Royals overcome Laois challenge
Meath continued their preparations for the forthcoming Leinster SFC when they defeated Laois, 2-17 to 1-14, in a challenge game at Graiguecullen last night.
Both managers used the game to experiement. Laois manager John Sugrue used 29 different players over the course of the game as he prepares his team for the upcoming championship clash with Wexford. Andy McEntee didn't have as big a panel to pick from but his starting selection did have a familiar look about it as he seeks to get his team ready for a first-round clash with Longford.
Laois began the game brightly and found themselves two points up in the early stages from Niall Donoher and Benny Carroll. Bryan McMahon then got the visitors up and running when he clipped the ball over the bar. Gary Walsh regained the two point lead for Laois a short time after while the home goalkeeper Eoin Keogh had made a point blank save from Luke Martyn.
Meath got the next four points and then grabbed the game’s first goal when Eoin Keogh’s kickout eventually came to Cillian O’Sullivan who sidestepped the 'keeper to find the net. Just before the interval Cian O'Brien found the net for Meath again and they went in at the break 2-9 to 0-6 in front.
O'Sullivan extended Meath's lead after the interval with Laois hitting back with a wonderfully taken Donie Kingston goal. A further flurry of points from Laois helped them reduced the deficit to two points with 15 minutes to play.
Meath finished the stronger with Donal Lenihan, O'Sullivan and Bryan Menton extending their lead. As a reward for their win the victors received the Barney Hennessy Cup.
MEATH: David Gallagher; Conor Dempsey, Conor McGill, Seamus Lavin; Mickey Burke, Donal Keogan, Shane McEntee (0-1); Bryan Menton (0-4), Paddy Kennelly; Cian O’Brien (1-0), Cilliian O’Sullivan (1-4), Liam Ferguson; Bryan McMahon (0-1), Donal Lenihan (0-6), Luke Martyn. Subs: Andrew Colgan, Seán Curran (0-1), Darragh Griffin, Luke Moran, Gaibhin Mac Aodha.
LAOIS: Eoin Keogh; David Holland, Mark Timmons, Gareth Dillon; Trevor Collins, Darren Strong, Finbarr Crowley; John O’Loughlin, Kieran Lillis; Niall Donoher (0-1), Benny Carroll (0-1), Jamie Farrell (0-1); Ross Munnelly (0-1), Gary Walsh (0-2), Donie Kingston (1-2). Subs: Ruaidhri Fennell for Dillon, Graham Brody for Keogh, Denis Booth for Timmons, Shane Nerney for Collins, Stephen Attride (0-1) for Crowley, Rory Bracken for Lillis, Evan O’Carroll for O’Loughlin, Damien O’Connor for Farrell, David Conway (0-3) for Munnelly (all half time), Tom Shiel for Walsh, Paul Cahillane (0-1) for Carroll, Eoin Buggie for Holland, Michael Keogh (0-1) for Donoher and Chris Finn for Strong (45mins)