Meath 0-08, Laois 5-10

There was no cheer for the Royals in their Leinster opener as they were defeated by a hungry Laois side in Walterstown on Sunday afternoon. Laois led from the start and while Meath showed flashes of strength and skill, it was the team in blue and white that went home happier. Meath will now regroup and face Westmeath next Sunday in a must win clash if they are to have any further impression on the Leinster Senior Championship.

The game began with a minute's silence, impeccably observed as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in Berkeley last week. All clubs who are beginning their Coca-Cola Club Championships this week have been asked to do likewise.

Laois were first on the scoreboard - a brace of frees from Noirín Kirwan and Martina Dunne. Early Meath attacks were led by Jacinta Maher and Marion Farrelly and the Royals were unlucky to see early efforts go wide. Laois grabbed their opening goal of the game on 12 mins, Ellen Healy with the finish, low into the corner of Monica McGuirk's net. Jacinta Maher got Meath's first point after good work from Vikki Wall on 16 mins. This was cancelled out a minute later however when Mo Nerney pointed. Meath began to make their presence known on the pitch a lot more with the industrious Ellie O'Neill and Kate Byrne doing well. Katie Bellew marked her first game in a Senior jersey with a fine point on 19 minutes, assisted by fellow Minor players Marion Farrelly and Vikki Wall. Meath grabbed a third point on 20 minutes when Maher grabbed her second point of the contest, this one a free. McGuirk was pressed into action on 26 minutes when she saved a Martina Dunne shot. Laois got their second goal of the game on 28 minutes when Laois Captain Laura-Marie Maher finished to the net with aplomb. Nerney and Kirwan put Laois further ahead before the break with a brace of points but it was the Royals that finished the half with the final score, Áine Bennett pointing after great work from Megan Thynne, Farrelly and Maher. Meath trailed by 2-05 to 0-04 at the break.

The second half began as the opening half, Laois scoring 1-02 inside the opening five minutes - Martina Dunne with a free, Healy pointing from the resumption and Meaghan Dunne grabbing Laois' third goal on 34 mins. As Meath rang in some changes, they hit a purple patch - Megan Thynne grabbing two points - the first a free, the second a beautiful finish with Ellie O'Neill and Farrelly involved in its creation. These two points were sandwiched by a fine score from Vikki Wall - the Dunboyne player converting a free from wide on the right. Laois hit back quickly getting their fourth goal on 50 mins - Kirwan adding to her tally from the first half. Dunne took her third point of the game on 51 mins but this was cancelled out a few minutes later by a Vikki Wall point from play. Wall's point turned out to be Meath's last as Laois finished with a flourish scoring a further 1-02 without reply - Laura Marie Maher grabbing Laois' fifth goal of the game and sealing victory over the Royals. It ended in Walterstown with the visiting team the winners, Laois 5-10, Meath 0-08.

Undoubtedly it was a disappointing defeat for Meath however this is an exceptionally young team - indeed eight of this year's Minor team received debuts today for the Senior team. Time is what is required for this Meath team - as their skill and determination are present in bucket loads. Meath will now prepare for next week's second round robin game against Westmeath. The game is fixed for next Sunday 28th June at a Westmeath venue at 3pm.

Meath Team & Scorers: Monica McGuirk, Aideen Guy, Sarah Powderly, Rebecca Considine, Síofra Cleary, Katie Bellew (0-01), Regina Hand, Kate Byrne (C), Niamh Lister, Megan Thynne (0-02, 1f), Vikki Wall (0-02, 1f), Jacinta Maher (0-02, 1f), Áine Bennett (0-01), Marion Farrelly, Ellie O'Neill. Subs: Kelsey Nesbitt for Bellew (HT), Hannah Heskin for Cleary, Alex Goodman for Byrne, Julie Donnellan for Bennett, Lauren Byrne for Considine, Nicole Byrne, Shelly Melia, Aisling Cassidy, Ailbhe McHugh.

Laois: Ciamh Dollard, Clodagh Dunne, Gráinne Dunne, Nicole Byrne, Maggie Murphy, Maureen Young, Ellen Healy (1-01), Fiona Dooley, Aine Haberlinn, Laura Marie Maher (C, 2-00), Noirín Kirwan (1-03, 2f), Joyce Dunne, Mo Nerney (0-03), Martina Dunne (0-03, 2f), Meaghan Dunne (1-00).
Subs: Marie Byrne for Meaghan Dunne, Libby Waldron for Byrne, Laura Peake for Kirwan, Lizzie Brophy for Joyce Dunne.

Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow)

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