Meath battle back to beat relegated Laois

Meath 0-18 Laois 1-9

Laois had survived relegation battles in the past two league campaigns and when they led 1-4 to no score after eight minutes their supporters were in full voice but Meath are game battlers and suddenly they took the game by the scruff of the neck and produced a powerful second quarter to haul in the hosts.

Laois got the perfect start with an Evin O’Carroll point after thirty seconds then a minute into the game a Donie Kingston effort was saved but the in running Niall Donoher kicked first time to the net and the same player added a point in the fifth minute.

Further points from Conor Meredith and John O’Loughlin put seven points between the teams. Cian O’Sullivan opened the visitors account but Gary Walsh replied. O’Sullivan added his second and then Meath took complete control adding the next six points without reply.

Donie Kingston and Michael Newman traded points leaving the teams all square at the interval 1-6 to 0-9.

Laois reclaimed the lead with the first two points of the new half but Meath struck back with three and one by sub Ross Munnelly saw the team’s level again after fifty four minutes.

The games turning point was the sending off of Laois forward Evin O’Carroll on a second yellow after forty eight minutes and in the closing twenty Meath pulled away with six unanswered points and with Derry closing in on Armagh it turned out to be a Royal afternoon for the visitors.

Laois : G Brody; R Kehoe, M Timmons, S Attride; D Strong, A Farrell, G Dillon; B Quigley, K Meaney; N Donoher (1-1), J O'Loughlin (0-1), C Meredith (0-1); E O'Carroll (0-2) D Kingston (0-1), G Walsh (0-2); Subs R O'Connor for G Dillon H/T, N Murphy for R Kehoe inj 44m, R Munnelly (0-1) for G Walsh 50m, P Cahillane for N Donoher 58m, J Farrell for K Meaney 60m, D O'Reilly for K Meaney 61m .

Meath: C McHugh; D Keogan, C McGill, C Downey (0-1); D Smith (0-1), M Burke (0-1), D Tobin; H Rooney Harnan; J McEntee, C O'Sullivan (0-2),G Reilly (0-4) ; D McDonagh (0-1), A Tormey (0-1), M Newman (0-4); Subs C O'Brien (0-2) For D Tobin inj h/t, S Tobin (0-2) for C Downey 56m, D Lenihan for A Tormey 43m, A Douglas for A Tormey inj 63m.

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).