Ben Conroy goal seals win for Laois

Walsh Cup - Laois 3-17 Antrim 1-19: A second half goal from Ben Conroy helped the Laois hurlers open their 2016 season with a four-point win over Antrim in Heywood on Saturday.

Laois got off to a great start with goals from Tadhg Dowling and PJ Scully in the opening 10 minutes, but Antrim got within five at half time, 2-11 to 0-12.

A Conor Johnston goal for the Saffrons on the restart got them right back in it, but a lovely goal from Conroy with 15 minutes left steered Laois over the line.

Scorers for Laois:

PJ Scully 1-6 (4f), B Reddin 0-4, T Dowling, B Conroy 1-0 each, M Whelan, P Purcell 0-2 each, E Fennelly, E Reilly, R Mullaney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Antrim:

C Johnson 1-6, C Clarke 0-4 (1f), L Watson 0-4f, O McFaddan, S McAfee, K McKernan, M Dudley, N McKenna 0-1 each.

LAOIS:

E Reilly; O Carroll, D Maher, C Stapleton; J Walsh, N Foyle, R Mullaney; M Whelan, B Reddin; C Collier, E Fennelly, P Purcell; PJ Scully, T Dowling, B Conroy.

Subs:

L Bergin for Foyle (46), M Kavanagh for Collier (46), B O’Mara for Mullaney (48), J Lennon for Fennelly (50), J Phelan for Conroy (58, inj)

ANTRIM:

G McTaggart; D Nugent, C McKinley, B McFall; CJ McGourty, O McFaddan, N McAuley; K McKernan, C Johnston; S McAfee, M Dudley, E McCloskey; C Johnston, L Watson, C Clarke.

Subs:

D McKernan for Dudley (46), D Hamill for Watson (48), N McKenna for McAfee (55).

Referee:

P Burke (Kilkenny).