Laois retained their Division 1B status with a 2-18 to 1-13 victory over 14-man Antrim at O'Moore Park.

Late goals from Zane Keenan and Roddy King saw Seamus Plunkett's men over the line after the Glensmen had staged a remarkable revival against the wind to draw level with seven minutes left, 1-13 to 0-16.

The hosts led by six points a couple of minutes after the restart and had the wind at their backs but Antrim, who had corner back Ryan McCambridge sent off for an off-the-ball strike on Willie Hyland, registered five consecutive points to set up a grandstand finale.

Three early points from Cha Dwyer had Laois 0-6 to 0-3 to the good before a mix-up allowed Antrim's Ciaran Clarke to goal. However, with Zane Keenan impressive Laois were 0-11 to 1-4 ahead with 30-minutes played.

They maintained that advantage to lead 0-13 to 1-6 at the break.

That lead was stretched to six on the resumption but Antrim hit the next five scores to trail by 1-11 to 0-15.

With the sides level Keenan struck for Laois' first major and when King grabbed a second, the tie was decided.

Laois - E Rowland; JA Delaney, C Healy, C Dunne; P Whelan (0-1), J Walsh, J Fitzpatrick; Z Keenan (1-6, 0-6f), P Purcell; C Dwyer (0-3), J Campion (0-2), W Hyland (0-1); R King (1-2), T Fitzgerald, PJ Scully (0-3). Subs: D Palmer for P Purcell, J Purcell for T Fitzgerald, B Conroy for J Walsh.

Antrim - C O'Connell; R McCambridge, N McAuley, A Graffin; S McCrory, P Shiels (0-3f), O McFadden (0-1); C Johnson, M Bradley; E Campbell (0-1), C Carson (0-1), N McManus (0-1); C Clarke (1-5, 0-4f), PJ O'Connell, C Johnston. Subs: T McCann for S McCrory, M Donnelly for T McCann, D McKernan (0-1) for C Johnson.

Referee - D Hughes.

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