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 goal as Laois reacted well to the hit and they continued to hold off the Meath advances.
O'Hanrahan struck a long range free moments before Laois were almost in for a fifth goal but Charlie Ennis did brilliantly to deny Willie Dunphy.
Aaron Dunphy pointed from the resulting clearance and Ian Shanahan added another from distance four minutes later.
Liam O'Connell became the second man from the full-back line to score and Dunphy added another three frees as the game crawled to a finish.
Dunphy added on another free to his tally and Ryan Mullaney became the 11th Laois scorer with a brilliant point on the run before Comerford added another.
O'Hanrahan struck a couple of frees in vain for Meath late in the day but the game was well over and Dunphy has the final say with a 65 to bring his tally to 1-10.
Laois: Enda Rowland; Ian Shanahan (0-01), Liam O'Connell (0-01), Diarmaid Conway; Ryan Mullaney (0-01), Podge Delaney, Tom Cuddy; Aidan Corby (0-01), Paddy Purcell (0-01); Martin Phelan (1-02), Stephen Maher (0-02), David Dooley (0-01); Jer Quinlan (1-02), Aaron Dunphy (1-10 (5f, 0-1 65)), Tomas Keyes (1-02).
Subs: Cody Comerford for Dooley (blood 13 - 16), Cody Comerford (0-02) for Maher (25), Fiachra C Fennell for Cuddy and Willie Dunphy for Dooley (both 52), James Duggan for Quinlan (60, inj), John Lennon for Phelan (65)
Meath: Charlie Ennis; Seanie Geraghty, Daire Shine, Jarlath Ennis; Ciarán Lonergan, Simon Ennis (0-01), Shane Whitty; Kris Gorman (0-01), Tom Shine; James Murray (0-01), James Kelly, Padraig O’Hanrahan (1-05 (4f, 0-01 65)); Nicky Potterton (0-01), Jack Walsh (0-01), James Toher (0-01).
Subs: Mickey Burke for Lonergan (27), David Murtagh for Murray (40, inj), Donal Rogers for D Shine (48), Eoin Donegan for T Shine (58)
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)
