Antrim too strong as Laois minor campaign comes to an end

All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Tier 3 s/f 

Antrim 3-19

Laois 1-13 

THE Laois minor footballers season is over after losing out against an impressive Antrim side by 12 points in St Peregrine's GAA grounds in Dublin on Saturday.

Laois could not get to grips of Shea McFernan or Tiernan Lee and they were the difference makers in the end as they were an integral to Antrim's win Laois got off to a better start in the game and went two points up straight away with fine efforts from Dan Downey and Cian Murphy to give them an early lead.

They failed to build on it though, as Antrim hit back with a Conor McArt point. Will McGrath responded for Laois, and they were 0-3 to 0-1 up after six minutes.

The Antrim response was an impressive one as Tiernan Lee came to the fore. He would kick his first point to reduce the gap to one and he played a part in the equalising point, as he assisted Colm Kane.

Antrim were getting on top now and they struck for the first goal from Lee who made no mistake to put Antrim into the lead.

Lee was causing havoc for the Laois defence and hit over another point as Antrim looked to build up a lead.

Laois responded through Eoghan Harris and Will McGrath with points which were badly needed for their side.

Antrim's danger man Shea McFernan soon got in on the act as he hit a brilliant two pointer with Antrim now in control.

Harris and Joey Griffin would trade points as Laois looked to find a way back into the game. Ethan Neilon closed the gap further with a brace of points to leave it at 1-7 to 0-8 with 25 minutes on the clock.

Antrim then hit two quick fire points through McFernan and Griffin to extend the lead to four points. Griffin added the last point before half time as Antrim led 1-10 to 0-8.

Disaster struck for Laois right from the throw in as Dara Campbell won the throw in and went on an individual run and found McFernan who found the back of the net and it was a long way back for Laois from here.

McFernan was now flowing with confidence and kicked another point, but Laois got a badly needed score through their captain Fionnan Brennan who got a two pointer free.

McFernan, Campbell and Colm Kane added three more to extend the Antrim lead to ten 2-14 to 0-10 with Laois in big trouble with 15 minutes remaining.

Laois then had a goal chance from Tadhg Hughes, but his effort was blocked, but was fouled in doing so, with Sean Maree getting a badly needed point for Laois.

But Antrim responded from another score from Tiernan Lee to extend the gap to ten points. Tom Lawler got a free for Laois, but time was against them at this stage.

Antrim were now at their ease as Campbell would kick a two pointer free, but to the credit of Laois they kept fighting and Lawler would find another point.

The Saffrons made sure of the win with their third goal from Joey Griffin as time was up for Laois, they did find a goal through Fionnan Brennan, but it was too late.

McFernan and Will McGrath swapped points before the final whistle as Laois's Tier 3 journey came to an end.

SCORERS:

Antrim: Shea McFernan 1-6 (1tp), Tiernan Lee (0-1f) and Joey Griffin 1-3 each, Dara Campbell 0-3 (1tpf), Colm Kane 0-2, Conor McArt 0-1.

Laois: Fionnan Brennan 1-2 (1tp), Will McGrath 0-3, Eoghan Harris, Tom Lawler, Ethan Neilon 0-2 each, Dan Downey, Cian Murphy and Sean Maree 0-1 each.

ANTRIM: Niall Quinn; Cillian McKenna, Shea McLernon, Bradan O'Donnell; Thomas Douthart, Conor McArt, Sionan McCormack; Dara Campbell, Tom Convery; Conall Wilson, Joey Griffin, Sean McPeake; Colm Kane, Shea McFerran, Tiernan Lee.

LAOIS: Mark Dowling (Crettyard); Dan Downey (Park/Ratheniska), Fionnan Brennan (Crettyard), Darragh Brennan (Crettyard); Dale Heffernan (Killeshin), Cian Murphy (St Joseph's), Will McGrath (Arles Killeen); Cillin Hoey (Portarlington), Will Craig (O’Dempsey’s); Tom Lawler (Graiguecullen), Sean Maree (Emo), Tadhg Hughes (Rosenallis); Ethan Neilon (Graiguecullen), David Timmons (Portlaoise), Eoghan Harris (Arles Killeen).

Subs: Michael Brennan (Crettyard) for Timmons (ht), Nisun Balogun (Killeshin) for Darragh Brennan (45m).