Sport

Antrim survive shoot-out

Walsh cup/ Antrim 5-19 Laois 4-19: Antrim made the long journey to Portlaoise yesterday and went home with a very convincing…

Mon Jan 31 2005 - 00:00

Walsh cup/ Antrim 5-19 Laois 4-19: Antrim made the long journey to Portlaoise yesterday and went home with a very convincing win over the home team.

Played in ideal conditions, Laois were the better team for the opening 15 minutes and led by 0-6 to 0-1 before a defensive error allowed Antrim's Johnny McIntosh score the first of his four goals.

Laois responded with a goal from Philip Russell and a succession of points saw them lead 1-11 to 1-4 after 20 minutes.

Antrim replied with points from McIntosh and Brendan Quinn, before a mix-up in the Laois defence saw Michael Herron score his side's second. Two minutes later, McIntosh punished another Laois error.

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Canice Coonan and Joe Fitzpatrick brought Laois within two points of Antrim, who led by 3-9 to 1-14 at half-time.

On the resumption, Antrim stretched their lead with points from Joe Scullion, and Paddy Richmond, but a well-taken goal by Damian Culleton narrowed the gap to a single point after 40 minutes.

But Antrim pulled clear with points from Richmond, who was causing all sorts of problems for the Laois defence.

Laois levelled the game after 43 minutes through a John Rowney point, but Antrim pulled ahead again with points from Michael Herron and Richmond, before McIntosh struck for his third goal.

Further points from McGuickian and Richmond - and a fourth goal from McIntosh - resulted in 10 points separating the sides with 10 minutes remaining.

However, a second goal by Culleton and points from James Young narrowed the gap to two goals. Substitute Robert Jones struck for another Laois goal, but time ran out for the home side, and Dinny Cahill's charges progress to a semi-final meeting with Wexford next Sunday.

ANTRIM: Damian Quinn; J Campbell, A Ó Caoireallain, G Cunningham; M McCambridge, C Herron, M Hamilton; J Scullion (0-1), M Scullion; J McIntosh (4-4), C McGuickian (0-1), M Herron (1-2); B Quinn (0-2), P Richmond (0-8), Darren Quinn. Subs: K Stewart for Darren Quinn.

LAOIS: K Galvin; R Conway, P Cuddy, A Delaney; J Fitzpatrick (0-1), P Mahon, C Clear; J Young, (0-8) J Walsh (0-1), C Coonan (0-3), J Rowney (0-2), E Brown (0-2), P Russell (1-1), D Walsh, D Culleton (2-1), Subs: P Mullaney for K Galvin, D Doyle for R Conroy, R Jones (1-0) for P Mahon, C Brophy for Damian Walsh, J Dwyer for P Russell, J Phelan for C Clear.

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).