Brilliant Munnelly makes all the difference

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round Three/Laois 2-13 Meath 0-13: Laois football owes a debt of gratitude to the border village of Arles for nurturing the remarkable talents of Ross Munnelly. Two late goals from the slender assassin proved the difference in Navan on a scorching Saturday evening in front of a boisterous crowd.

An official attendance of 9,975 was relayed to the media, but that figure was at least doubled as throngs of supporters were still piling through the main gate at half-time.

Meath manager Eamon Barry deserves credit for tactically outwitting the Laois running game but lack of depth proved the undoing of the Royal county.

A Maginot line of Meath defenders across the 45 stymied the outdated short-passing style that is the stock in trade of Mick O'Dwyer teams. But the 70-year-old south Kerry genius rightly survived for at least one more paragraph of the greatest GAA story ever told. He deserves a fitting end (maybe at the hands of Kerry?) in the gladiatorial arena that is Croke Park.

"Realistically, for this team, if we don't get to a semi-final it is not a good season," said midfielder Noel Garvan afterwards. "That's being realistic, as we have been at it four years now. It's time to get to a semi-final and we will take it from there.

"With it being Micko's last year you don't want to die easily. He doesn't deserve that, so it's in the back of the mind alright."

O'Dwyer was less animated than after the previous week's scalping of Tyrone, even accusing some commentators of trying to get him banished to the stand for pitch incursions, but that didn't stop him berating his fellow Kerryman Billy Sheehan and Padraig McMahon for running needlessly into the green wall when early passes were warranted. If Laois fail to address this feature of their play they will be emptied by tougher opposition.

Not that Meath lay down; no team is given easy passage through Páirc Tailteann in mid-July. The midfield of Nigel Crawford and Mark Ward, in particular, are becoming an intimidating partnership, while Graham Geraghty showed flashes of brilliance - before confirming he will return next year.

The supply to Munnelly was eventually opened by deeper-lying Laois players taking a more direct approach. The introduction of Ian Fitzgerald on 50 minutes - O'Dwyer's only use of the bench - certainly tilted the balance; the former captain's link play provided the platform for Munnelly to shine.

Down at the other end we waited for Darren Rooney to be roasted by Joe Sheridan, but the dual full back glued himself to the younger forward's jersey and survived.

That approach angered the Meath management and players, especially when referee Pat McEnaney missed a foul that led to a turnover and, eventually, Munnelly's first goal.

"I don't make a habit of criticising referees publicly but I was disappointed, especially when Joe didn't get one or two of those decisions as Darren seemed to be pulling out of him and not playing the ball," said Barry.

"One of those had a huge bearing on the game, where Joe appeared to be fouled but Laois went back up the field and scored the goal from it."

The game ebbed and flowed throughout, Laois taking advantage of a strong wind to lead 0-10 to 0-6 at the break. Chris Conway was the main contributor, with four pointed frees and another from play.

The pride factor kicked in thereafter as Meath scored five unanswered points in 20 minutes that ended with Mairtín Doran putting them in front. The fans were delirious.

Then, right on cue, a ball from deep was flicked on by Brian McCormack into the path of Munnelly, whose vicious shot flew under the crossbar and past Brendan Murphy. Moments later Séamus Kenny was penalised for fouling Munnelly, off the ball, well within his left-foot range.

Meath dug deep with a score from Peter Curran, but Laois came again, Fitzgerald putting Munnelly into space. The point was on, but Munnelly slipped the ball under Murphy's body and into a welcoming net.

"Some days you think points, some days you think goals," quipped the man of the match.

Not even the late introduction of Ollie Murphy could turn the tide. Barry was philosophical in defeat and showed admirable honesty by admitting he would like to continue the rehabilitation process of Meath football.

"We have the makings of a good team so I would like to stay on for another year and have another crack at it, but that's in the hands of the clubs next September. We'll have to wait and see what happens from there."

LAOIS: 1. F Byron; 2. A Fennelly, 3. D Rooney, 4. J Higgins; 5. P McDonald, 6. T Kelly, 7. P McMahon; 8. B Quigley, 9. N Garvan; 10. B McCormack (0-2), 11. C Conway (0-6, five frees), 12. R Munnelly (2-4, two frees); 13. B Sheehan, 14. B McDonald (0-1), 15. G Kavanagh. Substitutes: 18. R Stapleton for Fennelly (blood sub, 41 to 42 mins), 20. I Fitzgerald for Kavanagh (50 mins).

MEATH: 1. B Murphy; 2. C King, 3. K Reilly, 4. N McKeigue; 5. N McLoughlin, 6. A Moyles, 7. S Kenny; 8. N Crawford, 9. M Ward (0-2); 21. M Doran (0-2), 11. B Lynch (0-1), 12. P Curran (0-4, three frees); 13. D Regan (0-1, one free), 14. J Sheridan, 15. G Geraghty (0-2). Substitutes: 22. C McCarthy for Lynch (12 mins), 10. R Magee for Regan (46 mins), 24. S Bray for McCarthy (60 mins), 17. S Mac Gabhann (0-1) for McKeigue (63 mins), 23. O Murphy for Doran (64 mins).

Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan).