Late collapse ensures no Easter break for Royals

THERE will be no Easter holiday for Meath under-20s after they lost out on an automatic Leinster FC semi-final spot to Laois on a 1-12 to 1-7 scoreline at a wet O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Tuesday evening, writes Sean Wall.

Instead of having a week off John McCarthy’s side now face into a quarter final against Westmeath in Ashbourne next Tuesday night. And there was more bad news on the injury front with Sean Emmanuel unable to start and Ruairi Kinsella having to limp out of the action in the early stages of the second half.

Meath led 1-6 to 0-5 when wind assisted in the opening half but produced very poor fare after that as a resurgent Laois slowly took control of proceedings.

Despite that the Royals still led 1-7 to 0-8 after 58 minutes and could have had a goal when Brian O’Reilly put Eoghan Frayne in the clear but Laois 'keeper Conor Brown came smartly off his line to make a crucial block.

That proved a turning point as Laois produced a devastating finish and were on level terms after Davin McEvoy converted from a mark. Then substitute Colin Dunne pointed them ahead for the first time after Meath squandered possession on 58 minutes.

When Meath conceded an unnecessary '45' following a defensive mix-up in the opening minute of added time 'keeper Brown made no mistake to double his side’s advantage.

The home side’s night was complete when David Costello outpaced a couple of defenders and finished with a great effort to the net past a helpless Oisin McDermott in the third minute of added time.

The five points margin at the end may have flattered the winners but overall it was a richly deserved success for the midlanders against a Meath side that failed to spark for much of the hour.

The visitors had settled into the game well with early points from Shaun Leonard and Eoghan Frayne.

They had opened up a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after Liam Stafford and Frayne combined to set up Oisin Keogh who crashed the ball to the net on six minutes.

Laois remained in contention however and were particularly lively in attack with Jack Byrne, who shot their opening two scores, and Oisin Hooney causing the Meath rearguard plenty of problems.

The lead was back to the minimum after midfielder Conor Heffernan pointed on 16 minutes but then Jack Kinlough (two), Frayne and Brian O’Reilly all pointed to leave Meath clear by five before David Costello converted a free for the final score of the half.

Points from Costello and Davin McEvoy had the deficit back to two points by the 36th minute but Meath still led by three heading into the final quarter after Frayne pointed a Meath free.

That though was to be Meath’s only score of the half and as Laois increased the tempo there were a number of uncharacteristic mistakes from the visitors that tipped the game the way of the home side.

SCORERS

Laois – David Costello 1-2 two frees; Davin McEvoy 0-3 one mark; Colin Dunne 0-2 one mark; Jack Byrne 0-2; Conor Heffernan 0-1; Conor Browne 0-1 ’45; Oisin Hooney 0-1.

Meath – Oisin Keogh 1-0; Eoghan Frayne 0-3 one mark; Jack Kinlough 0-2; Shaun Leonard 0-1; Brian O’Reilly 0-1.

TEAMS

Laois – Conor Brown; Colin McEvoy, Ben Dempsey, Sean McGrath; Conor McWey, Simon Fingleton, Darragh Slevin; Tom Fennelly, Conor Heffernan; Davin McEvoy, Oisin Hooney, Shaun Fitzpatrick; David Costello, Jack Byrne, John Brennan. Subs – Stephen Lennon for McGrath 44 mins, Jonah Kelly for Fennelly 45m, Colin Dunne for Brennan 53m, Cormac Murphy for Byrne 58m.

Meath – Oisin McDermott; Brian O’Halloran, Liam Kelly, Conor Ennis; John Finnerty, Brian O’Reilly, Shaun Leonard; Jack Kinlough, Conor Gray; Tom Bowden, Eoghan Frayne, Liam Stafford; John O’Regan, Oisin Keogh, Ruairi Kinsella. Subs – John McDonagh for Kinsella 37 mins, Killian Smyth for Bowden 47m, Ben Moran for Stafford 50m.

Referee – James Foley (Carlow).