Byrne struck in either half to see off dogged Antrim and in the process banish memories of the eight-goal hammering at the hands of Down at this stage of the competition 12 months ago.
The crucial score of the first half came on 28 minutes. Kevin Swayne’s point attempt was partially blocked and possession fell to Eoin Lowry, who in turn fed the onrushing Brian Byrne. The Laois centre back lashed to the net from close range to give his side the lead for the first time.
To that point Antrim had made much of the running with Patrick McBride kicking three nice points. Laois’ Mark Barry also kicked three points in the opening 35 minutes but that Laois goal seemed to knock some of the life out of Andy McEntee’s men. And Laois defender James Kelly clipped over the final score of the half to give his side a 1-7 to 0-7 interval lead.
Antrim called for Peter Healy at half time and they kicked the first three points of the half to pull them game level. Then came perhaps the game’s most dramatic 60 seconds. Eoin Lowry crashed a Laois goal chance off the bar before Antrim swept up the field to engineer a goal of their own. This time a long delivery towards Aghagallon’s Ruairi McCann evaded everyone and found Patrick McAleer. He made no mistake from close range.
Antrim were three to the good now but Laois found their first score of the half through Barry before they struck for their second goal. This time Eoin Buggie’s point attempt dropped short and Kevin Swayne rose highest to punch to the net. Points from goalkeeper Killian Roche and Evan O’Carroll pushed Laois into a three-point lead
McBride’s fifth of the day cut the gap to two before Evan O’Carroll picked up a black card in the 65th minute, meaning Laois would finish the day with 14 men.
However Antrim couldn’t make the extra man count and Niall Dunne put Laois three points before Byrne grabbed his second goal, timing his run perfectly once again to seal the game for Laois.
SCORERS – Laois: B Byrne 2-0, M Barry 0-4 (1f), K Swayne 1-0, N Dunne (1m), E O’Carroll, J Kelly 0-2 each, K Roche, P Kingston 0-1 each.
Antrim: P McBride 0-5, D McEnhill 0-3 (1f 1m), P McAleer 1-0, C McLarnon 0-2, M Byrne (1 45), C Hand, R McCann (Creggan) 0-1 each.
Laois: K Roche; J Kelly, B Dempsey, M Timmons; S Lacey, B Byrne, S Fingleton; D Larkin, C Heffernan; M Barry, E O’Carroll, K Swayne; E Lowry, N Dunne, P Kingston SUBS: R Murphy for Lowry, E Buggie for Lacey (both 46), K Lillis for Swayne (68), S Fitzpatrick for Byrne (70), C Burke for Larkin (73).
Antrim: M Byrne; D Lynch, E Walsh, K Keenan; J McDonnell, J Finnegan, D McAleese; P McAleer, C Hynds; C McLarnon, P McBride, Ruairi McCann (Creggan); D McEnhill, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), M Jordan SUBS: P Healy for McDonnell (HT), E Hyndes for McAleer, C Hand for McLarnon (both 57), R McQuillan for McCann (Aghagallon), N Burns for Lynch (both 60)
Referee: L Devenney (Mayo)
