Allianz Hurling League

Antrim have retained their status in Division One of the Allianz Hurling League following a thrilling six-point win over Laois at Corrigan Park. Nigel Elliott ...

Laois lead by three after 15 minutes Aaron Dunphy lands a good point for Laois, but Antrim hit back with their second goal of the game. There are no changes on either team ahead of the second half.

Allianz Hurling League Division One Group B Antrim 3-18 Laois 1-18 By David Mohan at Corrigan Park Antrim powered home in tricky conditions to secure a ...

Laois were much quicker to settle with the opening two points but Antrim were quick to take what seemed a real shot in the arm in the fourth minute as Neil McManus gathered around the middle and sent Conal Cunning away, passing to Niall McKenna and then Nigel Elliott who raced in and buried. Conal Cunning top-scored with 1-10 for the hosts, his goal coming at a key time in the second half, but the displays of Nigel Elliott and Michael Bradley exemplified all that was good with this Antrim performance as they weren't going to be found wanting with so much at stake. The Saffrons looked to be in a little trouble approaching the break, but a Neil McManus goal gave them the injection they needed and when it came to the crunch in the second half, they had the stomach for the fight as they finished strongly.

Several Ulster sides suffered heavy defeats in the Allianz Hurling League at the weekend which do not auger well for their prospects as the competition ...

Wicklow were much too sharp and robust for their hosts throughout. Liam McKinney, Brian McIntyre, Ciaran Bradley and Oisin Marley tried to stem the flow for Donegal but were unsuccessful in their endeavours. The Red Hands got off to an encouraging start but when Meath landed goals through Patrick Barnwell and Eamon O Donnachadai they were to prove unstoppable for the remainder of what proved to be a one-sided game.

Antrim retain their Division One Allianz Hurling League status for next year by beating Laois 3-18 to 1-18 at a wet Corrigan Park.

Elliott's goal came after a McManus catch had sent Keelan Molloy charging towards the Antrim defence but while the Saffrons looked dangerous when they ran at the Laois defence, they weren't able to do it enough as the visitors held sway for the most part in the first period. And while the wind dropped for a period after half-time before benefiting Antrim when conditions deteriorated in the closing stages, the Saffrons cut out the sloppiness in possession they had exhibited in the first half as they took control in the second period. After using their wind advantage effectively in the first period, Laois looked set for a healthy advantage at the break but McManus' 37th-minute goal was followed by another Cunning free as suddenly the margin was down to two by half-time.