Laois back on track and guarantee home league semi-final after dominant win over Meath

Laois got their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A campaign back on track with a thumping 4-26 to 1-12 victory over Meath in Pairc Tailteann, Navan on Sunday afternoon.

The result, coupled with Carlow's win over Down, means that Laois are guaranteed a home league semi final.

Regardless of the result of their final league game on Saturday against Kerry, they cannot be overtaken by anyone below them and cannot finish ahead of Carlow on the head-to-head rule.

This was a third defeat on the spin for Meath but they can still qualify to face Laois in that semi-final. They would need to defeat Down and hope Laois beat Kerry and Carlow beat Kildare in order for that to happen.

Goals from Jer Quinlan, Tomas Keyes, Aaron Dunphy and Martin Phelan had Laois out of sight by the half time break.

Laois had 11 scorers throughout the game in a very clinical performance from the visitors.The full forward line was outstanding as Aaron Dunphy, Tomas Keyes and Jer Quinlan combined for 3-14 of the total.

Those four goals coupled with points from the likes of Stephen Maher and Aaron Dunphy had them in firm control by half time.

Padraig O'Hanrahan, James Toher, Jack Walsh and Nicholas Potterton tried to keep Meath in touch but they trailed 4-12 to 0-07 at half time.

Business continued as normal early in the second half with a point each from Mossy Keyes and Martin Phelan to increase the lead.

After a seven-minute delay for an injury to James Murray, Laois got the scoring underway again with Jer Quinlan popping his second of the game.

Meath responded well with a quick 1-01, the point from Sean Geraghty before O'Hanrahan capitalised on a poor clearance at the back and swept the ball into the net.

Keyes and Dunphy both struck points within two minutes of the