Meath 2-13

Laois 0-13

Two Ethan Devine goals were central to Meath's Leinster U20 FC Group 2 win over Laois at Pairc Tailteann this afternoon.

The Na Fianna clubman netted twice in the second-half. His second flatlined a Laois rally that trimmed the deficit to just three points by the three-quarter mark. 

His sole point, with help from sub Jordan Morris in the 47th minute, steadied Meath who were battling an increasingly blustery wind at that stage.

Adam Murphy provided the opening for Devine's opening goal, in the 32nd minute. It left Meath eight to the good, 1-10 to 0-5. 

It got even better for Brian Farrell's charges moments after when Conor Moriarty sent over a close range free. 

Eight points to the good, things looked better for Meath. Laois - who staged an impressive rally to beat Kildare in an earlier round - set about trying to repeat the feat here. 

Defensive errors were capitalised on by Diarmuid Whelan - who put seven points to his name. Eoin Dunne got the Laois rally going before Whelan landed five scores in a row as the visitors got to within a goal of Meath by the end of the third quarter. 

Evan Lowry was wide with a goal attempt at the town end after Whelan posted the fifth score in the aforementioned sequence. 

Crucially, Meath got the next score - a Devine point - to bridge a 13-minute scoreless sequence and set the Royals on their way to the last four. 

Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch was a pivotal figure in defence for Meath who advance to the knockout stage 

A strong blustery wind backed Meath in the opening-half. The nature of the elements is reflected in the home side's scoring attempts. They posted seven wides to Laois' three. 

However, Laois had the best goal chance of the half, but Sean O'Flynn was low and wide in the second minutes. The scores were tied twice in the opening 10 minutes before Meath put a bit of distance on the scoreboard. 

Evan Lowry got Laois' second leveller, in the seventh minute. Seconds later Frank O'Reilly restored Meath's lead and they took it to the interval without being overly impressive. 

The next score didn't arrive until the 18th minute when Conor Moriarty pointed two frees in quick succession to leave it 0-5 to 0-2 with a third of the hour gone. 

Meath doubled their tally in the final 10 minutes of the half despite the blustery conditions. James Conlon's effort got the sequence going. 

Despite playing against the elements, Laois more than doubled the score in the lead-in to half-time. However, Meath moved five clear twice and were 0-10 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.

Meath - Adam McDermott, Robbie Clarke, Conor Harnan, Kieran Slavin; Jason Scully (0-2), Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch, James Cassidy; Darragh Campion (JC) (0-3), Adam Murphy; Eoin Smith, Ethan Devine (JC) (2-1), Frank O'Reilly (0-2, 1f); James Conlon (0-2), Conor Moriarity (0-3 fs), Shane McDonnell. Subs -  Jordan Morris for McDonnell (40), Adam Kealy for O'Reilly (52), Brian O'Reilly for Scully (60 + 1), Darren Gibney for Slavin (60 + 4), Ben McGowan for Murphy (60 + 4).  

Laois - Matthew Byron; James Kelly, Diarmuid Bennett, Richie Hitchcock; Conor Brennan, Shane Bolger, Sean O'Flynn; Peter Kealy (0-1), Eoin Dunne (0-1); David Connolly, Jordan Fitzpatrick, James Phelan; Alan Kinsella (0-1) Diarmuid Whelan (0-7, 5s), Evan Lowry (0-2). Subs - Ronan Coffey (0-1) for Fitzpatrick (42), Dean Brophy for Kealy (49), Robert Tyrrell for Phelan (54), James O'Connor for Brennan (50), Liam Kinsella for A Kinsella (58), Martin Doyle for Hitchcock (59). 

Referee - Fergal Smyth (Offaly)

Tweet

Most Read Stories