Laois - 1-20 Antrim - 2-14NHL/Div Two final: A powerful last quarter by Laois swept them to an emphatic win over Antrim in the Division 2 final of the National Hurling League at Thurles yesterday.
After playing second fiddle in the first half, Laois took control in the second and once they hit the front with 12 minutes to go they always looked like champions.
The absence of suspended Paul Cuddy did not trouble them. Indeed, Niall Rigney, who switched to full back in his absence, was their man of the match.
Antrim will be disappointed at the manner in which they faded from the game but coach Dinny Cahill stressed that their training was geared towards the championship clash with New York at the end of the month. "Winning the league would have been a bonus," he said.
In a lively first half Antrim certainly looked likely winners. With the aid of the breeze they went 0-9 to 0-4 clear in 18 minutes. Then they struck a decisive blow as Gregory O'Kane moved on to Karl McKeegan's delivery for a smashing goal in the 21st minute.
Brian McFall almost had a second for them shortly afterwards but kicked the ball wide. Laois did better afterwards and finished with five points to Antrim's one.
Antrim's grip on the game was slipping but they were still ahead 1-10 to 0-9 at the break.
Laois were level inside seven minutes of the resumption with four unanswered points. Antrim responded with two but Laois were on the move and by the 22nd minute were level again and poised to win.
And so it transpired as Damien Culleton's goal in the 24th minute confirmed their growing confidence. They were six points clear and the game was heading for injury time when Liam Richmond netted for Antrim but it was too late to save them.
Niall Rigney was outstanding for Laois at full back. Michael McEvoy, Joe Phelan, David Cuddy and Paul Drennan were other key players. Antrim's best were Ronan Donnelly, Jim Connelly, Kieran Kelly, Eoin McCloskey and Brian McFall.
LAOIS: J Lyons; PJ Peacock, N Rigney, L Mahon; P Mahon, P Drennan, M McEvoy; D Conroy 0-1, P Brady; B Ferns, J O' Shea 0-1, D Rooney 0-1; D Culleton 1-0, D Cuddy 0-8, J Phelan 0-3. Subs: M Dunphy 0-4 for Ferns, F Keenan 0-1 for Conroy, F O'Sullivan 0-1 for O' Shea, R Delaney for Mahon.
ANTRIM: D Quinn; M Kettle, K Kelly, E McCloskey; K McKeegan, R Donnelly, C Herron 0-1; C Cunning, J Connolly 0-1; A Delargy 0-3, L Richmond 1-0, L Watson 0-2; C McCambridge, G O'Kane 1-3, B McFall 0-3. Subs: A Mort 0-1 for McCambridge, M McCambridge for McCloskey, S Delargy for O' Kane, J Boyle for A Delargy.
Referee: S Roche (Tipperary).
