Antrim staged a sensational second half performance to overturn a nine-points deficit at O’Moore Park and win a dramatic All-Ireland SFC Qualifier tie against all the odds.

Substitute Dermot McAleese popped up to nail the winning goal two minutes from time and complete one of the greatest feats in modern day Saffron football.

For Laois, this was an ignominious end to a season that now lies in ruins, as their long-suffering fans were forced to witness dramatic collapses on successive weekends.

Antrim travelled to Portlaoise bedevilled by disciplinary problems. Manager Frank Fitzsimons dropped ace attacker CJ McGourty, along with Connor Burke and Kieran McGourty, after the trio had played in a hurling league game for their club on Friday evening.

But they put this blow to morale and playing resources behind them to produce an inspired revival.

Antrim were creating chances in an encouraging opening spell, but wasteful finishing compromised all their best efforts, but Michael Pollock did finally hit the target from an eighth minute free to cancel out Donie Kingston’s early score

Kingston had a golden goal chance, but ‘keeper Chris Kerr rose to the challenge with a fine save, but he was causing havoc each time he got on the ball, and won the free that Ross Munnelly tapped over.

Kingston’s third point from play made it 0-4 to 0-1 in the 14th minute, and each time the Saffrons threatened, they were unable to complete the final pass, in the face of tenacious tackling, with Colm Begley adding his strength and experience to the Laois defensive effort.

Darren Strong and John O’Loughlin weighed in with points as the Antrim rearguard was repeatedly breached with too much ease.

And in the 23rd minute, Paul Kingston stole big brother’s thunder with a brilliant individual goal, smashed to the net following a searing run from the left wing.

Antrim responded for Conor Murray to break through and force a heroic save from Graham Brody, with Ryan Murray steering the rebound over the bar.

O’Loughlin and Brendan Quigley had the run of midfield, aside from the occasional surge from Conor Murray, and Tomas O Flaharta’s men reached the break with a 1-9 to 0-5 lead, after Munnelly had brought his tally to 0-4.

For the second week in a row, Munnelly had a penalty saved, Kerr diving to his left to brilliantly keep out the spot kick after Niall Delargy had illegally halted Brendan Quigley’s charge for goal.

Both goalkeepers were laying on spectacular performances, with Brody once again coming to his sides rescue with another stunning stop, this time from Ryan Murray.

Antrim appeared to draw strength from the heroics of their ‘keeper, and blitzed their opponents with 1-4 in the space of four minutes to narrow the gap to a single point.

Eye-catching scores from Ryan Murray (2), Pollock and Owen Gallagher lifted the spirits of the small band of travelling supporters, and they went wild in the 47th minute when Ryan Murray collected his brother Conor’s booming delivery to slide the ball underneath Brody in the Laois goal – 1-11 to 1-10.

Defensively, Laois were breaking into fragments, unable to track the runners from deep as the Ulster men threw off the shackles.

Eventually, they managed to get back on the attack for Kingston to rediscover the scoring touch, while Evan O’Carroll’s screaming effort was deflected over the bar by Kerr.

Antrim were far from finished, however, and the exciting Ryan Murray sent another gem flying between the posts for a 1-5 tally

There was more drama to come, for Benny Hasson and Pollock tagged on points, before Justin Crozier sent McAleese in for a dramatic winning goal.

Laois: G Brody, G Hanrahan, M Timmons, S Attride, D Strong (0-2), D O’Connor, C Boyle, B Quigley, J O’Loughlin (0-1), N Donoher (0-1), R Munnelly (0-4, 2f), E O’Carroll (0-1), C Begley, D Kingston (0-7, 1f), P Kingston (1-0).

Subs: R Kehoe for Attride, B Sheehan for O’Carroll, C Meredith for Munnelly, J Finn for P Kingston.

Antrim: C Kerr (0-1,f), N Delargey, J Crozier, D Lynch, P McAleer, J Laverty, T Scullion, B Hasson (0-1), C Murray, O Gallagher (0-1), M Pollock (0-5, 4f), P McBride (0-2), M Sweeney, R Murray (1-5), M Armstrong.

Subs: D McAleese for McAleer, J Dowling for Armstrong, R McGrady for Gallagher

Referee: D O’Mahoney (Tipperary).