Laois into Leinster quarter-final after hard fought win over Meath

Laois 2-18 

Meath 2-13 

THE Laois U/20 hurling team travelled to Trim on Wednesday evening to take on Meath and earned themselves a place in the Leinster quarter-final where will face they Wexford. Both sides came into the game in identical positions having both lost to Offaly and Dublin meaning it was winner takes all on the day.

Two opening half goals pushed Laois to carry a five-point lead at the break and their determination to grind out the final quarter of the second half, when Meath were pushing hard, was impeccable.

Laois got off to a flying start and added four points to the board before the opposition awoke. Cormac Byrne pointed a free while Eoghan Murphy delivered a long ball into Eoin Delaney who pulled along the ground, but Patrick Casey flicked his shot out for a 65’ which Murphy stepped up and converted.

Conor Mortimer added his name to the scoresheet while Byrne added his first from play. Louis McIvor pointed the home sides opening score from a placed ball with Hughes Whelan replying for Laois. McIvor pointed a further two frees in a row while the away side replied with two through Ruaidhri Kavanagh and Justin Duggan.

McIvor added a fourth from a placed ball and Darren O’Higgins also raised a white flag for the Royals with Byrne pointing his second free. Finn Conroy added his name to the scoresheet before Laois rattled the back of the net. Kavanaghs initial shot was saved by Casey, but Paddy O’Callaghan was on hand to fire across the line. Murphy followed up with another long-range free pushing Laois six points ahead.

McIvor added another free before a mistake from Dion O’Connor saw a Joey Christy shot go through his legs. Laois responded in the best possible manner when Duggan hunted the keeper travelling out with the ball and blocked him to set up Byrne who rattled the inside netting. McIvor pointed a free and Jack Kennedy raised a while flag to conclude the opening half and keeping the gap at five, 2-10 to 1-8.

McIvor pointed a free in the opening minute of the second half and Laois replied with three in a row courtesy of Duggan, Byrne (free), and Murphy. Meath immediately cancelled out their spree as Fergal Flynn fired past O’Connor bringing the gap back to four. Kavanagh pointed his second of the match while McIvor replied with two frees followed again by a Christy point to leave just two between the sides entering the final seven minutes.

Meath almost took the lead but a super save from O’Connor denied Patrick Jordan. Laois stepped a gear and showed their hunger pointed three safety scores in a row. Byrne and Duggan added to their tallies while Conor Headen sprung from the bench to point. McIvor (free) and Byrne exchanged points to bring the game to a close meaning Laois advance to the Leinster quarter-final.

Laois will travel to Wexford on Monday 04 May and the game will be a repeat of last years quarter-final where Laois came out on top by six points.

SCORERS Laois: Cormac Byrne 1-6 (0-3fs), Patrick O’Callaghan 1-0, Eoghan Murphy (0-1f, 0-1 65) and Justin Duggan 0-3 each, Ruaidhri Kavanagh 0-2, Jack Kennedy, Conor Mortimer, Hugh Whelan and Conor Headen 0-1 each.

Meath: Louis McIvor 0-10 (0-9fs, 0-1 65), Joey Christy 1-1, Fergal Flynn 1-0, Darren O’Higgins and Finn Conroy 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Dion O’Connor (Trumera); Conor Mortimer (Camross), Evan Cassin (Clough/Ballacolla), Donnchadh Carroll (Mountrath); Donal Deegan (The Harps), Eoghan Murphy (The Harps), Hugh Whelan (The Harps); Jack Kennedy (The Harps), Ruaidhri Kavanagh (Trumera); Patrick O’Callaghan (Clonad), Ross Deegan (The Harps), Tony Mahony (The Harps); Cormac Byrne (Abbeyleix), Justin Duggan (The Harps), Eoin Delaney (The Harps).

Subs: Stephen O’Donnell (Abbeyleix) for Carroll (ht), Charlie Hand (Clonad) for Cassin (44m), Conor Headen (Ballypickas) for R Deegan (53m), Dan Whelan (Castletown) for Kavanagh (54m), Ruaidhri Kavanagh for Mahony (59m).

MEATH: Paddy Casey; Brian Stagg, Adam O’Donoghue, Alex Fox; Anthony Healy, Jack McKeown, Fergal Flynn; Finn Conroy, Joey Christie; Louis McIvor, Mark Leavy, Cathal Barron; Darren O’Higgins, Kyle Ennis, Patrick Jordan.

Subs: Rian Fay for Conroy (44m), Callum Buckley for Jordan (56m), Edward Dunne for McKeown (58m).

Referee: Kevin McDonnell (Dublin)