Tailteann Cup: Laois reach decider

Tailteann Cup Semi-Final

Laois 3-12 Antrim 1-13

By Paul Keane at Croke Park

This time 12 months ago, Laois trudged out of Croke Park with their shoulders burdened by the weight of an eight-goal hammering from Down in the Tailteann Cup semi-finals.

Redemption was theirs this afternoon as the side now managed by Justin McNulty turned the tables in impressive fashion, reeling off a series of goals themselves to secure a landmark win and a place in this year's decider.

A thrilling final quarter display in which they came from three points down to ultimately win by five secured their redemption and the final spot.

Defender Brian Byrne scored two crucial goals for the O'Moore County while Kevin Swayne struck the other in an impressive win for the in-form Leinster side.

There were strong performances too from Mark Barry, who struck four points, captain Evan O'Carroll and sweeper 'keeper Killian Roche who even managed to get in on the scoring action with a score from play.

Laois will return to Croke Park on July 13 with the tantalising prize of a place in next year's All-Ireland SFC awaiting the winners of that contest.

Truth be told, it's already been a terrific season for Laois who won the Division Four title under McNulty before taking off on their Championship odyssey, beating many people's Tailteann Cup favourites Kildare in the quarter-finals last weekend.

As for Antrim, it's the end of their season and they will lament the poor final 20 minutes or so when they relinquished a three-point lead and were outscored by 2-5 to 0-3.

Both sides were desperate to push on from painful semi-final defeats in 2023 with Laois pummeled by Down and Antrim coming up two points short of eventual champions Meath.

Goalpoacher Ruairi McCann, from the St Mary's club, still ended 2023 as a Tailteann Cup All-Star, Antrim's first, and his form has been consistent since.

Laois were wise to his threat and detailed experienced defender Mark Timmons to keep tabs on the powerful Aghagallon man.

McCann still won an early free that Dominic McEnhill pointed from while midfielder Cathal Hynds, who hit the crucial goal in the quarter-final defeat of Fermanagh, then came strongly into the game, setting up a couple of points for Patrick McBride.

With 25 minutes on the clock, it was looking good for Antrim who led by 0-7 to 0-5 and appeared to be enjoying the vast acreage of GAA HQ.

They didn't score again though as Laois finished the half strongly, reeling off 1-2 without response to take a 1-7 to 0-7 half-time lead.

Mark Barry kicked his third point of the game before Byrne netted a slightly fortuitous goal in the 27th minute.

It initially appeared as if Antrim had done well to block down Swayne's shot but when the ball squirmed loose, Eoin Lowry recycled cleverly to Byrne who finished from close range.

Laois were piling on the pressure now and - they finished the half with 13 turnovers to Antrim's six - and closed out the scoring with a point from defender James Kelly though they did play with a stiff wind.

Ben Dempsey and Lowry were late additions to the published Laois team but it actually amounted to the same lineup that accounted for Kildare last weekend.

O'Carroll captained Laois again, but while he wore number 11 he took up residence in the inside forward line and was marked by Joseph Finnegan.

Laois should have kicked on after the restart but wasted a potential 1-3 in the first 11 minutes of the second-half.

They kicked three wides in that period while Lowry smashed a 44th minute shot off the crossbar after great work by O'Carroll on the right.

Antrim cleared that one away and began a move that ended with Patrick McAleer netting to move his side 1-10 to 0-7 clear.

A high ball in from the right was aimed at target man McCann but went beyond into and McAleer, in space, pounced and slipped a low shot to the net.

Antrim, however, only scored three more points in the contest as Laois, for the second time in the game, responded well to the gauntlet being thrown down.

They were brilliant in the last quarter and Swayne's 54th minute goal, a fisted effort following a ball across goals by sub Eoin Buggie, ignited them.

Roche added his score from play while O'Carroll and Niall Dunne pointed too before Byrne finished off the Saffrons with his second goal in the 68th minute.

A long, low delivery to Dunne allowed him to seize possession ahead of his man and feed the onrushing Byrne who made the net rattle again.

Laois had O'Carroll black carded for a trip on Marc Jordan in the 65th minute but had a scoring cushion that they could rely on as Antrim tried, unsuccessfully, to grab a goal.

Scorers for Laois: Brian Byrne 2-0, Mark Barry 0-4 (1f), Kevin Swayne 1-0, Evan O'Carroll 0-2, James Kelly 0-2, Niall Dunne 0-2 (1m), Killian Roche 0-1, Paul Kingston 0-1.

Scorers for Antrim: Patrick McBride 0-5, Patrick McAleer 1-0, Dominic McEnhill 0-3 (1f, 1m), Colm McLarnon 0-2, Michael Byrne 0-1 (45), Ruairi McCann (Creggan) 0-1, Conor Hand 0-1.

Laois: Killian Roche; James Kelly, Mark Timmons, Ben Dempsey; Seamus Lacey, Brian Byrne, Simon Fingleton; Damon Larkin, Conor Heffernan; Mark Barry, Evan O'Carroll, Kevin Swayne; Eoin Lowry, Niall Dunne, Paul Kingston.

Sub: Eoin Buggie for Lacey 46, Rioghan Murphy for Lowry 46, Kieran Lillis for Swayne 68, Shaun Fitzpatrick for Byrne 71, Ciaran Burke for Larkin 72.

Antrim: Michael Byrne; Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan, James McDonnell; Joseph Finnegan, Declan Lynch, Dermot McAleese; Patrick McAleer, Cathal Hynds; Ruairi McCann (Creggan), Patrick McBride, Colm McLarnon; Dominic McEnhill, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), Marc Jordan.

Subs: Peter Healy for McDonnell h/t, Eoin Hynds for McAleer 57, Conor Hand for McLarnon 57, Ryan McQuillan for McCann (Aghagallon) 60, Niall Burns for Lynch 60.

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).