National Hurling League – Division 1B
Laois 1-20 Antrim 1-19
Antrim’s chances of remaining in Division 1B are hanging by a thread after Sunday’s narrow defeat by Laois in Sunday’s crucial Division 1B game in O’Moore Park, Portaloise. When Paddy Burke’s brilliant point put Antrim ahead as the game entered injury time, it looked like the Saffrons had pulled it out of the fire, despite an awful first half display. However their failure to take the chances that came their way were to cost them badly, and the home team rallied to level through a PJ Scully free before a late, late point from play by Cha Walsh sealed the win and left the Saffron rueing their 18 wides overall.
Despite a greats start which saw Neil McManus, Michael Bradley and Conal Cunning put them 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after just two minutes there was a slackness to Antrim’s play that lacked the intensity we have seen in other games in this campaign.
Corner forward Stephen Maher got Laois on the scoreboard with a well taken point from play before the home side took advantage of a defensive slip to break through and fire the ball to the Antrim net. It was nip and tuck for a while as two points from Neill McManus frees were answered by two from play by full forward Cha Dwyer, but it was clear Laois were getting on top, despite being down to fourteen men, and they finished the half strongly with five top class points to open up a six point gap at half time, and it could have been worse had Antrim goalkeeper Ryan Elliott not denied Laois’s Willie Dunphy what looked like a certain goal.
Six points in arrears at the break Antrim manager Darren Gleeson rang the changes at half time as he brought on James McNaughton and Conor McCann, and just as they had done in the first half, Antrim sent over three early scores without reply through Seaan Elliott, David Kearney and Neil McManus. Suddenly things looked a little more promising, but Laois kept them at bay for a long time and scores from Michael Bradley, Neill McManus (2), Gerard Walsh (a monster strike from 90 metres) and Ciaran Clarke were answered by scores from Dwyer, Maher and Dunphy.
As the game entered the last ten minutes Antrim were still four in arrears, but a great point from distance from Eoghan Campbell was followed by Antrim’s high point of the game as a fantastic run through the heart of Laois defence by James McNaughton saw the Loughgiel man set up Neil McManus for a brilliant goal which brought the sides level.
Top scorer Stephen Maher get Laois back in front on 6o minutes but Antrim were back on terms again when Conal Cunning took a pass from Ryan McGarry and fired over from the right wing. When Paddy Burke sent the Saffrons in front with a brilliant point from distance thing were looking good for Antrim, but Neil McManus missed two chances to extend the lead, first from a 65 and seconds later from play, and the tension was unbearable. Still Antrim appeared to be in a strong position, knowing that a draw would keep them up, but disaster struck when they lost possession following the resultant puc-out and Dwyer won possession to slot over the winner.
Laois: Enda Rowland (0-01, 1f); Diarmuid Conway, Sean Downey, Podge Delaney; Liam O’Connell, Ryan Mullaney, Mark Dowling; Jack Kelly, Fiachra C Fennell; Paddy Purcell (1-01), James Keyes (0-02), Ross King; Willie Dunphy (0-02), Cha Dwyer (0-04), Stephen Maher (0-08; 4f, 2 ‘65)
Subs: PJ Scully (0-02, 1f) for Dowling (50); Aidan Corby for King (56); Stephen Bergin for Maher (71)
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; David Kearney (0-01), Gerard Walsh (0-01), Stephen Rooney; Paddy Burke (0-02), Eoghan Campbel (0-01)l, Ryan McGarry; Keelan Molloy, Daniel McKernan; Michael Bradley (0-02), Domhnall Nugent, Conal Cunning (0-02); Seann Elliott (0-01), Neil McManus (1-07; 7f), Ciaran Clarke (0-02)
Subs: Conor McCann for Elliott, James McNaughton for Nugent (HT); Conor Johnston for Kearney (59); Eoin O’Neill for Molloy (62); Ryan McCambridge for Bradley (69)
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)
