Meath win well in O'Byrne Cup opener
The experimental rules were on trial at Portlaoise tonight as Meath opened the defence of their O'Byrne Cup with a comprehensive 3-11 to 0-6 victory over a strong Laois side and gave debuts to 10 players in the process.
Fears that the handpass rule would 'ruin' the game proved unfounded and it wasn't until the closing stages that Meath made an error in that regard, while on the personnel front Andy McEntee can be pleased with the 10 players who featured for the first time in competitive action.
Ronan Ryan, Gavin McCoy, Danny Quinn, Darragh Campion and James Conlon all started in the green and gold for the seniors for the first times, while Niall Hickey, Andrew Beakey, Thomas McGovern, Niall Kane and Sean Reilly all made appearances as substitutes.
The torrential rain that fell throughout the opening 20 minutes ensured limited scoring opportunities, but it was Laois who got the ball rolling when Gary Walsh converted a simple free after Seamus Lavin fouled Martin Scully as he moved off the ball.
Mickey Newman replied with a converted free six minutes later after Darragh Campion was upended and four minutes later James Conlon edged Meath in front for the first time.
Brian Daly responded with a fine score to restore parity for Laois in the 16th minute, but after seven barren minutes Meath retook the lead when the enterprising Conlon combined well with Thomas O'Reilly to make it 0-3 to 0-2.
The closing 13 minutes of the half were all Meath as Donal Keogan galloped forward to put two points between the teams for the first time and in the 25th minute Adam Flanagan forced debutant goalkeeper Scott Osbourne into a fine save at the expense of a '45' which Newman converted.
An excellent move involving Campion, Conlon and Sean Tobin released Danny Quinn to fist over the bar before Ronan Ryan made a blistering run from deep before burying the ball low to the net to make it 1-6 to 0-2.
Despite losing Conlon to injury, Meath overran the Laois rearguard again seconds later when Quinn took advantage of a defensive slip to bear don on goals. Osbourne did well to stop the Ballinabrackey man's initial effort, but the ball broke kindly for Quinn to tap to the net to put 10 points between the sides.
Walsh blasted a goal chance over the bar for Laois in the 31st minute, but in the closing seconds of the half Newman converted two more frees to ensure a 2-8 to 0-3 interval lead for Meath.
The second-half was more an exercise in administration as both sides emptied their benches and kept the respective Co Board secretaries busy.
The only real highlight was Thomas O'Reilly's fine finish for Meath's third goal in the 54thminute which made it 3-10 to 0-5.
Prior to that score the sides had shared four points with Newman (free) and O'Reilly trading scores with Eoin Lowry and David Conway.
Mark Timmons did make it 0-6 to 3-11, but as Meath brought their total number of debutants to 10 with another plethora of substitutions it was Campion who restored their 14-point lead with nine minutes remaining and their was no further scoring as Meath cruised to victory.
Meath - Andrew Colgan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Seamus Lavin (Dunboyne), Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Ronan Ryan (Summerhill 1-0); James McEntee (Curraha), Donal Keogan (Rathkenny 0-1), Gavin McCoy (Dunboyne); Seán Tobin (Simonstown), Adam Flanagan (Clonard); Danny Quinn (Ballinabrackey 1-1), Darragh Campion (Skryne 0-1), Bryan McMahon (Ratoath); James Conlon (St Colmcille's 0-2), Michael Newman (Kilmainham 0-5 four frees, one '45'), Thomas O’Reilly (Wolfe Tones 1-1). Subs - Niall Hickey (Seneschalstown) for Conlon 28 mins, Graham Reilly (St Colmcille's) for McMahon 46m, Conor McGill (Ratoath) for Tobin 53m, Thomas McGovern (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for McCoy, Níall Kane (Simonstown) for Ryan both 55m, Robbie Garry (Rathkenny) for Quinn 58m, Sean Reilly (Moylagh) for McEntee, Andrew Beakey (St Colmcille's) for Colgan both 62m.
Laois - Scott Osbourne; Adam Campion, Denis Booth, Damien O’Connor; Stephen Attride, Mark Timmons (0-1), Robbie Piggot; John O’Loughlin, Brian Daly (0-1); Marty Scully, David Conway (0-1), Sean Byrne; Eoin Lowry (0-1), Gary Walsh (0-2 one free), Paul Kingston. Subs – Daniel O'Reilly for Piggott, Michael Keogh for Daly, Patrick O'Sullivan for Kingston all 43 mins, Darren Strong for O'Loughlin, Nigel Murphy for Daly, Shane Nerney for O'Connor all 50m, Brian Byrne for Scully, Richie Hitchcock for Campion both 63m, Finbar Crowley for Attride 66m.
Referee – Fintan Pierce (Offaly).
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