Meath 0-13 Laois 1-9MEATH RECORDED their third home one-point home victory in Division Two when a late scoring burst enabled them to shake off a determined Laois challenge at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday night.
In a close encounter there was never more than two points between the sides and boosted by a goal from close range from Billy Sheehan, following a Cathal Óg Greene delivery after 25 minutes, the visitors held a 1-5 to 0-7 interval lead.
After a drab first half, the intensity increased in the second period and the sides were level three times before wing back Mickey Burke went forward to regain the lead for Meath and make it 0-12 to 1-8 with eight minutes left.
Two minutes later Laois forward Michael John Tierney was dismissed on receipt of a second yellow card. Substitute Peadar Byrne doubled the advantage and the home supporters had some anxious moments before the win was assured.
Peter O’Leary got the arrears back to the minimum but two subsequent attempts to level matters, from Kevin Meaney and Mark Timmons, went outside the upright as Meath kept their outside hopes of promotion alive.
MEATH:P O'Rourke; C O'Connor, N McKeigue, E Harrington; A Moyles, C McGuinness, M Burke (0-1); N Crawford, M Ward; S Kenny, S O'Rourke (0-2), O Lewis (0-3); C Ward (0-3, two frees, one 45), J Sheridan (0-3, one sideline), S Bray. Subs:B Meade for M Ward, P Byrne (0-1) for McGuinness (both 56 mins), B Sheridan for J Sheridan (63 mins).
LAOIS:M Dowling; J Scully, D Booth, C Healy; D Strong, M Timmons, C Begley (0-1); B Quigley, C Óg Greene; B Sheehan (1-1), C Rogers (0-1), K Meaney; MJ Tierney (0-1, free), D Kingston (0-4, four frees), N Donoher. Subs:P McMahon for Healy (49 mins), P O'Leary (0-1) for Rogers (57 mins), C Ryan for Donoher (63 mins), D Rooney for Rooney (69 mins).
Referee:J McKee (Armagh).
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