Meath boss Steven Clynch remains winless as Royals are routed by Laois
Joe McDonagh Cup: Laois 7-29 Meath 1-16
14 January 2024; Laois manager Willie Maher during the Dioralyte Walsh Cup Round 3 match between Galway and Laois at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe, Galway. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
New Meath boss Steven Clynch is still seeking a first win after his charges suffered a heavy defeat to high-flying Laois in the Joe McDonagh Cup at St Loman’s Park Trim.
The Midlanders wasted little time in picking up where they left off following their impressive opening-round win over Offaly as they hit 36 scores and also tallied 18 wides. It was close for spells in the opening half, but Laois finished the half strongly and were ahead 2-16 to 1-8 at half-time.
They registered a third goal within four minutes of the restart, and from that to the finish, piled on the scores and further misery on the home side.
Meath hopes suffered a blow after 15 minutes when Padraig O’Hanrahan, who accounted for 17 points in the loss to Down, was forced off with an injury. They suffered another setback on the half-hour mark when James Toher was adjudged to have dragged down Tomas Keyes to prevent a goal opportunity and was black-carded, while keeper Enda Rowland converted the resultant penalty.
Mark Dowling had the opening goal for Laois, but the hosts hit back for a goal of their own from sub Mark Horan to reduce the deficit to three points on 22 minutes.
That was as good as it got for Meath as Laois moved through the gears to lead by double scores at the break.
Tomas Keyes, Willie Dunphy, Dowling, and subs Martin Phelan and James Duggan all found the net for Laois in the second half. Keeper Rowland saved a penalty from Nicky Potterton late on.
Scorers – Laois: W Dunphy 1-4, M Dowling 2-0, A Dunphy 0-5, M Phelan, T Keyes 1-2 each, J Duggan 1-1, S Maher (1 ’65, 1f), P Purcell 0-4 each, E Rowland 1-0 pen, D Dooley, P Delaney, A Corby 0-2 each, F C Fennell 0-1. Meath: N Potterton 0-4 (1f, 1’65), S Quigley 0-3, M Horan 1-0, J Toher 0-2f, J Kelly, E Og O Donnchadha, D Rogers, K Gorman, T Shine, S Martin, S Ennis 0-1 each.
Laois: E Rowland; I Shanahan, R Mullaney, D Conway; L O’Connell, P Delaney, F C Fennell; D Dooley, A Corby; S Maher, A Dunphy, P Purcell; T Keyes, M Dowling, W Dunphy. Subs: D Hartnett for Conway, J Duggan for Dooley (both 45), J Lennon for Purcell (51), M Phelan for Maher, L Cleere for O’Connell (both 60).
Meath: C Ennis; J Ennis, S Geraghty, D Shine; K Gorman, J Toher, J Kelly; D Murtagh, N McLarnon; T Shine, S Martin, S Ennis; P O’Hanrahan, E Og O Donnchadha, N Potterton. Subs: M Horan for O’Hanrahan (15), D Rogers for Martin (49), S Quigley for Murtagh (53), J Walsh for McLarnon, E Donegan for Kelly (both 60), P O’Brien for C Ennis (70).
Referee: P Owens (Down)
