Offaly and Antrim open with wins

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B: Antrim 3-18 Wexford 2-15

Antrim manager Jerry Wallace’s marathon journeys to the glens of Antrim are clearly paying off, as his side opened their Allianz Hurling League campaign with an impressive six-point defeat of Wexford.

Cork native Wallace will be delighted with the form of forward Shane McNaughton, who top scored with a fine personal haul of 1-8.

Liam Dunne’s Wexford side were profligate, though, and wasted several opportunities that might have made the final score much closer.

An early Eoin Quigley goal gave Wexford the perfect start and they led by 1-4 to 0-3 after just 12 minutes.

However, things went downhill from there for the visitors thereafter, as their defence crumbled under intense pressure. Goals from McNaughton, Kevin Sheerin and Karl Stewart gave the Saffrons a 3-9 to 1-7 lead at the break.

Wexford had their chances in the second half, while Chris O’Connell, the Antrim goalkeeper, had pulled off an impressive penalty save just before the short whistle.

McNaughton kept Antrim ahead with some fine scores, and while Quigley hit a fine second goal, it was the Saffrons who held out for a deserved win.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B: Offaly 1-27 Laois 0-18

Offaly opened their 2012 Allianz League campaign with a 12-point defeat of Laois at O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday.

Laois were dealt a massive blow when they had centre-forward Michael McEvoy sent off after just 20 minutes of the game.

Following McEvoy’s dismissal, Ollie Baker’s charges went on the rampage, scoring nine points to Laois’s one, including three from Joe Bergin, just before half-time.

Offaly led by 1-15 to 0-7 at that stage and looked to be heading to a landslide win, but Teddy McCarthy’s side showed remarkable resilience and were only outscored by a single point in the second half.

Shane Dooley hit 0-5 after the break for the Faithful County, which ensured the win was never in any doubt, especially after building up such a massive lead at the interval.