Antrim and Down miss out on McDonagh Cup final

Antrim and Down rounded off their Joe McDonagh Cup campaigns with victories, but neither reach the final as Laois join Carlow in the decider.

At the start of the day, both Ulster sides needed the other to win and Laois to lose away to already relegated London to force a three-way tie on six points, bringing scoring difference into play, but a 0-27 to 0-19 win for the O'Moore men in Ruislip left matters out of their hands.

Still, both finish on somewhat of a high with Antrim recording a third-straight victory in the competition thanks to a 3-23 to 1-14 win over already-qualified Carlow, while Down banked their third win in the competition with a 1-25 to 0-17 win at home to Westmeath.

Carlow will face Laois in the final at Croke Park on 6 June before the Leinster SHC final.

At Corrigan Park, Antrim made a flying start with the first five points of the game and while Carlow grew into the game, first-half goals from Joseph McLaughlin and Keelan Molloy helped the Saffrons into a 2-16 to 0-10 advantage at the break.

Ruairi Donaghy added a third goal immediately after the restart and while Ruairi Murphy hit back with a goal for the visitors, Antrim powered home.

James McNaughton top-scored with 13 points, while Molloy landed 1-6 on a day in which Antrim's season came to an end.

In Ballycran, Down ended their campaign on a winning note.

After an even start with the sides locked at 0-4 apiece, points from Tom McGrattan and Pearse Og McCrickard preceded Down's goal in the 17th minute through Ruairi McCrickard.

That goal would be the difference at the break with Down leading 1-11 to 0-11, but the hosts would gradually pull away in the second period with Pearse Og McCrickard, McGrattan, Finn Turpin, Donal Hughes, Caolan Taggart, Marc Fisher and Paul Sheehan all finding their range.

A late Jack Gillen goal proved a form of consolation for Westmeath, but Down claimed the win.