SEAMUS RELIEF AFTER BIG WIN
SEAMUS PLUNKETT hailed a huge win in his most difficult season in management as Laois secured their Maccarty Cup status.
Paddy Purcell’s 2-2 haul was decisive as Laois held firm to relegate Antrim to the Joe Mcdonagh Cup for 2022.
Laois led by 11 points early in the second half at Parnell Park but winced as the deficit was reduced to just two by a surging Saffrons.
Substitute Eoin O’neill struck two goals for Antrim who also had a Neil Mcmanus penalty saved during a blitzkrieg third quarter period.
Laois were also down to 13 players for a spell as Ross King was red-carded in the 49th minute and Sean Downey was sin-binned for the foul that led to the earlier penalty.
The margin was down to just two at the second water break but Laois rallied, outscoring Antrim by 1-6 to 0-5 in the final quarter to progress.
They’ll be in tomorrow’s draw for the qualifiers though perhaps more significant is the fact that they’ll stay in the Maccarthy Cup.
Boss Plunkett (inset) said: “The result means that Laois are playing Championship hurling next year and gives us a chance to get reorganised and refocused and to bounce back in the Leinster Championship next year.
“This has been a very, very tough year. We came in as a new management team in a pandemic for starters. And in my time – and I’ve been involved with teams a long time – it’s probably the biggest injury crisis of key players. I have to give incredible credit to each and every Laois player for their commitment, for how they dug out this win.”
Laois, without a win all year beforehand, brought a ferocity to the game from the off and hit the first water break with a 0-11 to 0-4 lead.
They thundered into tackles and hoovered up the breaking ball, Podge Delaney, Ciaran Mcevoy and Purcell all hammering over long range scores.
Purcell’s first goal in stoppage time left the midlanders 1-17 to 0-10 clear at half-time and apparently cruising.
The build-up to the goal summed up Laois’ energy and industry as Antrim’s Ciaran Johnston was dispossessed, allowing Purcell in. But it was only the beginning of an even more dramatic period as Antrim battled bravely with sub O’neill throwing them a lifeline with the 44th and 52nd minute goals.
Laois: E Rowland; D Hartnett, S Downey, L Cleere; P Delaney (0-3), C Mcevoy (0-1), R Mullaney; FC Fennell (0-1), J Kelly (0-3); P Purcell (2-2), W Dunphy (0-3), C Collier (0-1); C Dwyer (0-1), PJ Scully (0-10, 7f, 2 s/l), R King (0-2). Subs: J Ryan for Mullaney 53, E Lyons for Collier 58, J Keyes for Purcell 65, A Dunphy for W Dunphy 72, C Comerford for Dwyer 75. Antrim: R Elliott; D Mcmullan, S Rooney, G Walsh; E Campbell, P Burke, A O’brien; K Molloy (0-3), Ciaran Johnston; N Mcmanus (0-4), M Bradley, J Mcnaughton (0-2, 1f); Conor Johnston (0-1), C Cunning (0-2), C Clarke (0-8, 7f, 1 65). Subs: A Crawford for Mcmullan 18, J Maskey for Campbell h/t, E O’neill (2-0) for Bradley h/t, S Elliott (0-1) for Conor Johnston 59, M Donnelly for O’brien 71.
Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny).