Nothing to split Laois and Meath in round two of O'Byrne Cup

After a 14-point drubbing against Longford on Wednesday evening, Billy Sheehan's Laois had a point to prove as they traveled to Navan for their second-round O'Byrne Cup game against Meath. Meath were looking to continue the momentum they had after beating Carlow in Dr Cullen park. 

Meath started the best and capitalised on a defensive error. The ball fell to talisman Jordan Morris, who duly obliged to notch the game's first score. The pace of the game was quite slow for the following 7 or 8 minutes before Morris broke through the Laois defense. The ball was laid off for Cillian O Sullivan who buried the ball from short range

Meath could have had a second goal only Scottie Osbourne pulled off a great block from the danger man Morris. Morris would get his second point soon after. The Meath full forward was causing havoc for Trevor Collins in the opening stages. Eoin Lowery eventually got Laois off the mark after 12 minutes to settle the ship. Mark Barry followed it up with a point from in front of the terrace. Barry nearly drew Laois level as he tore through the Meath defense but his shot on goal was too weak and it was an easy stop for Meath keeper Harry Hogan.

Laois 0-16

Meath 2-10

Despite feeling the pressure and being pinned back, Laois would strike the next blow. A well-taken point Paul Kingston. It was soon canceled out by Morris's third score of the afternoon.

Mark Barry got his second score this tie from the stand side, A lovely curler from left to right to leave two points between them. Evan O Carroll picked up where he left off against Longford and his first free of the afternoon was a lovely long-range kick. There was now 1 between the teams after 30 minutes of play. O'Carroll would get the next two scores to put Laois in front. The Crettyard man had very quickly come into the game and was leaving his mark.

As we entered injury time of the first half Morris leveled up proceedings once again. They would go in at halftime level.

There were some good positives for Laois to take away from the first half. The addition of Mark Barry and Paddy O Sullivan had made a considerable difference to the team.

They looked more composed than they did against Longford on Wednesday evening. Saying that though Meath had hit seven wides in the first half in comparison to Laois's one. Meath did have Laois pinned back for large parts of the half and the O'Moore men could count themselves a little bit lucky to be going in at the break level. Half Time score Laois 0-7 Meath 1-4

Evan O'Carroll got proceedings underway before Mark Barry converted his third of the afternoon to put Laois two up early in the first half. In his first start for the royal county, Keith Curtis converted a cracking free in front of the stand before Ratoath star Daithi McGowan drew the sides level again. The only county champion rep on the Meath team was having a superb game in midfield. 

Donal Lenihan edged Meath in front once again and Laois looked a little bit under the coche. Free duties seemed to be being passed around the men in green and gold as Lenihan converted the next one to put Meath two up. There was no such variation in Laois as Evan O Carroll converted a wonderful long-range effort off the deck.

Meath stalwart Cillian O'Sullivan restored Meath's two-point lead. O'Sullivan then followed this up with his second goal of the game, this time a more scrappy effort rolled into the back of Osborne's net. Meath now led by 5 after 15 minutes of second-half action

Evan O'Carroll once again settled the ship with another solid free off the deck. That score was soon canceled out though as O'Sullivan broke through the Laois defense again and fisted over to bring his tally to 2-2. O'Carroll then had a wonderful chance and forced a cracking save out of Osborne. The ref brought it back for a free as O'Carroll was fouled on his drive for a goal. Eoin Lowery duly obliged in converting

Points from Mark Barry and sub Lee Walker brought Laois back into it with 5 minutes left of normal time. Laois was within two. Eoin Lowery's third point made it a one-point game. You could feel the nervous energy among the home support in Navan.

It was substitute Padraig Kirwan who leveled the game just on the cusp of injury time. After a messy period near the Meath goal including two hop balls, Kevin Swayne made a vital interception just when Meath looked dangerous. Soon after Seamus Farrelly blew the final whistle and the game ended level. Laois will play their final group game against Carlow this Wednesday

After the game, Billy Sheehan shared his thoughts with The Leinster Express/ Laois live 

"To be honest, I'm very disappointed. I thought we were in control of the game there today. I wouldn't say we improved from Wednesday night. We had 7 or 8 lads making our debut on Wednesday night. Apart from the three goals I thought we handled oursleves quite well against Longford and we were spoken about harshly after. I thought we put out a much more experienced team today and to be honest, I didn't see much improvement. Okay, it was a tighter more competitive game but I wouldn't use the word improvement." Said Sheehan 

"It's great to get the more experienced lads back but I have to say the performance of Sean Greene on only his third start for Laois was top-level. Padraig Kirwan came off the bench and got a great score when the game was in the balance. Lee Walker as well, excellent when he came on. It's very important given the lads that we've lost off the panel in the last twelve months that them sort off lads come through. Laois are building at the moment, our average age is 23 so its so good to see the young lads coming through."