Holders Portlaoise surrendered their Laois senior football title when they were outplayed by a brilliant St Joseph's at Portlaoise yesterday.

Played in perfect conditions, St Joseph's took the lead after two minutes and, although Fergal Fennell levelled for Portlaoise, that was the only time the sides were level. Stephen Kelly added six more points in the opening half to leave St Joseph's leading by 0-7 to 0-2.

By the end of the third-quarter only three points separated the sides. In the final quarter, though, St Joseph's took complete control and further points by Stephen Kelly and Noel Garvan gave them their ninth title.

ST JOSEPH'S: E Burke; A Lacey, F Lacey, C George; W Hooney, J Higgins, P Rowan; N Garvan (0-1), P Dempsey; L Stapleton (0-1), T Kelly (0-1), J Murphy; S Kelly (0-10), M Dempsey, C Kelly (1-0).

PORTLAOISE: J Hanniffy; P Phelan, E Bland, C O'Keeffe; N Collins, C Duggan, A Fennelly; K Fitzpatrick (0-1), E Coleman; F Fennell (0-2), T Conroy, C Parkinson; C Murphy (0-1), I Fitzgerald (1-3), B McCormack (0-1). Subs: D Mullins for C O'Keeffe; M Brophy for P Phelan.

Referee: Eddie Whelan (Killeshin).