Royals rule the roost in Portlaoise downpour
DRIVING rain and high winds proved much more testing for players than the new rules as Meath opened the defence of their O’Byrne Cup crown in impressive fashion at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, last Saturday evening.
Conditions were treacherous for the most part as Meath included five debutants from the start and introduced a host of others during the course of proceedings.
The experimental rules were on show at competitive level for the first time and within 35 seconds Laois were penalised for too many hand passes and they also fell foul of the same rule eight minutes later.
Meath were also penalised for the same infringement late in the game, but overall the new rules had little impact. However, it was noticeable that the kick pass was in constant use throughout.
The game got off to a tentative start and a low-scoring affair looked to be on the cards in front of the sparse crowd, with the sides tied at 0-2 each after 16 minutes.
Full forward Mickey Newman had the visitors off the mark from a free in reply to the opening score from Gary Walsh - also a free. St Colmcille’s forward James Conlon then pointed his side ahead before midfielder Brian Daly ending a fine Laois move with a well-taken score at the other end.
Conlon, who limped out of the action before the break, hit a second point on 23 minutes
Meath Laois 3-11 0-6
and that signalled the start of Meath’s dominance. They turned the screw from there to half-time to build up a 2-8 to 0-3 interval advantage.
Donal Keogan, who impressed at centre back, got forward to add to his side’s tally, Mickey Newman converted a ’45 and Ballinabrackey’s Danny Quinn fisted over before the arrival of the opening goal on 28 minutes.
It came from an unusual source, with corner back Ronan Ryan finding himself in acres of space, and the Summerhill man made no mistake with a low drive. Goal number two arrived less than three minutes later, with debutant Quinn finishing to the net at the second attempt after keeper Scott Osbourne had blocked his initial shot.
Newman added to the Meath tally from two frees, while Gary Walsh pointed for the home side when he might have done better.
Eoin Lowry hit the opening score of the second period for the hosts, but they were bereft of ideas and direction and never threatened to make a game of it throughout the second half.
A host of substitutions from both sides ensured that the latter stages was a fragmented affair.
Meath’s third goal came courtesy of Thomas O’Reilly after substitute Graham Reilly created the opening on 53 minutes.
Meath have two outings this coming weekend, with round two of the O’Byrne Cup against Longford in Ashbourne on Saturday at 5pm. They then take on All-Ireland champions Dublin in the Sean Cox fundraiser in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday at 1.30.
Manager Andy McEntee confirmed after the win over Laois that he will have two different teams in action for the two games. MEATH: Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Bryan Menton, Ronan Ryan 1-0; James McEntee, Donal Keogan 0-1, Gavin McCoy; Sean Tobin, Adam Flanagan; Danny Quinn 1-1, Darragh Campion 0-1, Bryan McMahon; James Conlon 0-2, Mickey Newman 0-5 (4f, 1’45), Thomas O’Reilly 1-1. Subs: Niall Hickey for Conlon (29), Graham Reilly for McMahon (46), Conor McGill for Tobin (53), Thomas McGovern for Ryan, Niall Kane for McCoy (both 55), Robbie Garry for Quinn (57), Andrew Beakey for Colgan, Sean Reilly for McEntee (both 62).
LAOIS: Scott Osbourne; Adam Campion, Denis Booth, Damien O’Connor; Stephen Attride, Mark Timmons 0-1, Robbie Piggott; John O’Loughlin, Brian Daly 0-1; Martin Scully, David Conway 0-1, Sean Byrne; Eoin Lowry 0-1, Gary Walsh 0-2 (1f), Paul Kingston. Subs: Michael Keogh for Kingston, Patrick O’Sullivan for Daly, Daniel O’Reilly for Piggott (all 43), Darren Strong for O’Loughlin, Nigel Murphy for O’Connor, Shane Nerney for Conway (all 50), Brian Byrne for Campion, Richie Hitchcock for Scully (both 62), Finbar Cowley for Attride (66).
REF: Fintan Pierce (Offaly)