Antrim hurlers well beaten by Laois

Antirm 1-12 Laois 2-19

ANTRIM hurlers were well beaten by Laois in Sunday’s Allianz NHL Division Two clash at Casement Park. The Saffrons had won their opening two games against Carlow and Kildare, but they became badly unstuck in their first real challenge of the season when the visitors outplayed them for most of the game.

The O’Moore men were afforded the freedom of Casement Park as they waltzed through the Antrim rearguard to score two simple goals in the first half and to make matters worse for the home team their right-half forward Liam Watson received a straight red-card after 26 minutes.

Trailing by 0-7 to 2-7 at the break , a man down and turning to face a fresh breeze Antrim were really up against it and as it transpired it proved too much of a hurdle to overcome. Laois it has to be said were most impressive with top scorer Willie Hyland in superb form. Antrim on the other hand struggled in most areas of the field with only Neil McManus, Cormac Donnelly, Paul Shiels and Shane McNaughton providing any real resistance.

McManus did manage to pull a goal back in the second-half and went close on two occasions from twenty metre frees, but Laois were much the better team and ran out deserving winners by 2-19 to 1-12

ANTRIM – Gareth McGhee, Arron Graffin, Cormac Donnelly, Barry McFall, Simon McCrory, Karl McKeegan, Ciaran Herron, Paul Shiels, Shane McNaughton, Liam Watson, Neil McManus, Paddy McGill, Darren Hamill, Thomas McCann, PJ O’Connell.