Back in March, Laois U-20s overcame the Leinster favorites, Meath in the final group game of the Leinster Championship to ensure that Laois would top the group.
Laois 1-12 Meath 1-7
Leinster U-20 Football Championship Round 3
Conor Brown and sub Colin Dunne were Laois’s heroes as they defeated Meath to march into the Leinster U-20 semi finals.
Brown made an a match saving save from Eoghan Frayne in the 53rd minute and then kicked a 45 as Laois scored 1-4 in the final seven minutes.
While Colin Dunne came onto the pitch just after that save and was unbelievable.
He kicked a mark with his first touch, then landed one from play before then winning the 45 which Brown kicked before setting Davy Costello off to score the final goal.
Meath had the wind in the first half and used it to kick the first two scores via Eoghan Frayne and Shaun Leonard.
Laois hit back through Jack Byrne but were then rocked by the concession of a goal.
Conor Gray cut the Laois defence open with a ball where Eoghan Frayne collected it and fed Oisin Keogh to score.
Laois’s response was good though with Jack Byrne, Oisin Hooney and Conor Heffernan pointing consecutively to leave one between them after 14 minutes.
But Meath kicked again with Jack Kinlough and Gray dominant in midfield – where Kinlough added two points.
Brian O’Reilly and Eoghan Frayne also scored as Laois kept in touch through a Davy Costello free – 1-6 to 0-5 at half time.
Costello pointed again when play resumed and then Davin McEvoy made it a two point game after 35 minutes.
Eoghan Frayne landed Meath’s first score of the second half five minutes later and as the Laois attack began to malfunction, the score remained 1-7 to 0-7 after 45 minutes.
Davin McEvoy then lifted the lull with a huge score from distance before Meath had the chance to win it in the 53rd minute.
Eoghan Frayne slipped the Laois defence and went charging through but Conor Brown sprung out from his goal like a cat and denied him.
And that would prove crucial as Davin McEvoy and Colin Dunne kicked Laois level before Dunne kicked them ahead.
Conor Brown made it two from a 45 and then with then with the final kick, Davy Costello made it safe with a goal.
SCORERS – Laois: Davy Costello 1-2 (two frees), Davin McEvoy 0-3 (one mark), Colin Dunne 0-2 (one mark), Jack Byrne 0-2, Oisin Hooney 0-1, Conor Heffernan 0-1, Conor Brown 0-1 (one 45) Meath: Eoghan Frayne 0-3 (one free), Oisin Keogh 1-0, Jack Kinlough 0-2, Shaun Leonard 0-1, Brian O’Reilly 0-1
LAOIS: Conor Brown (Portlaoise); Ben Dempsey (Portlaoise), Colin McEvoy (Portlaoise), Sean McGrath (Graiguecullen); Conor McWey (Ballyroan-Abbey), Simon Fingleton (Park-Ratheniska), Darragh Slevin (Portarlington); Davin McEvoy (Ballyroan-Abbey), Conor Heffernan (Killeshin); John Brennan (Crettyard), Shaun Fitzpatrick (Ballyroan-Abbey), Tom Fennelly (Emo); Davy Costello (Emo), Jack Byrne (Graiguecullen), Oisin Hooney (St Joseph’s). Subs: Stephen Lennon (O’Dempsey’s) for McGrath (44), Jonah Kelly (Crettyard) for Fennelly (45), Colin Dunne (Arles-Killeen) for Brennan (53), Cathal Lee (Clonaslee-St Manman’s) for Hooney (55), Cormac Murphy (St Joseph’s) for Byrne (58)
MEATH: Oisin McDermott; Brian O’Halloran, Liam Kelly, Conor Ennis; John Finnerty, Brian O’Reilly, Shaun Leonard; Jack Kinlough, Conor Gray; Tom Bowden, Eoghan Frayne, Liam Stafford; Ruairi Kinsella, Oisin Keogh, John O’Regan. Subs: John McDonagh for Kinsella (37), Killian Smyth for Bowden (47), Ben Moran for Stafford (50)
Referee: James Foley (Carlow)
