Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B relegation play off

LAOIS 1-16 ANTRIM 0-17

By Brendan McTaggart at Pearse Park, Dunloy

Laois condemned Antrim to relegation from Division 1B on Sunday afternoon as Patrick Purcell’s first half goal proved to be the decisive score. 

The O’Moore County had two points to spare over their relegation rivals with Ross King once again showing the way for his side.  The Laois Captain scored 12 points of his side’s total, nine from frees and while Neil McManus top scored for the Saffrons with his tally of 0-10 over the 70 minutes, the Antrim men will look at their wides tally with huge disappointment in this crunch encounter. 

The Saffrons missed the target on 17 occasions on a bitterly cold afternoon in north Antrim and while Laois also reached double figures, the midlanders had a more clinical 35 minutes.

Despite Antrim’s strong opening to the game, Laois took a five point lead into the half time interval, thanks largely to Purcell’s 31st minute goal and the attacking prowess of King. The visitors’ to Pearse Park were helped with the aid of the wind slightly in their favour during the first half, but their cause was assisted by a series of missed chances by the home side. 

Indeed were it not for the outstanding reflexes of Ryan Elliott in the Antrim goals and the width of the crossbar, the match could have been over as a contest by the short whistle.  Stephen Bergin and Purcell denied in the 20th and 28th minutes.

The Saffrons came out in the second half a side rejuvenated and a trio of scores from ace marksman Neil McManus along with a fine individual score from half time substitute James McNaughton cut the deficit to just a single point before King opened the scoring for Laois in the second half after 12 minutes of the restart. 

Antrim had all the momentum however and when another brace of points from McManus along with scores from Conor Johnston and Paddy Burke were answered with a solitary King free, Antrim had regained the lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Laois found another gear in the final quarter however.  King was as reliable as ever from placed ball while they brought the best out of Antrim goal keeper once again on the hour, Elliott bravely denying Ben Conroy a certain goal.

Antrim looked to their bench for inspiration but they had a huge chance to cement their 1b status in the 62nd minute when they were awarded a penalty.  McManus was judged to have been brought down in the square but his penalty was superbly deflected over the bar by Enda Rowland.

In a captivating, but nervous last 10 minutes, the Saffrons had chances to pull away but Laois and King proved to be more clinical when it mattered and scored the vital points at the death to take the spoils with two points to spare condemning the Saffrons to an immediate return to Division 2A.

Scorers for Laois: Ross King 0-12 (9fs), Patrick Purcell 1-1, Charles Dwyer 0-1, Ben Conroy 0-1, James Ryan 0-1

Scorers for Antrim: Neil McManus 0-10 (5fs, 2 65’s, 1 pen), Conor Johnston 0-2, Nigel Elliott 0-1, Michael Armstrong 0-1, Eoghan Campbell 0-1, Paddy Burke 0-1, James McNaughton 0-1

LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Joe Phelan, Leigh Bergin, Lee Cleere; James Ryan, Matthew Whelan, Padraig Lawlor; Patrick Purcell, Ben Conroy; Willie Dunphy, Charles Dwyer, PJ Scully; Ross King, Neil Foyle, Stephen Bergin. Subs: Conor Phelan for Stephen Bergin (30)

ANTRIM: Ryan Elliott; Arron Graffin, John Dillon, Ryan McCambridge; Joe Maskey, Conor McKinley, Paddy Burke; Eoghan Campbell, Gerard Walsh; Conor Johnston, Neil McManus, Michael Armstrong; Donal McKinley, Conor McCann, Nigel Elliott.

Subs: James McNaughton for Gerard Walsh (HT); Simon McCrory for Conor McCann (59); Ciaran Clarke for Michael Armstrong (60).

REFEREE: Patrick Murphy (Carlow).