Antrim edge Laois to end Celtic Challenge Cup unbeaten run

Antrim 1-26 

Laois 3-18 

LAOIS lost their unbeaten record in the Celtic Challenge Cup after losing out to Antrim by two points in the LOETB Centre of Excellence on Saturday afternoon.

Cody McGarry for Antrim was the match winner as he hit an incredible 14 points and was a thorn in the home teams side right from the off.

Antrim got off to a dream start with a goal from Joe Casey. Laois responded through Canice Meade and Ross Quinlan.

But Casey was on fire in the opening stages and added another two points. Laois then hit the next three points through Cillian Dunne, Ryan Brennan and Quinlan.

Laois then hit the front with 1-1 without reply with the goal and point coming from Cillian Dunne and now the score was 1-6 to 1-3.

The away side would hit the next six points to take control of the game McGarry hit two, Lorcan Murtagh got one, while Casey grabbed a brace and Sean Cunnigham getting the last.

Both teams traded points on two occasions with Laois scores going to James Doherty and Cillian Dunne while McGarry hit two points for his side.

McGarry added another before Laois struck for their second goal with a brilliant finish from Darragh Mortimer. Antrim responded again through McGarry, but Laois then hit the last two points through Ryan Brennan and Danny Campion to leave the scores at 1-14 to 2-10 at the break.

Laois came out after the break and hit three points in a row through Doherty, Mortimer and Ross Quinlan.

The victors found another gear and hit eight points without reply and that was the winning of the game. Joe Casey hit three more, McGarry also hit three Gerard Delaney and Cahir McErlean all registering scores.

The home side then got a third goal with a wonderful finish from Quinlan as Laois looked to mount a comeback.

Cillian Dunne and James Doherty added two more points to leave the scores at 1-23 to 3-15 with seven minutes remaining.

Both teams then traded scores again through McGarry who got two while Jack Kelly and Dunne added the Laois points.

McGarry and Doherty hit further points, but time was running out for Laois. They looked for goals, but none came. McGarry hit the last score to give Antrim at two point win.

SCORERS:

Laois: Cillian Dunne 1-5, Ross Quinlan 1-3, James Doherty 0-5 (0-3fs), Darragh Mortimer 1-1, Ryan Brennan 0-2, Danny Campions and Canice Meade 0-1 each.

Antrim: Cody McGarry 0-14 (0-10fs), Joe Casey 1-7, Sean Cunnigham 0-2, Lorcan Murtagh, Gearard Doherty and Cahir McErlean 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Shane Carroll; Adam Somers, Evan McWey, Fionn O’Sullivan; David Peters, Dara Breslin, Fiac Gaffney; Paidi Fahey, Danny Campion; James Doherty, Cillian Dunne, Canice Meade; Darragh Mortimer, Ryan Brennan, Ross Quinlan.

Subs: Ben Heffernan for Mortimer, Jack Kelly for Brennan.

ANTRIM: Adam Johnston; Daire Rainey, Peadar Doherty, Cormac Bailey; Lorcan Martin, Lorcan Murtiagh, Matthew O’Neil; Gearard Doherty, Cahir McErlean; Cody McGarry, Jude Gamble, Cahir McCloskey; Cillian Cunning, Joe Casey, Sean Cunnigham.

Subs: Conan Digney for Gamble, Jude Burns for Rainey.