Laois stay calm and stop inevitable fightback

LAOIS -012 MEATH 0-9:When you're in Navan in the rain and already need a win to keep your league alive there can't be any complacency and that's exactly how Laois played yesterday.

Even as Meath launched their trademark comeback towards the end Laois stayed remarkably focused on taking these points.

Of course Meath at this time of year will always be a suspicious pick n'mix. Most of their key men still had the excess of their New Year holiday on full view and only in passing moments did they resemble the side that won the Leinster title last summer.

Clearly though Laois manager Colm Browne had demanded the best from his men after last weekend's hustled draw with Tipperary. Four changes were made from that side and without fail each of them contributed to this lively victory.

Patrick Conway was brought into the defence and on the whole the full back line worked patiently and intelligently throughout. Paul McDonald came into wing back and covered more ground than anyone, also adding a cheeky point.

John Kealy was at midfield and helped keep the opponents' influence to the minimum and Darragh McEvoy also slotted well into the attack. In combination with Ian Fitzgerald and Michael Lawlor it was this half-forward line that did almost all the damage.

That cursed wind was in the backs of Laois for the first half but wasn't solely responsible for their early advantage. They did lead 0-6 to 0-2 at the break, yet still missed far more chances that the paltry efforts of Meath. They deserved to be further ahead.

Seán Boylan had decided to give Meath's vacant centre back spot to Trevor Giles and though not exactly a step into the great unknown he did take a while to settle. Graham Geraghty though was drifting around like a lost satellite (as were his passes).

When Adrian Kenny eventually hit over their first point after 23 minutes Laois already had 0-4 to their name. The playing surface was miraculously firm and it certainly suited Laois' superior fitness. Gregory Ramsbottom started the Laois count after two minutes and McEvoy, Lawlor and McDonald soon followed. Before long Boylan was on his toes and sent on Evan Kelly and Ronan Fitzsimons but they wouldn't make any impact before the turnaround.

Ollie Murphy was next to jump off the bench but he appeared to have enjoyed a year's worth of excesses while on holiday. Without much resistance then Laois pressed further ahead, thanks at this stage to the flawless accuracy of Fitzgerald.

When Lawlor added his second score Laois had an eight-point lead (0-10 to 0-2) and the contest seemed over. Gradually, though not unexpectedly, Meath started to fight back - at avalanche pace.

Fitzsimons started the haul, quickly followed by a razor-sharp point from Geraghty. And though Murphy clearly had some baggage he still had his assassin's eye by adding two on the trot.

This then was sink-or-swim time for Laois. Lawlor hit an important free but it was Ramsbottom's 50-yard run and score that kept them afloat. That gap was opened again to five with five minutes remaining and the clock would run out with Meath chasing in vain.

Murphy added another free and when four minutes' injury time was announced the Meath supporters sensed their chance. Though they clearly had the momentum they couldn't find the necessary crack in Laois. Kealy had the last word but it was too late, and Boylan - certainly not for the first time - starts out on another journey of re-motivation.

LAOIS: F Byron; P Conway, T Kelly, D Ryan; P McDonald (0-1), E Delaney, J Higgins; S Kealy, P Clancy; I Fitzgerald (0-4, two frees), D McEvoy (0-2), M Lawlor (0-3. one free); B McCormack, G Ramsbottom (0-2), B McDonald. Subs: N Garvan for Clancy (55 mins), S Kelly for McEvoy (63 mins), K Kelly for P McDonald (68 mins), G Kavanagh for B McDonald (70 mins).

MEATH: C Sullivan; D Curtis, J Cullinane, P Shankey; P Reynolds, T Giles, S Kenny; N Crawford, H Traynor; R Kealy (0-1), A Kenny (0-1), C McCarthy; R Magee, N Kelly, G Geraghty (0-1). Subs: E Kelly (0-1) for McCarthy, R Fitzsimons (0-1) for Magee (both 30 mins), O Murphy (0-4, three frees), D Regan for Kelly (55 mins).

Referee: B Gorman (Armagh).