NFL Division One B/ Laois 1-13 Louth 2-10:Laois and Louth produced a thrilling contest at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise yesterday.

The visitors got off to a dream start with an Arron Hoey goal after five minutes, but points from Brian McDonald and Barry Brennan settled Laois.

Darren Clarke added two points for Louth, but scores from McDonald and Paul Lawlor saw the teams go to the dressingrooms all square - Louth 1-5 Laois 0-8.

Louth regained the lead with a point from Ray Finnegan five minutes into the new half, but two minutes later Laois took the lead for the first time when a long ball from Chris Conway reached Ross Munnelly, who found Barry Brennan and, from close range, he scored his side's only goal.

At the other end, Louth won a penalty, but Mark Stanfield's shot was well saved by Laois stand-in goalkeeper Michael Nolan. Stanfield did add a point, but two for Laois from Munnelly saw the home side ahead 1-10 to 1-8 at the three-quarter stage.

The home side were stunned when Louth full forward Shane Lennon shook off a couple of tackles before hitting a left-foot drive to the roof of the Laois net.

Points from Hoey saw the visitors lead by two points with four minutes left. However, for the second game in a row, Louth surrendered a two-point lead in the closing minutes - against Armagh they conceded an injury-time goal. Points from Conway and "Bruno" McCormack saved the day for Laois.

LAOIS: M Nolan; C Ryan, D Rooney, R Stapleton; P O'Leary, J Higgins, B McCormack (0-1); P Clancy, B Quigley; B Sheehan, P Lawlor (0-1), C Conway (0-2); B McDonald (0-3), B Brennan (1-3), R Munnelly (0-2). Subs: G Kavanagh (0-1)for Sheehan; D Murphy for O'Leary; P McMahon for Stapleton

LOUTH: S Reynolds; D Brennan, C Goss, A Page; J O'Brien, P McGinnity, R Finnegan (0-1); P Keenan (0-1), M Fanning; C Grimes (0-1), M Brennan, M Stanfield (0-2); A Hoey (1-2), S Lennon (1-1), D Clarke (0-2).

Referee: S Doyle(Wexford).