Meath 4-8 Laois 1-10

Meath booked their place in the Leinster Under 20 Football Championship semi final with this hard fought win over a very good Laois side played in perfect conditions at Ashbourne. PHOTOS

The home side got a perfect start with a Jamie Murphy goal in the opening minute. The St. Pats star was in again on the 10th minute for a second goal and Meath were 2-2 to 0-2 in front. To their credit Laois refused to panic and worked their way into the game. Points from Jonah Kelly and Cormac Murphy were followed by a brilliant Kelly goal and the visitors went in a the break two points in arrears 2-4 to 1-5.

Kieran Kelly’s men went in front for the first time, 1-10 to 2-6, in the game with points from Cian Nolan, Jack Byrne (2), Jamie O’Brien and Cormac Murphy in the opening 16 minutes and just when they had taken control a wayward kickout ended with Rian McConnell and the Castletown clubman obliged with Meath third goal. From there on Meath took over. Substitutes Hughie Corcoran and Conor McWeeney pointed before half back Eamon Armstrong put the icing on the cake with Meath’s fourth goal.

In what was a very sporting match, two melees broke out one with five minutes to go that saw McWeeney receiving a red card and another after the final whistle.

Meath march on to a Provincial semi final with Kildare next week with the winners playing Dublin or Louth in the Leinster decider.

Meath: Oisín McDermott, Brian O’Halloran 0-1, Liam Kelly, Sean O’Hare, Eamonn Armstrong 1-0, John O’Regan, Killian Smyth, Jack Kinlough, Charlie O’Connor, Shaun Leonard, John Harkin, Conor Duke 0-1, Jamie Murphy 2-2, Cian Commons 0-1, Rian McConnell 1-0. Subs: Conor McWeeney 0-1, Hughie Corcoran 0-2, Conor Ennis, Tadhg Martyn, John Finnerty, Sean Emmanuel

Laois: Conor Brown; Daragh Loughman, Conor Raggett, Jake Darcy; Cormac Murphy 0-3, John Brennan, Darragh Slevin; Colin McEvoy, Killian Byrne; Rory Lalor, Cillian Maher, Cian Nolan 0-1, Jack Byrne 0-2, Jonah Kelly 1-1, Jamie O'Brien 0-3. Subs: Ethan Druary, Adam Hunt, Cathal Lee, Jeremy Kelly

Referee Fintan Pierce Offaly

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