Duggan the hero as the Laois Minors secure Leinster preliminary quarter-final spot

Laois have gotten their first win in this year's Leinster Minor Hurling Championship after a four-point victory over Antrim in Abbottstown this afternoon.

Damien Carter's men had been ahead by eight-points at half-time, but saw their lead vanish come the 50-minute mark. Laois' Justin Duggan fired in 3-5 as he scored when Laois needed him the most.

Laois 4-14

Antrim 1-19

Antrim began the game the quickest as Roan McGarry pointed a free. Laois got their first score from corner-forward Justin Duggan as he pointed well.

Eli Quinn was the provider of the second Laois white flag as he his free from the full-back line found midfielder Jordan Downey who spilt the posts. Captain Eoghan Murphy hit the next three scores for Laois, two frees and one from play as he won an Antrim puck-out and raised a white flag.

Antrim got the next two scores as McGarry pointed a free with Niall Magee getting his first of the contest. Laois hit the   front with a goal and a point without reply. Ben O’Mara got the point while Murphy set up Duggan to rattle the Antrim net.

Two more frees would go over the bar from Antrim’s McGarry while O’Mara was fouled with Duggan pointing his first score from a placed ball. Liam McEnhill and Duggan (free) traded frees while Antrim substitute Ronan Fitzgerald raised a white flag for an instant impact. 

The next score would be a crucial one for Laois as O’Mara took his tally to 1-1 with a rasping shot which buried in the Antrim net. McGarry pointed another free while Laois were fluffing their lines with them hitting four wides in succession. 

Midfielder Ruaidhri Kavanagh pointed two points without reply for Laois with Magee getting his second score before half-time. Laois holding an eighth-point advantage at the break. 

The second-half started the same way the first did as Enda Mc Gurk split the posts for Antrim. Murphy pointed another free for Laois with McGarry replying in similar fashion for the Saffrons.

Laois’ third goal could be classed as fortuitous as the Antrim goalkeeper dropped the ball in the square with Duggan on hand to get his second goal. 

Antrim, down by nine-points, would make it a four-point game as they rattled over five scores unanswered. Fitzgerald got his second of the contest, McGarry pointed two frees while Orrin O’Connor opened his tally. Half-back Liam Glackin pointed the fifth point after a monster free from his own 45-yard line. 

Duggan ended the Antrim spell of scoring with another super score. Their spell wasn’t ended for long as they would soon be level with 10 minutes to play. McGarry pointed a 65’ before the corner-forward took his tally to 1-9 with a goal.  Fitzgerald made his mark off the bench as he raised his third white flag to level the sides.

Laois hit the front again as Murphy and Duggan pointed a free each. It was a one-point game again as McGarry pointed. Laois would get the game’s final score as Duggan completed his hat trick with a stunning finish to the back of the net.

The game ended with both sides receiving red cards as both number 17’s saw the line. Fitzgerald for Antrim and Lorcan Dunne for Laois.

The victory for Laois means that they now qualify for a preliminary quarter-final as Damien Carter’s side finished third in the group.