the interval. Four frees, two from King and two from gargantuan distances from goal keeper Rowland gave the O’Moore County a five point lead at the short whistle, 0-13 to 0-8.
Nigel Elliott fires in Antrim’s second goal to cut the gap to just three points with three minutes of normal time still to play, but Laois responded with two late points to seal the win. Pic by John McIlwaine
Ruthless Laois
Antrim needed a quick start to the second half but what they got was a ruthless Laois who weren’t in the mood to let go of the momentum they gathered at the end of the first half. Three points in as many minutes after the restart from Purcell and King (two frees) opening a commanding eight point deficit for the home side. Neal McAuley and replied for the Saffrons in the 42nd minute with a fine score from distance but Ryan’s second point of the match and King’s ninth free left nine points between the sides and gave Antrim a massive task to try and get anything out of the game.
The Antrim management looked to their bench for the game changer. They needed to break the Laois momentum and it was substitute Eoghan Campbell who gave the Saffrons a life line. He scored a point shortly after his introduction before scoring the opening goal of the contest in the 47th minute. McManus dropped a free to the edge of the square where half time substitute Conor Carson contested. The Laois defence didn’t deal with the dropping sliotar and Campbell finished smartly to the back of the net.
King and McManus traded frees once again before Antrim had another goal chance. Nigel Elliott bring the ball out of a ruck before his rasping drive hit Purcell in the head, the Laois midfielder knew nothing of the shot that looked destined for the top corner as Antrim finally found footing in the second half. King and McManus continued to be accurate with substitute Maol Connolly also adding his name to the list of scorers for the Saffrons but Laois always managed to keep Antrim at bay. A pointed side line from Mark Kavanagh with his first touch of the match after his introduction from the bench lifting the Laois support as five points still separated the sides with 15 minutes of the match remaining.
Antrim abandoned their sweeper system to try and make more inroads into the Laois lead but they were left exposed in defence. Laois had a clear opportunity for a goal on the hour mark but Ben Convory’s shot was somehow blocked by Arron Graffin who produced an outstanding piece of last gasp defending to deny the Laois forward.
Two King frees were responded to by two from McManus before the Laois captain scored his first from play in the 65th minute to leave six between the sides and taking his tally to 0-14. Antrim continued to press and found the back of the Laois net soon after. Elliott collecting the sliotar from a long Chrissy O’Connell free before firing to the back of Rowland’s net.
Time still remained for Antrim to get something from the game, but Purcell and King added to the home side’s impressive total to ease any nerves in the Laois camp. Antrim pushed hard in the time that remained, but Laois controlled the closing stages. Next up for Antrim is a home match against table toppers Limerick, which is scheduled for Cushendall on February 24.
TEAMS
Antrim: Chrissy O’Connell; Arron Graffin; John Dillon; Paddy Burke; Ryan McCambridge; Neal McAuley (0-1); David Kearney; Joe Maskey; Conor McKinley; Nigel Elliott (1-1); Neil McManus (0-11, 9 f’s); Donal McKinley; James McNaughton; Conor McCann; Conor Johnston (0-1)
Subs: Eoghan Campbell (1-1) for C McCann (HT); Conor Carson for J McNaughton (43 mins); Stephen Rooney for D Kearney (45 mins); Gerard Walsh for J Maskey (48 mins); Maol Connolly (0-1) for D McKinley (48 mins)
Yellow Cards: A Graffin (41 mins); N McAuley (60 mins); R McCambridge (69 mins)
Laois: Enda Rowland (0-2, 2 f’s); Donncha Hartnett; Leigh Bergin; Lee Cleere; Padraig Lawlor; Metthew Whelan; Eric Killeen; James Ryan (0-2); Patrick Purcell (0-2); Ben Conroy; Charles Dwyer (0-2); Willie Dunphy; Ross King (0-15, 13 f’s, 1 ’65); Neil Foyle (0-2); Ciaran Comerford (0-1)
Subs: Joe Phelan for E Killeen (50 mins); Kevin Kavanagh (0-1) for C Comerford; Sean Downey for N Foyle (58 mins); Ciaran Taylor for B Conroy (60 mins); Jack Kelly for W Dunphy (65 mins)
Yellow Cards: L Bergin (26 mins); M Kavanagh (66 mins); M Whelan (71 mins); S Downey (73)
Ref: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)