Meath 3-11
Laois 0-6
Kevin O’Brien reports from O’Moore Park
SUPPORTERS IN O’MOORE Park witnessed the new face of Gaelic football as the game’s experimental rule changes went off without a hitch in Meath’s facile O’Byrne Cup win over Laois tonight.
Not only that, but the much-maligned handpass rule – which limits fisted passes to three – proved a major success and both sides made far more use of the kick pass. It successfully cut out the sort of lateral play that has sucked the life out of the sport in recent years.
The match programme contained a full explainer of the experimental rules and both the players and officials handled the change well. Young Offaly referee Fintan Pierce blew for four handpasses three times in the opening half – all for Laois – while there were two for Meath in the second.
The vast majority of kick-outs – now from the 20m line – were contested in the middle and there were no advanced marks from either team, which was understandable given the difficult conditions.
The wet and windy weather made things tricky but Meath had the more impressive forwards on display and took full advantage on the scoreboard.
Experienced forward Mickey Newman has returned to the Royals panel after a year out and he finished with a five-point haul, while lively inside forward Thomas O’Reilly chipped in with 1-1.
There was also a playing return for Daniel O’Reilly off the Laois bench. The Graigecullen man was left with serious head injuries after he was attacked while on a night out back in April, but featured in the final quarter for his county tonight.
Both teams went with offensive line-ups. Laois boss John Sugrue started with a three-man full-forward line, while Andy McEntee was a little more reserved and left two inside.
In a slow opening quarter, where both sides were feeling each other and the new rules out, Meath surged clear before the break.
Newman posted four placed balls in the first-half as goals from Ronan Ryan and Daniel Quinn left them 2-8 to 0-3 ahead at the break. Both sides missed chances in a third quarter where there were just four scores, with centre-forward Darragh Campion slotting over the pick of the bunch.
Meath broke through for their third goal in the 54th minute. Substitute Graham Reilly played a great ball inside for O’Reilly to dispatch past Scott Osbourne into the bottom corner.
The Royals face Longford next weekend in Ashbourne while Laois travel to Wexford. Elsewhere in the O’Byrne Cup tonight, Wexford were 0-16 to 1-6 winners over Louth in Darver, while Longford defeated Wicklow by 1-7 to 1-6.
Scorers for Meath: Michael Newman 0-5 (0-4f, 0-1 45), Thomas O’Reilly and Daniel Quinn 1-1 each, Ronan Ryan 1-0, James Conlon 0-2, Donal Keogan and Darragh Campion 0-1 each.
Scorers for Laois: Gary Walsh 0-2 (0-1f), Eoin Lowry, Brian Daly, Mark Timmons and David Conway 0-1 each.
Meath
1. Andrew Colgan (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
2. Seamus Lavin (Dunboyne)
3. Bryan Menton (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
4. Ronan Ryan (Summerhill)
5. James McEntee (Curraha)
6. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)
7. Gavin McCoy (Dunboyne)
8. Sean Tobin (Simonstown Gaels)
9. Adam Flanagan (Clonard)
10. Daniel Quinn (Ballinabrackey)
11. Darragh Campion (Skryne)
12. Bryan McMahon (Rath)
13. James Conlon (St Comcilles)
14. Michael Newman (Kilmainham)
15. Thomas O’Reilly (Wolf Tones)
Subs
23. Niall Hickey (Seneschalstown) for Conlon (28m, inj)
21. Graham Reilly (St Colmcilles) for McMahon (47)
26. Conor McGill for Tobin (54)
19. Niall Kane (Simonstown Gaels) for McCoy (56)
18. Thomas McGovern (Donacarney) for Ryan (56)
25. Robert Garry for Quinn (58)
Laois
1. Scott Osbourne (Portarlington)
2. Adam Campion (St Joseph’s)
3. Denis Booth (The Heath)
4. Damien O’Connor Timahoe)
5. Stephen Attride (Killeshin)
6. Mark Timmons (Graiguecullen)
7. Robbie Piggott (Portarlington)
8. John O’Loughlin (St Brigid’s)
9. Brian Daly (St Joseph’s)
10. Martin Scully (Ballyroan Abbey)
11. David Conway (Arles Kilcruise)
12. Sean Byrne (Portarlington)
13. Eoin Lowry (Killeshin)
14. Gary Walsh (Ballylinan)
15. Paul Kingston (Arles-Killeen)
Subs
23. Patrick O’Sullivan (Portarlington) for Piggott (44)
19. Michael Keogh (St Joseph’s) for Kingston (44)
26. Daniel O’Reilly (Graiguecullen) for Attride (44)
22. Shane Nerney (O’Dempsey’s) for Conway (51)
17. Brian Byrne (Graiguecullen) for Campion (62)
20. Richie Hitchcock (Park Ratheniska) for Scully (62)
Referee: Fintan Pierce (Offaly)
The rule changes can’t make the game any worse to look at as a neutral than the sh!te we have seen for the past number of years. Football is light years behind hurling. Maybe this is the start of the comeback for the big ball.
@Maureen: Why do people feel the need to compare 2 different sports. Might as well compare Gaelic football to horse racing, has about the same relevance
@Mel Roberts: So u can see no comparison between both sports even tho so is so many dual players out there? Need I explain that both use the same pitches, goal posts, scoring system etc?
Football is awful to watch, something needed to be done, the Gaa recognise that mainly because the crowds are turning up. Hopefully these rules are a step in the right direction and bringing it back to the glory days.
@Maureen: that’s where the comparisons end. The glory days? Of what? Catch and kick? Not even look for a man just kick it as hard and as far as you can to the other end of the pitch, watch some of the games from 70s and 80s, awful awful stuff
@Mel Roberts: The likes of Tyrone destroyed the game with their possession basketball sh!te and 15 men behind the ball crap. Thankfully the Dubs put a stop to that.
You do know it’s called football? U can pass the ball with the foot as well? At least the top brass can see this and not handpass/throw the ball from one end to the other.
@Maureen: oh yeah it was Tyrone that destroyed football wasnt it. Maybe a motion should be put before Congress to ban Tyrone from entering the championship for all their sins
@Mel Roberts: how does the likes of Tyrone just mean Tyrone? Ye might as well be banned, if there was a B Championship ye would have a good chance of winning that! Thank f#ck ye are finished. Mickey Harte should stick to the Eurovision ; )
@Maureen: We are finished, won back to back Ulster titles in 2016 and 17 and All Ireland runners up in 2018. Sure lump us in the second tier championship right enough there
Why did Meath players club names suddenly go as gaeilge?
Something had to be done . The garbage football of the last few years was un-watchable .