Down put up their best performance of the season, forcing visitors Laois to play until the final minutes before they could feel safe with the points, on Saturday at Fontenoy Park in Leitrim.

But victory in the end deservedly went to the more powerful and accomplished Leinster men. Laois's superior stickwork saw them establish a 0-6 to 0-3 lead by the 15th minute, but from here until the end, a spirited Down side were snapping at their heels.

Home fans even dared to dream of a shock result when Martin Coulter fired in Down's only goal of the season from a 20-metre free to tie the scores at 1-16 to 0-9 in the 29th minute.

But the more potent Laois attack was always able to pick off the scores when they were needed. Eamonn Fennelly restored their lead before half-time, and though there was still only the puck of a sliotar between the sides with eight minutes remaining, it was David Cuddy and Niall Rigney (with a great point from half-way) who came up with the points which left the midlanders in a relatively comfortable position in the concluding stages.

DOWN: G Clarke; J Brown, S McAree, S Wilson; T Coulter, G Savage, S Murray; J McCrickard (0-4), G Gordon; M Coulter (1-2), A Tinelly, P Coulter (0-2); R McGrattan, P McCabe, E Trainor (0-1). Subs: B McAleenan for A Tinelly; B Savage for R McGrattan.

LAOIS: R Cashin; PJ Peacock, B Maher, S Dooley; N Rigney (0-3), P Cuddy, A Bergin; D Conroy (0-1), O Dowling; D Cuddy (0-5), D Rooney (0-2), C Cuddy (0-3); L Tynan (0-1), M Rooney, E Fennelly (0-2). Subs: N Delaney for Tynan; J O'Sullivan for M Rooney.

Referee: G Devlin (Armagh).