Delaney is delighted to be in the quarter-final but U/20 is really about developing players

THE Laois U/20 hurlers have a Leinster quarter-final to look forward to after defeating Meath in Trim on Wednesday evening.

Manager Derek Delaney was well aware of the challenge facing his side after Meath came through Phase 1 of the competition, which included a win over Antrim, a team that had beaten Laois in a practice match a few weeks earlier.

“For anyone watching the U/20 Championship this year, they beat a very strong Antrim team, who beat us very, very well a couple of weeks beforehand. So if anyone was watching it closely, they'd know that the Meath team is a good team. They ran Offaly very close; they ran Dublin close for long parts of their game. We're delighted to get the win, not an easy place to come. They had the home support, and we're just happy to get the win with loads of room for improvement,” he said.

Laois dominated large portions of the game and led from start to finish. Meath reduced the gap to two points with seven minutes remaining, but Laois always kept them at arm’s length. Delaney also commended the Laois players who committed to his panel this year.

“We did, but you'd be nervous with that too, and especially the way the game is played. You can become unstuck very quickly and lose momentum. There’s great character within the lads. I said it after the Offaly game, for those who came in and committed to an inter-county set-up, the standard that's needed.

“They're just great lads, and all they want to do is improve. They were hurting after the last two games, felt they didn't get the rewards, but that's the game, and there's learning within that. We felt there were parts today that were good, parts not so good, and we look forward to the quarter-final now,” Delaney said.

With a quarter-final against Wexford on the horizon on Monday next, Delaney is aware of the opportunity that awaits his side as he aims to guide Laois to a second successive Leinster semi-final. Laois got the better of Wexford at the same stage in last year’s championship when they left Wexford Park with a six-point win.

“It's great, but there's an opportunity within that as well. Let's not forget, U/20s is about development, and that's what it's about. We came in last year, a lot of the lads were up to the age last year. This year, we built a new team, a lot of them are underage again next year. So there's an opportunity within that, and whoever we play, we play. We won't be nervous about it; we look forward to it. In fairness, the lads are good characters; they'll be that way too,” he concluded.

The team will now have a Leinster quarter-final to look forward to on Monday in Laois Hire O'Moore Park against Wexford with throw in at 2pm.