Having lost their opening two games in Division Two, the O’Moore men are now in a much happier place, having taken three points from their last three games.

Meath looked well in control of this game, with eight Mickey Newman points having given them a 0-11 to 0-4 lead by the 37th minute.

But John O’Loughlin and Brendan Quigley seized control at midfield and the game was turned on its head as the visitors - playing into the wind - seized control.

Newman had the scoreboard ticking right from the outset, hitting a neat score from play to launch the Royal challenge.

Brendan Quigley responded with a long range effort, but Meath’s go-to man was soon on target again with a difficult free.

But he did miss a gilt-edged goal chance in the 14th minute, a speedy counter-attack involving Andrew Tormey, Padraic Harnan and Stephen Bray presenting him with the shot at goal, which he dragged wide at the far post.

Laois were struggling to get a foothold in the game, but they trailed by just a point at the end of the opening quarter, after Donie Kingston had thumped over a long range point.

For all their territorial supremacy, the home side led by just one point at the end of the opening quarter, after Donie Kingston had swept over an eye-catching score Stephen Bray and Newman combined for a neat score in the 25th minute. Bray’s delicate flick sent Newman in for his fourth score and a 0-6 to 0-2 advantage.

Bryan Menton was also prominent, galloping through for a rallying point, and having reeled off four points in a row. Meath were five points to the good by the time Conor Boyle nailed a long range score for a Laois side that was by now struggling to remain in touch.

But they finished the half with a flourish, crafting goal chances that were thwarted by Keogan’s superb block on John O’Loughlin and Paddy O’Rourke’s smart save from Niall Donoher.

Substitute Paul Kingston sliced over a wonderful score, but at the break Meath led by 0-9 to 0-4, Newman hitting his seventh in stoppage time.

Graham Reilly and Newman were on target again in the early stages of the second half, and Laois efforts to break down a well organised defence floundered on the rock that is Mickey Burke.

Laois were ponderous and their passing lacked accuracy, but Donie Kingston steered over a couple of points to encourage their supporters that all was not lost, while full back Mark Timmons made a couple of important interventions.

O’Loughlin was emerging as a major figure in midfield, and when Darren Strong drilled a ’45 between the posts in the 50th minute, the deficit was down to three points.

Meath were but a shadow of the team that had dominated half an hour earlier, and further scores from O’Loughlin and Paul Kingstown brought them level.

Meath went 25 minutes without a score, before Bryan Menton charged through to fist the lead point - but there was no stopping rampant Laois, who went in front for the first time through Ross Munnelly five minutes from the end.

Having looked set for a comfortable win, Meath needed a late score from substitute Eamon Wallace to escape with a draw.

Meath: P O’Rourke, D Tobin, C McGill, M Burke, N Judge, D Keogan, B Power, B Menton (0-2), A Flanagan, G Reilly (0-1), P Harnan, A Tormey, M O’Sullivan, S Bray (0-1), M Newman (0-8, 6f).

Subs: D Carroll for Harnan (58), E Wallace (0-1) for O’Sullivan (59), J Wallace for Tormey (62), S Tobin for Menton (64), S Carty for Judge (72).

Laois: G Brody, P Begley, M Timmons, G Hanrahan, D Strong (0-1, ’45), R Kehoe, C Begley, B Quigley (0-1), J O’Loughlin (0-2), N Donoher, C Boyle (0-1), G Dillon, R Munnelly (0-1, f), D Kingston (0-5, 3f), E O’Carroll.

Subs: D O’Connor for Hanrahan (9), P Kingston (0-2) for Dillon (24), T Shiel for O’Carroll, S Attride for Boyle (70).

Referee: M McNally (Monaghan).