05 April 2009
NHL Antrim v Laois Pairc UI Mhordha – Portlaoise.
Antrim Senior Hurlers were outstanding today. They were regrouped, settled and well prepared, to meet Laois at home. Their recent disappointment against Carlow has been well and truly assigned to the annals of history; proving perhaps that they, as a very young team, do have a level of maturity beyond their years.
Antrim Senior Hurlers took advantage of a fairly stiff breeze and asserted themselves with controlled determination from outset, to dominate the first half of a great game. Antrim were exceptionally well paced, displaying many of the personal hurling skills for which Antrim has long been renowned. Their speed and accuracy on the ball was consistently matched with some great finishing scores.
The added strength of returned Ruarí Óg players, in particular it has to be said, the return and out-performance of Paul Shields, who was simply on fire and brilliant today, made the game look exceptionally smooth and controlled from outset; this in turn was complimented with an outstanding work rate from a confident and competent Antrim ‘whole-team’ effort. This display of calm and collected hurling took an early toll on Laois.
Karl Stewart, yet again, was outstanding and gave an exemplary display of pure hunger, rugged determination and unquestionable hurling skill. At the end of the first half Antrim had scored 1 - 13 to 07 and were comfortably in control of a great game of hurling. Laois were out hurled and with the exception perhaps of a great personal effort by the Laois number 11, James Young, were, as a team, looking very vulnerable.
Laois came out in the second half, undoubtedly after some ‘firing up’ and made a real effort to up their performance and narrow the margin. To some this might, for a short period, have seemed like Antrim had perhaps eased their pace. More accurately, perhaps, it reflected in particular that Antrim, of necessity, had to deal with a refocused Laois team who might well have been stinging from the effect of some dressing room truths. The strong breeze was now in favour of Laois and they certainly needed this at least.
What ever the truth, Antrim remained both calm and collected throughout the game and despite the fact that Laois most certainly did up their game in the second period; managing to score a further 11 points, with some great personal efforts and the benefit of breeze, keeper Chris O’ Connell, and with him the Antrim defence, were steadfast in their defiant mood and did not give way. Antrim battled with honour throughout the second half and responded with a further great goal from Karl, in addition to racking up a further 5 points.
With the final score at 2-18 to Antrim 0-18 to Laois, this was a great game of hurling with minimal error and some great scores. One sideline cut, taken by Paul shields, stood out against the rest. He accurately cut a sideline ball across the wind from about 45 metres out with a curve and a trajectory, which to those immediately behind the same, was poetry in motion. Hopefully Jimmy Quinn, who was in or about the right place at the right time, has this preserved for posterity on video. This was a great day for Antrim hurling – coming back with power and performance, when it was needed; back on track. Well done lads – a great effort and a great result.
Lawrence Smyth PRO.
