James McNaughton of Antrim in action against Donnchadh Hartnett of Laois during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B match between Antrim and Laois at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
Antrim 4-22 Laois 0-21
By David Mohan at Corrigan Park
ANTRIM took a huge step towards safety in Division 1B as Davy Fitzgerald's men found their goalscoring groove to get the better of Laois.
James McNaughton top-scored with 2-11 for the Saffrons who set the early tone and built a 13-point lead at the break and although Laois battled in the second period, nine was as close as they got as late majors from McNaughton and Keelan Molloy ended any prospect of a comeback.
Coming into the game, Antrim sat one point above their visitors who were inside the relegation zone, but with Laois still having four points to play for and the gap now three between them, survival isn't assured for the Ulster outfit and by the same token, Tommy Fitzgerald's side still have their fate in their own hands with games against Carlow and Dublin to come.
But the heat was really on Antrim on a sunny spring day as they found a performance, digging into their energy reserves after illness had riddled the squad in the week.
They were out of the blocks in a flash with Gerard Walsh landing early scores, but Laois did have a sight of goal as Mossy Keyes flashed a shot wide.
However, the quick start from Antrim continued with Conor Johnston and James McNaughton on the boardc and they too had an early sight of goal but McNaughton just overcooked his handpass into Nigel Elliott.
Cha Dwyer got Laois on the board, but the Saffrons were in the mood with Keelan Molloy also in on the act and that goal they had threatened arrived after 12 minutes as Joe Maskey pumped an excellent ball into McNaughton who went for goal and gave Cathal Dunne no chance.
The Loughgiel man continued to build his own tall from frees and play, finishing the first half with 1-7 to his name with Laois just about hanging in as Aaron Dunphy, Paddy Purcell and Keyes found their range.
However, Antrim would grab a second major in the 28th minute as Eoghan Campbell did the spade work to put Johnston in and he would make no mistake.
Ryan McCambridge and Cormac McKeown would also have their name on the board by the break as Antrim had built a 2-15 to 0-8 advantage that was a fair enough reflection on how the half had gone.
The sting completely went from the game in the third quarter with the teams swapping points on three occasions as McNaughton (two) frees and Gerard Walsh cancelled out Paddy Purcell and Padraig Delaney (two frees).
But Laois kept battling as the intensity levels from Antrim had dropped and John Lennon and Cormac Byrne landed to give them a bit of momentum, yet it was a goal they needed and in Antrim goalkeeper Ryan Elliott, they found an impassible object as the Dunloy man made the first of two acrobatic saves in the second period, denying Mossy Keyes at the expense of a 65 which Dunphy landed. Elliott had to do it again from Dunphy who was on-song from placed balls as the gap was down to nine with six to play, but Antrim found the response with their third goal as substitute Seaan Elliott played a delightful, reverse ball inside to McNaughton who buried and then three minutes later, Eoin O'Neill put Molloy through to finish.
That was that and although Laois hit four of the last five points, Antrim were home and dry, but not yet safe as their fate will be decided over the coming weeks as Laois have their opportunity to save themselves.
Antrim scorers: J McNaughton 2-11 (0-9f), C Johnston 1-2, G Walsh 0-3, K Molloy 1-1, R McCambridge 0-2, C McKeown 0-1, J Maskey 0-1, E Campbell 0-1
Laois scores: A Dunphy 0-9 (0-5f, 0-2 65s), P Purcell 0-2, P Delaney 0-2 (2f), C Dwyer 0-1, F C Fennell 0-1, M Keyes 0-1, D Dooley 0-1, M Keyes 0-1, M Dowling 0-1, C Byrne 0-1, J Lennon 0-1
ANTRIM: Ryan Elliott; Eoin McFerran, Paddy Burke, Stephen Rooney; Joe Maskey, Eoghan Campbell, Conor Boyd; Conall Bohill, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott; Cormac McKeown, James McNaughton, Conor Johnston.
Subs: Scott Walsh for R McCambridge (50), Seaan Elliott for G Walsh (55), Eoin O'Neill for C McKeown (55), Fred McCurry for N Elliott (70), Aodhán McGarry for C Johnston (70).
LAOIS: Cathal Dunne; Padraic Dunne, Lee Cleere, Padraig Delaney; Fiachra C Fennell, Donnchadh Hartnett, Jordan Walshe; Aidan Corby, David Dooley; Aaron Dunphy, Cha Dwyer, Willie Dunphy; Jer Quinlan, Paddy Purcell, Tomás Keyes.
Subs: John Lennon for A Corby (29), Cormac Byrne for C Dwyer (33), Mark Dowling for P Purcell (50), James Duggan for W Dunphy (57), Cody Comerford for J Walshe (69).
REFEREE: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)
