Round-up: Electric Ireland Leinster MHC
Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Leinster MHC, Phase 1, Round 3
Laois 1-10 Kildare 0-8
Westmeath 3-26 Kerry 2-10
Antrim 10-20 Meath 1-10
By Paul Keane
Connlaodh McNaughton's goal after just 35 seconds in Trim laid the platform for a huge Antrim win, leaving the Saffrons minors on the brink of Tier 1 hurling in Leinster.
With Offaly receiving a bye to Round 4 - where four teams will play off for two spots in Tier 1 - Antrim, Westmeath and Laois took the remaining places with big wins today.
The subsequent draw for Round 4 paired Offaly off with Westmeath while Antrim will take on Laois.
The winners of those two games will advance to Phase 2 of the Leinster championship which involves six Tier 1 teams split into two groups of three.
Kilkenny and Dublin will be in Group 1, along with a Round 4 winner, and Wexford and Galway will be in Group 2, along with the other Round 4 winner.
Antrim were the big Round 3 winners, hitting a stunning 10 goals in their victory over hosts Meath.
McNaughton's terrific solo goal in the opening minute helped Antrim to lead by 2-9 to 0-7 at half time despite playing into the stiff wind.
With the wind after the break, Antrim took over completely and added eight more goals thanks to Lewis Rafferty, McNaughton, Éanna McGuckian, Conor McCann, Cathair McCaughan and substitute Conall Dempsey, who raised two green flags.
Meath closed out the goal-scoring on the afternoon with one from Ben Healy.
MJ Long and Darragh Geary struck the first-half Westmeath goals as the Midlands outfit hit the interval with a 2-11 to 1-6 advantage in Joristown.
Sean Ross O'Gorman and Thomas Scanlon scored the Kerry goals but a second Geary major for Westmeath late in the second half wrapped it up.
Laois built up an early 1-5 to 0-1 lead, the goal coming from Cillin Hoey, in their win over Kildare.
Cuan Óg MacAogain impressed again for Kildare and got on the scoresheet to cut the deficit to five at half time, 1-7 to 0-5.
Laois hung on for an important win with LJ Cuddy their top scorer, 0-6, while Hoey finished with 1-1.
