The game is due to take place in Corrigan Park on Sunday.
A virus in the Antrim hurlers’ camp has placed a doubt over their Allianz League tie with Laois on Sunday. It is believed that around a dozen players came down with the illness in the aftermath of last Sunday’s draw with Carlow, which kept Antrim’s hopes of beating the drop from Division 1B afloat.
"A number of our players were unable to train on Tuesday and more are reporting unwell today," Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald explained to BBC Sport NI. "Our medics have confirmed it's a gastric bug. We are monitoring the situation and player welfare at this moment is our priority." The game is due to be played at Corrigan Park in Belfast and is Antrim’s last game of six in the League. Laois have played two games less, due to the fact that they have already had their bye weekend in the seven-team division, while their tie with Carlow last month was postponed because of the weather. Antrim have three points from their five games having beaten Westmeath as well as that draw with Carlow, though they have lost to Dublin, Offaly and Waterford. Laois sit a point below them and are in the relegation zone along with pointless Westmeath, and an Antrim win on Sunday would force Tommy Fitzgerald’s side to win their last two games to avoid relegation at the Saffrons’ expense.Although postponements and walkovers were granted during the Covid-19 pandemic, this is a most unusual situation outside of that and Laois would have to be on board with any moves to shift the game. They may be reluctant to do so for a variety of reasons, not least the fact that they are already on an altered schedule due to the rearranged Carlow game, which takes place next weekend. It could also be argued that if it is only 12 or so that are affected, Antrim would have enough fit players to fulfil the fixture. The last round of Division 1B games is due to be played on March 22, with the final two weeks later though, as neither county is in contention to reach the decider, the Antrim-Laois game could potentially be refixed for the weekend of March 28/29 if necessary.
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