Laois in seventh heaven as they cruise past Meath in the Joe McDonagh Cup

Laois have absolutely obliterated Meath in the Joe McDonagh after they fired in seven goals in Trim this afternoon.

Willie Maher’s side were by far the superior team and that’s shown by the 31 points between the sides.

Laois 7-29

Meath 1-16

Laois raised a white flag within the first 15 seconds as Paddy Purcell volleyed the ball over after it fell off his hurl. Meath’s first score came a minute later as Nicky Potterton squeezed over a score from the sideline. Kris Gorman put Meath in front soon after as he pointed from his own 65’. Laois replied with two points courtesy of Picky Maher, one from play and one from a 65’. Tom Shine levelled the teams after five minutes before Laois raised their first green flag.

Mark Dowling went on a great run before unleashing an unstoppable shot beyond the reach of Charlie Ennis in the Meath goal. Sean Martin and Podge Delaney traded points with Laois’ midfield combining for Laois’ fifth point as Aidan Corby teed up David Dooley to score. James Toher got a point back for Meath from a free. Laois scored the next three points without reply as Aaron Dunphy, Mossy Keyes and Picky Maher (free) all raised white flags for Willie Maher’s side.

Meath substitute Mark Horan then rattled the Laois net after beating his marker which put three between the sides with 21 minutes played.

Paddy Purcell added two more scores to his tally with Mossy Keyes having a huge goal chance in between but the Camross forward couldn’t find the target. James Kelly pointed for Meath in the 27th minute to leave four between the sides but Laois would soon be awarded a penalty with Meath also going down to 14 men after a black card for James Toher for his foul on Mossy Keyes.

Enda Rowland stepped up and drilled the ball past Ennis in the Meath net. Potterton pointed a free for Meath in reply with Willie Dunphy opening his tally for the game in the 31st minute. Simon Ennis got Meath’s final score of the half as Laois took full control of the contest before the break.

Purcell and Willie Dunphy added to their tally’s with the latter having a great goal chance after a slack puck-out from Ennis but his effort went wide of the goal. Aaron Dunphy, Podge Delaney and Willie Dunphy got a score each before half-time as Laois led 2-16 to 1-8.

Potterton got the second-half’s scoring underway with Mossy Keyes replying for the O’Moore County. A third Laois goal followed as Aidan Corby’s goal-bound effort was saved with Mark Dowling’s rebound kicked into the net by Picky Maher. Picky Maher, David Dooley and Corby all raised white flags as Laois cantered towards victory with 25 minutes of the game still to play.

Meath hit three points on the trot courtesy of Potterton (65’), Eamon Og O Donnchadha and Domhnall Rogers. Laois’ Willie Dunphy and James Duggan added a point each to Laois’ tally before a fourth goal went in from Duggan, who came off the bench. Sean Quigley and Aaron Dunphy traded points but Laois would yet again get in for goal. Having had chances earlier in the game to score a goal, Willie Dunphy made no mistake this time around with a rasping effort into the Meath net.

Martin Phelan came off the bench to open his tally with a point before the Castletown man blasted the ball into the Meath net for the sixth time.

Sean Quigley and Aaron Dunphy traded points yet again as the Meath man and a free from James Toher ended their scoring in the contest. Laois ended the game with a further 1-4 before the end.

Fiachra C Fennell and Aaron Dunphy both raised white flags as Laois got a seventh goal late on. Mossy Keyes was finally rewarded for his hard work all over the field with the Camross man beating Philly O’Brien in the Meath goal. Martin Phelan and Aidan Corby got the final two points of the game as Laois won by 31 points in the end.

Laois now travel to Tralee next Saturday to face Kerry in Round 3.