Laois Ladies beaten by Meath in opening game of Leinster Senior Championship
It was Laois' first game under new manager Stephen Duff
The Laois Ladies travelled to Pairc Tailteann in Navan to take on Meath in the opening round of the TG4 Leinster Senior Championship. Laois having been relegated to Division 3 in the league had a tough start to the campaign facing a two-time all-Ireland championship winning team.
Laois conceded three goals in the first 22 minutes, leaving them battling against a strong side for the remainder of the contest. The girls found hard but suffered a 10 point deficit in the end.
Meath 3-11
Laois 1-7
Laois set the tempo from the beginning with Emily Lacey pointing straight from the throw-in. Laois’ defence worked hard in breaking down the Meath attack but a stray kickout from Eimear Barry landed in the hands of Aoibhin Clear who laid the ball off to Emma Duggan, raising her first white flag of the contest.
A short free from Katie Donoghue allowed Mo Nerney point from play before she converted a superb free off the inside post only minutes later. Meath were awarded a controversial penalty which referee Ray McBride had to consult with his umpires for, Duggan stepped up and cooly converted into the bottom corner.
Laois were unable to find a score for the remained of the contest and Meath kicked 3-3 before the break. A free from Duggan and Marion Farrelly and a Ciara Smyth point from play raised three white flags for the home side before Farrelly found the back of a Laois net, a cruel punishment for Eimear Barry who popped the kickout straight into her hands.
Melia turned over Orla Hennessy in the middle of the field and when she looked up there was three Meath ladies inside unmarked, picking out Farrelly to beat Barry for the second time in the half. Barry then intercepted a Melia goal opportunity before captain Monica McGuirk cleaned Nerney off a high ball, Ray McBride once again turned to him umpires but nothing came of it. Laois went in at the break 10 points behind.
Nerney opened the scoring for the second half pointing from a placed ball while Meath’s Niamh Gallogly replied from play. Nerney kicked a further two scores from play which were well worked with superb patience from Laois. Duggan converted her second free of the game before Laois broke up the field and an Aerin Ryle goal attempt was saved by McGuirk, but Lauren Kearney was there to slot away the rebound to raise the green flag after 41 minutes.
Ciara Smyth added to a second score for herself pointing from play while Farrelly and Duggan (free) also added to their tallies. Megan Thynne got her name on the scoresheet splitting the posts from play followed by a third Smyth point. A Nerney free sealed the game’s scoring and left Laois suffering a 10-point loss to the Royal County.