Laois 1-16
Antrim 0-13

Laois upset the odds by beating Antrim at a wet O'Moore Park this evening to set up a Leinster SHC quarter-final meeting with neighbours Carlow.

Not to be outdone by their minor counterparts who defeated Offaly in the curtain-raiser, Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett's men produced an impressive performance that saw them lead for most of the game. Tommy Fitzgerald's early goal helped them to a 1-6 to 0-7 interval lead, and with Zane Keenan and Willie Hyland scoring 0-7 between them in the second half, they pulled clear for a six-point victory, to the delight of their supporters in the 2,320 attendance.

Having had the benefit of a preliminary round win over Westmeath, Antrim were a major disappointment and their manager Kevin Ryan now faces a difficult task to lift them for the All-Ireland qualifiers. They struggled to score from play, while the decision to take the free-taking duties off top scorer Neil McManus in the first half was baffling to say the least.

Overall, though, they can have no complaints as they were outfought and outplayed by the Allianz League Division 2A champions for long periods.

The visitors, who made a late change to their selected line-up by replacing Brian McFadden with his namesake Odhran at corner back, were first off the mark when Shane McNaughton converted a second-minute free. They hit two wides before falling behind when Tommy Fitzgerald - who had been an injury doubt before the game - ran onto Matthew Whelan's relieving clearance and rifled the ball past Ryan McGarry for a fifth-minute goal.

The Saffrons responded with their second point from wing back Jackson McGreevey - the scorer of two points against Westmeath - but they continued to be undermined by poor shooting with Shane McNaughton's miss from a routine free in the 12th minute being their fifth wide of the game.

A far more economical Laois went two points clear when Stephen 'Picky' Maher set up Brian Dunne for their first point. Antrim captain Neil McManus left the minimum in it again when he won possession from a throw-in and fired over.

The Ulstermen regained parity, 0-4 to 1-1, in the 19th minute when McManus was fouled and McNaughton did the needful from the resultant free. The corner forward then edged Kevin Ryan's charges back in front in the 21st minute with his third successful placed ball, but they weren't to score again for another 11 minutes as the hosts' enjoyed their best spell of the half which yielded four unanswered points.

Clough-Ballacolla clubman Willie Hyland, who hadn't been in the game early on, won what was, incredibly, the O'Moore County's first free in the 23rd minute which 'Picky' Maher converted to tie up the scoring. Almost immediately, Hyland was fouled again about 67 metres from the Antrim goal and, from Matthew Whelan's delivery into the goalmouth, Brian Dunne nicked another score to restore the home side's lead.

Maher was on target again before Zane Keenan pointed on the run to leave a goal in it, 1-5 to 0-5. McNaughton replied with a much-needed score for Antrim from a 45-metre free, but that was quickly cancelled out by Brian Dunne's third point.

McManus landed his second point from play and the Saffrons would have gone into the break just a point adrift had McNaughton not missed another free during the two minutes of injury-time allotted.

The floodlights were on for the second half as Maher and McManus traded early frees. Laois 'keeper Eoin Reilly produced a point-blank save at the expense of a '65 which McManus converted to leave the minimum between the sides again.

But Laois took control again by reeling off three points without reply to open up a four-point advantage for the first time. Zane Keenan started the scoring sequence after taking a pass from Brian Dunne. Willie Hyland blazed over from close range before Keenan grabbed his third point with a brilliant first-time shot.

McManus' 47th minute free left a goal in it again, 0-10 to 1-10, before Maher replied for the hosts. Antrim then scored two-in-a-row through wing back Conor McKinley and Paul Shiels (the latter coming after Joe Fitzpatrick had given away possession).

But Laois immediately restored their three-point advantage when Willie Hyland caught Eoin Reilly's puck-out and raised his second white flag. Back on free-taking duty, Shane McNaughton narrowed the gap from 40 metres, but Antrim couldn't get any closer as substitute Neil Foyle set up Tommy Fitzgerald for their 13th point.

Keenan then made enough space for himself to arrow over his fourth point. By now, Antrim were becoming increasingly frustrated as Darren Hamill picked up a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Conor Dunne. With three minutes remaining, Hyland bagged his third point after great work by Brian Campion in defence.

By now, Antrim's race was run and they conceded a penalty in injury-time which the outstanding Keenan, mercifully, opted to tap over and send the locals home happy.

Laois: E Reilly; B Stapleton, B Campion, J A Delaney; J Fitzpatrick, C Healy, G Burke; J Walsh, M Whelan; B Dunne (0-03), S Maher (0-04, 2f), Z Keenan (0-05, 0-01pen); T Fitzgerald (1-01), W Hyland (0-03), J Brophy. Subs: N Foyle for Brophy (46 mins), B Duggan for G Burke (53 mins), C Dunne for Walsh (62 mins), PJ Scully for Fitzgerald (70 mins).

Antrim: R McGarry; C McKinley, A Graffin, B McFall; O McFadden, N McAuley, P Shiels (0-01); J McGreevey (0-01), T McCloskey; N McManus (0-5, 0-02f, 0-01'65), M Donnelly, E McCloskey; C Clarke, C Carson, S McNaughton (0-05, 0-05f). Subs: D Hamill for Clarke (35 mins), KB McShane for Donnelly (35 mins), R McCloskey for McGreevey (45 mins), S Casey for E McCloskey (57 mins).

Ref: C Lyons. Tweet

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