Antrim secure Division 1 status with victory over Laois

Goals proved the difference at a wet and windy Corrigan Park as Antrim weathered an early Laois storm to overpower the visitors for a crucial win that assures them of Division 1 hurling in 2024.

The hosts looked to be in a little trouble approaching the break at the visitors had dominated, 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 powered to the line to condemn Laois to the relegation playoff.

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.

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 McManus gathered around the middle and sent Cunning away, passing to Niall McKenna and then Nigel Elliott who raced in and buried.

However, this failed to settle Antrim who were second-best for the majority of the opening period as the visitors kept the board ticking with the entire front six and midfielder Jack Kelly all on target in the opening period.

They always seemed to respond with at least one score when Antrim raised white at the other end with Cunning doing the bulk of the lifting from frees.

Stephen Maher was doing likewise for Laois but James and Tomás Keys landed a pair each and corner-forward Aaron Dunphy would rattle the net on 22 minutes as he took advantage of a fumble to beat a pair of challenges and finish.

Enda Rowland's monster puckouts were also causing havoc for the hosts as