Damien Culleton's hat-trick of second-half goals secured a routine victory for Laois over an inexperienced Meath side at Navan yesterday. Laois go on to play Offaly.
The home side had trailed by only 0-6 to 1-6 at the break but, when Culleton netted twice within four minutes of the restart, there could be no way back for Meath.
LAOIS: J Lyons; PJ Peacock, N Lacey, J Phelan; R Delaney, P Cuddy, P Mahon; C Cuddy (0-1), E Maher (0-1); J Young (0-2), D Cuddy (0-2), N Rigney (1-2); A Coffey, S Cuddy, D Culleton (3-0). Subs: E Browne for Phelan; D Conroy (1-0) for Coffey; R Jones for Maher.
MEATH: D Bannon; C Keena, J Horan, M Mullen; D Reilly, D Murray (0-1), P Baker; T Reilly (0-1), J Canty; D Dorran, N Horan (0-6), D Donnelly; N Reilly, R Doran (0-1), J Donoghue (0-1). Subs: A O'Neill for D Reilly; J Toole for Donnelly; P Connell for Baker; J Burke for Bannon.
Referee: J Kelly (Wexford).
Three points without reply late in the game proved crucial for Kildare in their impressive win over Carlow in the opening round of the Kehoe Cup at Newbridge yesterday..
Scorers: Kildare (T Spain 1-2, T Carew 0-3, P Reidy 1-0, A. McAndrew, J Dempsey 0-2 each), Carlow (P Coady 0-6, D Murphy 1-0, C Kealy, J Hickey 0-1 each).
