Antrim 2-18 Laois 2-16:ANTRIM'S HURLERS snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Casement Park yesterday, overturning a 10-point second-half deficit to edge ahead of Laois in injury-time and deny Teddy McCarthy's side their first Division 1B points.
Laois were in command at the break and led by 1-9 to 0-4 after Chris Murray got the visitors off to the perfect start with a goal on 11 minutes. All Antrim’s first-half points came from Shane McNaughton, while Laois kept the scoreboard ticking over with frees from Willie Hyland and a brace each from David O’Mahoney and Murray.
When McNaughton found the net on 61 minutes Antrim trailed by the minimum – 2-13 to 2-12.
A Neil McManus point had the sides level for the first time, and they were to share parity a further three times in the closing stages, but late points from McNaughton and Paul Shiels sealed the win.
ANTRIM:S McToal; A Graffin, C Donnelly (0-1, free), J Kerr; N McAuley, N McManus (0-4), M Gettins; K Stewart, P Shiels (0-2); S McCrory (0-1), M Herron, D Hamill; PJ O'Connell (0-1), C Carson (1-0), S McNaughton (1-8, four frees). Subs: B McFall (0-1) for Hamill, D Lynch for O'Connell
LAOIS:E Reilly; P Mullaney, D Maher, C Coonan; C Dunne, M Whelan, M McEvoy; J Fitzpatrick, J Walsh; D O'Mahoney (0-2), W Hyland (0-9, six frees), D Peacock; C Murray (1-2), W Dunphy (0-1), S Bourke (0-1). Subs: B Reddin (1-0) for Peacock, G Burke for Mullaney, A Collier (0-1) for Dunphy, N Unwin for Burke.
Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath)
