Laois minors secure tier one hurling with hard-fought win over Antrim

Laois 2-17 

Antrim 1-18 

LAOIS have secured tier one status after they welcomed Antrim to Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday afternoon in a gruelling battle, the outcome of which went right to the final minutes.

Antrim came into the game having score 10-20 against Meath last weekend while Laois had a narrow scoring win over Kildare.

There was a strong breeze blowing towards the town end which favoured Laois for the second half. It was no comparison to the storm conditioned they faced last weekend against Kildare. Brendan Phelan would have been content with their first half performance playing into a tricky win yet still taking a one-point lead to the dressing rooms. Laois emerged after the break with confidence and fired their way to a hard-fought victory.

Oisin McLaren pointing the opening two scores of the game from placed balls. Antrim went on to point a third and fourth in a row when Logan McConville pointed a super wind assisted side line while McLaren pointed a third free. Callum Jones stepped up and got Laois off the mark raising a white flag.

LJ Cuddy pointed his first free of the contest because Bobby O’Connor went on a superb run and attempted to lob Damian McMahon in the Antrim nets but was denied, luckily for Laois Oisin Gilligan was on hand fire to the back of the net.

McLaren (free) and Luke Hynes traded scores before Antrim raised a green flag. Eanna McGuckian played a ball across the square to Jay Gault who rattled the upper net. Cuddy pointed a second free while James McGarry replied for Antrim.

Eunan Curry raised a white flag to push Antrim three ahead, but Laois immediately cancelled out that lead when Gilligan played in Cuddy who sold a dummy to the goalkeeper and tapped the ball over the line.

Callum Jones sent a super score over the bar from long range against a tricky wind with Cuddy adding a third free giving Laois a two-point cushion. John Ferguson and Killian James exchanged scores while McLaren pointed the final score of the half from a free leaving one between the sides, (2-7 to 1-9).

The two free takers for their respective sides traded their first points from play. Cuddy then pointed a free while Connlaodh McNaughton replied for the away side. McLaren (free) and O’Connor exchanged scored before McNaughton pointed a second. Cuddy pointed his second from play quickly followed by another free.

Luke Hynes ran in on goal, and a rocket shot attempt was saved over the bar by Damien McMahon. McLaren pointed three frees in a row to bring the sides level entering the final ten minutes. Cuddy pointed a 65’ while McLaren replied from a free. Substitute Jerry O’Connell raised a white flag five minutes after his introduction while Cuddy pointed another free.

Antrim were awarded a free and McLaren chose to play it short with the hope of creating a goal chance, but Ryan Keeshan denied his effort. McGuckian pointed soon after leaving only a single point between the teams. Laois battled hard and Cuddy pointed the final score of the game from a placed ball which resulted in a two-point victory in the end.

Laois will now jump into tier one hurling where they will face Galway next Saturday 18 April.

SCORERS:

Laois: LJ Cuddy 1-10 (0-7fs, 0-1 65), Oisin Gilligan 1-0, Luke Hynes and Callum Jones 0-2 each, Killian James, Bobby O’Connor, and Jerry O’Connell 0-1 each. Antrim: Oisin McLaren 0-11 (0-10fs), Jay Gault 1-0, Connlaodh McNaughton 0-2, Eanna McGuikan, Eunan Curry, James McGarry, Logan McConville, and Johnny Ferguson 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Ryan Keeshan (Rathdowney/Errill); Conor Hickey (Borris/Kilcotton), Jack Rice (Mountrath), Darragh Keeshan (Borris/Kilcotton); Harry Donoghue (The Harps), Dan Bowe (Rathdowney/Errill), Oisin McRedmond (Portlaoise); Luke Hynes (Camross), Rory Standish (Rathdowney/Errill); Dan Downey (Park Ratheniska/Timahoe), Callum Jones (Borris/Kilcotton), Killia James (St Paul’s); Oisin Gilligan (Ballyfin), LJ Cuddy (Camross), Bobby O’Connor (Trumera).

Subs: Jamie Mahony (The Harps) for James (37m), Jerry O’Connell (Abbeyleix) for Standish (49m), Luke Delaney (Castletown) for Jones (61m).

ANTRIM: Damien McMahon; Joe McFadden, Domhnall McKay, Ollie McClements; Nathan McKenna, Eunan Curry, John Ferguson; Logan McConville, James McGarry; Jay Gault, Oisin McLaren, Conor McCann; Lewis Rafferty, Connlaodh McNaughton, Eanna McGuckian.

Subs: Conall Dempsey for Gault (ht), Matthew Murray for McCann (50m).

Referee: Conor Dawson (Wexford)