Laois 0-18 2-18 Antrim

Neil McManus got Antrim's second goal in Portlaoise

Goals from half-forwards Karl Stewart and Neil McManus proved crucial as Antrim beat Laois in NHL Division Two to occupy third position in the table.

Stewart's goal put Antrim into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead after just five minutes.

When McManus added a second early in the second half, Terence McNaughton's charges held a 2-14 to 0-8 advantange.

Antrim were a more clinical force in the opening half, with Stewart and midfielder Paul Shields contributing the bulk of their first half tally.

Although under-21 player Dayne Peacock took some good points from play, Laois relied heavily on the contribution of free-taker James Young who slotted over four points from placed balls before the interval.

Antrim began the second half brightly outscoring Laois by 1-2 to 0-1 inside five minutes of the restart.

Despite late goal efforts from both Tommy Fitzgerald and substitute Owen Houlihan for the hosts, they could not penetrate a solid Antrim rearguard, as the Saffrons registered a six-point win.

Antrim scorers: Karl Stewart (5f) 1-6; Paul Shields (1f, 1 sideline) 0-7; Neil McManus 1-1; Sean Delargy, Brendan Herron, Joey Scullion, PJ O'Connell 0-1 each.

Laois scorers: James Young (8f) 0-9; Dayne Peacock 0-4; Willie Hyland 0-2; James Walsh, Tommy Fitzgerald, Owen Houlihan 0-1 each.

Allianz National Hurling League results

Division One
Galway 1-15 1-17 Tipperary
Kilkenny 4-26 0-11 Cork
Dublin 0-15 0-15 Clare
Limerick 2-14 1-13 Waterford

Division Two
Kerry 2-11 0-8 Westmeath
Wexford 5-14 0-17 Offaly
Carlow 3-18 2-11 Down
Laois 0-18 2-18 Antrim

Division 3B
Longford 1-5 7-25 London
Donegal 2-22 4-14 Fingal
Roscommon 1-16 2-08 Louth

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