An unfancied Meath side came close to ousting defending champions Laois from the Leinster championship in a thrilling first round encounter at Navan yesterday. Laois had to depend on an injury-time, pointed free by Stephen Kelly to earn a replay. But a draw was probably the fairest outcome after the two sides had served up a tremendous contest in near perfect conditions.

Meath: D Gallagher; P Hegarty, N O'Reilly, D Kelly; S Smith, N Horan, A Meade; N Crawford (1-0), T Ratty; G Rispin (0-3), K Callaghan, C McHugh; E O'Reilly, F McMahon (1-1), R Fitzsimons (0-1). Subs: B Newman for O'Reilly, A Brady for McHugh.

Laois: R Darby; J P Kehoe, P Langton, J Higgins; N Collins, D Conroy, C Parkinson (0- 1); M Delaney (0-1), N Garvan; S Kelly (0-2), C Conway (0-3), B McDonald; K Fitzpatrick (0-2), D Doogue, T Kelly (0-2). Subs: J Behan for Conroy, G Kavanagh for Doogue.

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).