Walsh Cup: LAOIS 3-17 ANTRIM 1-19

Antrim’s hopes of a winning start to their Walsh Cup campaign came up short when they were beaten by Laois at Heywood CS, Ballinakill. Played on a 3G pitch it turned out to be a really lively encounter with the home side winning 3-17 to 1-19 in their Group 2 game.
Antrim were undone early in the game when Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s charges got in for two early goals, but the Saffrons, in their first competitive game under new manager PJ O’Mullan, grad...ually settled into the pace of the game, though they still trailed by 2-11 to 0-12 at the break. Five down at the break Antrim played well in the second half and closed the gap to a point at one stage when Conor Johnston fired the ball to the Laois net, but the home side came back with their third goal of the game to pull four clear. The Saffrons did have chances to save the game in the final ten minutes but were maybe too intent in going for goals when simple points were there for the taking and Laois held on to win by four points.
The Saffrons next outing is McGurk Cup this Thursday at the Dub v Queens also V Dublin in Walsh Cup next Sunday at Parnell