Laois have made immense strides forward over the past couple of seasons, securing success in the league, the Leinster championship and last year’s All-Ireland Premier Junior competition. However after landing the significant scalps of Down and Kerry en route to this final, they found the air far too thin at Croke Park once Antrim turned up the intensity in the second half. Subs: S O’Neill for Molloy (half-time), E McIntosh for J McIntosh (48), O McAllister for McAtamney (48), D Dobbin for Patterson (56), A Ferris for McNaughton (56). LAOIS: A Lowry; L Finlay, A Finlay, K Whelan; L Conroy, C Tynan, R Deegan; S Creagh, J Bergin; K O’Keeffe, G Delaney, C Kirby; K Keenan, A Collier, S Delaney. Subs: E Hassett for Kirby (36), A O’Dea for Keenan (45), A Lacey for Deegan (52), S Fleming for O’Keeffe (57), A Carroll for Whelan (57).