Down defeat Exiles but Antrim's woes continue

Down made it two wins from two in the Joe McDonagh Cup with victory over London, but Antrim's woes continued as they lost out to Laois.

Seven days on from their derby win over Antrim, Ronan Sheehan's men recorded a 2-23 to 2-17 in Newry to keep their hopes of a place in the final firmly alive.

That Saffrons' ambitions of reaching the decider are now hanging by a thread as they were beaten 2-23 to 0-22 by Laois in O'Moore Park.

Down flew out of the traps in Newry with Daithi Sands finding the net in the first minute.

They added four points before London got on the board and then a further two - all six from different sources - to open a healthy gap.

London enjoyed a spell of their own to whittle the gap down to that early goal with Ronan McGrady and Sean Glynn notching two apiece, but Down had a response with last week's hero Donal Hughes hitting three in a row, while Pearse Og McCrickard was on song from frees as Down held a 1-13 to 0-11 lead at the half.

London remained within striking distance in the third quarter, but a 52nd minute goal by Cahal Coleman pushed the gap out to nine and that became 10 when, after Fionn Whelan pointed for London, Tom McGrattan hit back and Hughes landed his fifth of the day.

A Jack Morrissey goal with 10 minutes to go gave London hope, but two points from substitute Marc Fisher and a third pointed free by goalkeeper Pearse Smyth either side of Paul Kennedy's third for the visitors made it safe and a late Sean Glynn goal for London served as consolation.

It was a lively start in O'Moore Park as after Ryan McCambridge pointed for Antrim, the hosts hit back immediately with a goal by Jack Kelly.

The Saffrons steadied with Conal Cunning, Seaan Elliott, James McNaughton, Paul Boyle and McCambridge all hitting scores in the first half,.

Driven on by Stephen Maher - who finished with 0-13 to his name - Laois hung on to Antrim's coattails with a Fiachra C Fennell score narrowing the gap to one at break with the Ulster side leading 0-15 to 1-11.

Laois hit three of the first four points after the break to get ahead and it remained tight with Maher and Elliott doing the bulk of the scoring.

Points from David Dooley and James Keys pushed the gap out to a goal with 10 minutes to play and after Mark Dowling pointed, Cillain Dunne struck for a second Laois goal.

That was as good as that despite Lee Cleere seeing red deep in added time as the O'Moore men secured their first win of the competition, heaping further pressure on Davy Fitzgerald whose side's hopes of a place in the final look remote.

In the competition's other game, Carlow edged Westmeath 3-14 to 1-19 in Mullingar.

Derry were 2-23 to 1-16 winners over Donegal in the Christy Ring Cup with second half goals from Deaghlan Foley and Rian Collins helping the Oak Leafs to victory.

Kerry continue to lead the way at the top with a third-straight victory, accounting for Roscommon.

Meanwhile, in the Nickey Rackard Cup, Tyrone were 1-22 to 2-14 winners over Louth.