Davy Fitzgerald 'very proud' as Antrim overcome illness to secure vital win over Laois

STAR MAN: James McNaughton scores Antrim's third goal. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B: Antrim 4-22 Laois 0-21

With the pressure on and their Division 1B status on the line, Antrim found the performance they needed as they grabbed a huge win over Laois at a sunny Corrigan Park on Sunday to give themselves a great chance of beating the drop.

James McNaughton top-scored with 2-11 for the Saffrons who set the early tone and built a 13-point lead at the break and although Laois battled in the second period, nine was as close as they got as late majors from McNaughton and Keelan Molloy ended any prospect of a comeback.

Coming into the game, Antrim sat one point above their visitors who were inside the relegation zone, but with Laois still having four points to play for and the gap now three between them, survival isn't assured for the Ulster outfit.

And by the same token, Tommy Fitzgerald's side still have their fate in their own hands with games against Carlow and Dublin to come.

But the heat was really on Antrim on a sunny spring day as they found a performance, digging into their energy reserves after illness had riddled the squad in the week.

"I'm very proud of them because, during the week, we were extremely sick," said manager, Davy Fitzgerald.

"People thought we were pulling a (fast one) - we weren't. We had 14 or 15 guys that were really sick. Even Friday night, there was four that had to sit out training. We came across that and we dealt with it and fair play to them.

"That's a big thing for me. This was a pressure game today for us, no doubt about it."

McNaughton bagged his first goal after 12 minutes to build upon a flying start in which Gerard Walsh and Keelan Molloy prominent, helping them into a 1-7 to 0-2 lead and it was 2-15 to 0-8 at the half as Conor Johnston grabbed their second major after taking a pass from Eoghan Campbell.

The intensity died in the third quarter with the sides trading three points apiece, but Laois began to narrow the gap with Aaron Dunphy leading the way, but they couldn't get the goal they needed as Ryan Elliott was in inspired form in the Antrim goal.

At the other end, Antrim refound their goalscoring touch late on with Sean Elliott playing a sublime ball into McNaughton to crack home his second goal and Eoin O'Neill put Molloy through for another late on to seal a win which wrapped it up.

Antrim are now three points above the drop zone with their programme complete, but Laois can still save themselves should they beat Carlow and Dublin in their remaining games.

"I think we were, by far, the better team today," Fitzgerald opined.

"We switched off for 15 minutes in the second half and then we decided we'd go at it again. But, in general, I think our work rate today was phenomenal.

"The three games that we lost well, the problem I had is our work-rate deteriorated when we went down seven and a half points. We've talked about that a lot and that's something we've really got to work on. We're a work in progress, but you've seen what they can do.

"Like, in the Leinster Championship, there'll be no hiding. We've got a bit of work to do now and I'm really proud of them. It's out of our hands in the league, but, I think we've accounted for ourselves."

Scorers for Antrim: J McNaughton (2-11, 9f), C Johnston (1-2), K Molloy (1-1), G Walsh (0-3) R McCambridge (0-2), C McKeown, J Maskey, E Campbell (0-1 each).

Scorers for Laois: A Dunphy (0-9, 5f, 2 '65s), P Purcell (0-2), P Delaney 0-2 (2f), C Dwyer, F C Fennell, M Keyes, D Dooley, M Keyes, M Dowling, C Byrne, J Lennon (0-1 each).

ANTRIM: R Elliott; E McFerran, P Burke, S Rooney; J Maskey, E Campbell, C Boyd; C Bohill, G Walsh; R McCambridge, K Molloy, N Elliott; C McKeown, J McNaughton, C Johnston.

Subs: S Walsh for R McCambridge (50), S Elliott for G Walsh (55), E O'Neill for C McKeown (55), F McCurry for N Elliott (70), A McGarry for C Johnston (70).

LAOIS: C Dunne; P Dunne, L Cleere, P Delaney; F C Fennell, D Hartnett, J Walshe; A Corby, D Dooley; A Dunphy, C Dwyer, W Dunphy; J Quinlan, P Purcell, T Keyes.

Subs: J Lennon for A Corby (29), C Byrne for C Dwyer (33), M Dowling for P Purcell (50), J Duggan for W Dunphy (57), C Comerford for J Walshe (69).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).