Meath 5-18
Laois 0-8

By Cóilín Duffy

Meath led throughout as they booked their place in the first ever Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football (U17) Final, with a comfortable 25-point win over Laois at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise this afternoon.

Joe Treanor's charges were in superb form, as they backed up group wins over Westmeath, Dublin, Louth and Offaly, with another strong showing against the hosts.

Meath signalled their intent from the opening moments, with Luke Kelly finishing to the net after 45 seconds, after a mistake by the Laois defence, and the O'Moore's never really recovered.

Kelly added a second goal nine minutes later, with his side 2-3 to 0-1 ahead.

Laois's lone point coming from a Ross Bolger free after three minutes, and it wouldn't be until injury-time before Donnacha Phelan's side scored again, as Meath fired 2-7 unanswered.

Meath were pretty dominant with Laois only registering two first half wides. The Royals with six misses by the interval.

Luke Mitchell was pretty impressive from places balls, with Meath's third goal coming after 24 minutes.

Bryan McCormack claiming his only goal of the hour, after a pass from Luke Kelly, before the Moynalty clubman fired home.

3-8 to 0-1 ahead, Meath extended their lead to 17 points following a Kelly score after 25 minutes.

Laois pressed hard, but with good play from the likes of James O'Hare they found it tough.

Ciaran Byrne and Oisin Byrne done well for the hosts in the closing stages of the half, with the latter ending their scoring dead-lock and ensuring a 3-9 to 0-2 interval score-line.

While Meath again made a bright start to the second half, with Conor Farrelly taking his lone score after just 14 seconds, Laois matched them pretty well.

Half-time substitutes Damon Larkin, Cathal Doule and Josh Lacey made a huge difference, but Laois didn't make enough of their scoring chances.

Sean Greene and Larkin both claimed fine points from play as Laois outscored Meath by 0-2 to 0-1 between the 34th and 37th minutes, but the Royals had done enough in the opening half.

David Bell was one of their second half stars, scoring 2-2 in the second half alone, including goals in the 48th and 53rd minutes as Meath moved 5-14 to 0-7 clear.

Lacey, Conor Goode and Eamonn Delaney on target.

The second half was also characterised by a number of fine saves from both keepers.

Laois keeper Oisin Keogh pulling off a fine double save from Sean Coffey and Luke Mitchell in the 44th minute.

Meath's Séan Brennan denying Mark O'Connell with a fine one handed block in the 51st minute, before a Larkin effort was stopped on the line by James O'Hare i the 53rd minute.

A move involving Matthew Costello, Oisin McCloskey and Brian O'Hanlon saw the latter's goal shot blocked out for a 45' by Keogh in the closing minutes.

But Meath never needed a sixth goal, and were well on their way to victory from early in this game, as they convincingly booked a date against Wicklow or Kildare.

Meath: Sean Brennan; James O'Hare, Harry O'Higgins, Cathal Hickey; Conor Farrelly (0-1), Conor Harford, Sean Coffey; Adam Reilly, Cian McBride; Darragh Swaine (0-1), Matthew Costello (0-2, 1 '45'), Bryan McCormack (1-1); David Bell (2-3), Luke Kelly (2-1), Luke Mitchell (0-6, 6f). Subs: Oisin McCluskey for Hickey (43); Brian O'Hanlon (0-2) for Kelly (47); Colin Hawdon (0-1) for Swaine (49); Luke Newe for O'Higgins (57); Adam Treanor for McCormack (57); Killian Price for Harford (60).

Laois: Oisin Keogh; Sean Greene (0-1), Michael Bennett, Sean O'Neill; Niall Carey, Cathal Bennett, Ciaran Byrne; Ben Conroy, Sean Michael Corcoran; Daragh Galvin, Rioghan Murphy, Conor Goode (0-1); Oisin Byrne (0-1, 1f), Ross Bolger (0-1, 1f), Mark O'Connell. Subs: Damon Larkin (0-1) for O Byrne (HT); Cathal Doyle for Galvin (HT); Josh Lacey (0-2, 1f) for Bolger (HT); Ciaran Burke for Corcoran (47); Eamonn Delaney (0-1, 1 '45') for Carey (48); Seth Burns for Bennett (53).

Referee: Darragh Sheppard (Dublin).

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