Meath minor hurlers lose to Laois in Leinster

Meath's Leinster MHC campaign came to a conclusion at Portlaoise this afternoon as they fell to a 1-14 to 1-19 quarter-final loss away to Laois.

Playing into the teeth of a strong wind in the opening period, Meath struggled to contain their rampany hosts and trailed by 14 points at the break. That deficit ultimately proved too much to overhaul.

The very strong wind made it easy for Laois to create chances and they punished Meath's sloppy defending by racing into an early lead with Oisin Bennett getting the hosts off the mark in the first minute from a free from midfield.
The outstanding Ciaran Comerford opened his account 90 seconds later after a scrappy spell and in the fourth minute a brilliant score from PJ Daly stretched Laois's lead to 0-3 to 0-0.
Another point from Ciaran Comerford was countered by Meath's opening score in the sixth minute when Mikey Mullen converted a '65' after his chance was forced off target.
Laois continued to dominated with full-back John Maher getting on the scoresheet as he followed Brian Dowling out the field and when Ciaran and Daniel Comerford added further points to make it 0-7 to 0-1 after just eight minutes it already looked like curtains for Meath.
Another Mullen point from a free after Nickey Potterton was fouled halted the momentum, but just when Meath had hoped to settle Laois got in for a goal when Cathal Dunne's massive puck out, aided by the strong wind, was gathered by Ciaran Comerford 30 metres from the target and he raced forward before dispatching to the net to make it 1-7 to 0-2.
Another free from Mullen after Darren Hennessy was pulled down by Eoin O'Connor closed the the gap to seven points, but Laois continued to press home their superiority with Joe Phelan, Ciaran Comerford, James Keyes, Joe McCormack, Eoin Gaughan and Padraig Delaney all firing of to make it 1-13 to 0-3 after 25 minutes.
A fourth point for Mullen, his third free, kept Meath ticking over, but the unerring Ciaran Comerford hit two more and Keyes added his second to make it 1-16 to 0-4.
Gaughan almost got in for a second Laois goal, but Sean Coffey defended superbly to deny him and on the counter attack Jacob Ryan scored Meath's first from play in the 32nd minute to make it 0-5 to 1-16 at the break.
As expected Meath dominated the second period with the wind at their backs and they looked to have given themselves hope when Murphy pointed within two minutes and then Dowling added a brilliant goal after he gathered the broken ball from Mullen's long free to make it 1-6 to 1-16.
Another Mullen free continued Meath's resurrection, but Laois broke that momentum when Cathal Duggan pointed and Bennett added a free to put nine points between the sides.
Another magnificent score from Murphy, a fine point from Fitzgerald and a converted free from Mullen made it 1-10 to 1-18 at the three quarters stage and when Potterton and Jacob Ryan also lofted over it renewed Meath hopes again.
However that was as good as it got. Laois dropped players deep and smothered the Meath attack.
Bennett added a third free before Mullen countered with a free of his own, but as play became scrappy chances dried up with Mullen's free from the last puck of the game bringing the curtain down on Meath's Leinster MHC adventure.

Meath - Aaron Dunne (Killyon); Brian O'Reilly (Killyon), Cormac Butler (Ratoath), Sean Coffey (Na Fianna); Jamie Connolly (Longwood), David McGowan (Ratoath), Brin Kelly (Kildalkey); Evan Fitzgerald (Kildalkey 0-1), Darren Hennessy (Rathmolyon); Jacob Ryan (Killyon 0-2), Adam Murphy (Kiltale 0-2), Jamie Leavy (Dunderry); Brian Dowling (Trim 1-0), Mikey Mullen (Killyon 0-8 seven frees, one '65'), Nicky Potterton (Kildalkey 0-1). Subs - Tom Fadden (Ratoath) for Connolly half-time, Vincent Ward (Rathmolyon) for Hennessy 43m, Daire Gilmartin (Dunboyne) for Fadden 54m, Conor O'Farrell (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for Ryan 57m.

Laois - C Dunne; D Breen, J Maher (0-1), E Carey; R Murphy, P Delaney (0-1), E O'Connor; PJ Daly (0-1), E Gaughan (0-1); C Comerford (1-6), J McCormack (0-1), D Comerford (0-1); J Keyes (0-2), O Bennett (0-3 frees), J Phelan (0-1). Subs - C Duggan (0-1) for Phelan 25 mins, B McGinley for Gaughan 49m, C Quigley for Bennett 61m, O Phelan for Daly 62m.

Referee - Michael Murtagh (Westmeath).