05 April 2009
kept their promotion hopes alive when they traveled to Portlaoise on Sunday and beat the home toeam by 2-18 to 0-18 in Division 2 of the national Hurling League.
Antrim got away to a great start and with wind assistance they took control when Karl Stewart struck their first goal after three minutes.
With Paul Shiels in excellent form at midfield they were completely dominant in the opening half and with Stewart creating havoc up front, they made full use of wind advantage to take a 1-13 to 0-7 lead in to the break. Shiels was particularly impressive early on as he hit seven first-points, including a sublime sideline cut.
When centre-forward Neil McManus got Antrim's second goal soon after the restart to push the Saffrons 13 points clear the size of the winning margin seemed all that was in doubt. However Antrim lost their way a little and Laois rallied to outscore Antrim by 0-10 to 0-3 in the final quarter. James Young, Dayne Peacock and half-time sub Willie Hyland all found the range for Laois but a couple of goal attempts were snuffed out by goalkeeper Chris O’Connell and half-back Neil McAuley as Antrim made their handful of fans sweat it out in the final minutes.
Antrim travel to Offaly in the final round in two weeks' time, needing a win to secure a place in the Division 2 final. Offaly were well beaten by Wexford on Sunday and find themselves in the danger of losing out after leading the division for most of the season.
SCORERS -- Antrim: K Stewart 1-6 (0-5 f), P Shields 0-7 (2f, 1 sideline), N McManus 1-1, S Delargy, PJ O'Connell, J Scullion and B Herron 0-1 each. Laois: J Young 0-9 (7f, 1 '65), D Peacock 0-4 (1 sl), W Hyland 0-2, T Fitzgerald, O Houlihan, John Walsh 0-1 each
LAOIS -- T Doran; K Fitzpatrick, D Maher, B Stapleton; J Delaney, M Whelan, R Young; S Dwyer, James Walsh; C Coonan, J Young, D Peacock; J Phelan, T Fitzgerald, D O'Mahony. Subs: John Walsh for Young (ht), W Hyland for O'Mahony (h-t), O Houlihan for Coonan (43), M Maloney for Whelan (y/c 44), E Jackman for Dwyer (48), N Holmes for Phelan (55)
ANTRIM -- C O'Connell; C McGourty, C Donnelly, A Graffin; N McAuley, J Campbell, K McKeegan; B Herron, P Shields; K Stewart, N McManus, S Delargy; J Scullion, K Kelly, S McNaughton. Subs: PJ O'Connell for McNaughton (ht), C Duffin for Kelly (51), P McGill for Shields (inj 60), E McCloskey for Duffin (y/c).
REF -- T Ryan (Tipperary).
