Meath 1-9 Laois 0-11Meath struck with a late goal to earn a place in the Leinster final after Laois had led all the way at Newbridge last night.

Edward Kelly converted a couple of Laois frees and Conor Meredith added a score from play before Meath got on the scoreboard with a Ciarán Lynch free.

Shane O'Rourke cut the Laois lead to the minimum but Laois got scores from Meredith and his brother Darragh. Meath managed two more scores before the break but Laois led 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time.

Brian Sheridan and Alan Nestor scored for Meath but these were cancelled out by Donal Kingston and John O'Loughlin.

Meath's Graham Reilly left two points between the sides before substitute Colm Carry collected a pass from Nestor and sent a low shot to the Laois net in the 58th minute.

MEATH: J Ginnity; G Farrelly, S Sheppard, J Carr; D Donegan, E Reilly (0-1), P Brady; S O'Rourke (0-1), C Finn; G Reilly (0-3), C Lynch (0-1, free), D Dalton; A Nestor (0-1, 45), S Keating, B Sheridan (0-2, free). Subs: G Butler for Lynch, C Carry (1-0) for Reilly, C Clarke for Butler.

LAOIS: M Dowling; J Scully, N Gorman, J Mulhare; R Kehoe, R Ryan, S Shortall; D Meredith (0-2, one 45), S Ramsbottom; J Moore, J O'Loughlin (0-2), D Kingston (0-1); C Meredith (0-4 two frees), E Kelly (0-2, frees), D O'Flaherty. Subs: S Miller for Moore, Z Touhy for Kehoe.

Referee: P Daly (Westmeath).