Laois 1-11 Athlone IT 0-12:LAOIS FOOTBALLERS, winners of the shield two years ago, are through to the semi-final as a result of their hard-earned victory after extra-time over Athlone IT at Portarlington yesterday.

Laois opened well and took a four-point lead after 10 minutes but Athlone came more into the game with points from Frankie Burke and David Egan although Laois led by 0-7 to 0-6 at the break. The second half saw the visitors take control and it took the introduction of Brendan Quigley to help Laois get back in the game and a late point forced extra time.

LAOIS: E Culliton, S Julian, D Booth, R Kehoe, P Begley, C Og Greene, N Donoher, P Clancy (0-1), C Coss (0-1), C Rogers, B Fitzgerald (0-1), D Strong (0-1), M Finlay (0-1, free), J Enright (0-1), D Brennan (1-2). Subs: B Quigley for Clancy (ht), M Timmons for Og Greene (47 mins), MJ Tierney (0-2, 1f) for Enright, C Boyle for Booth (inj, 55 mins), G Kavanagh (0-1) for Fitzgerald (65 mins), C Parkinson for Rogers (76 mins), P Cahillane for Finlay (81 mins).

ATLONE IT: G Connaughton (Westmeath); M McCallon (Westmeath), C Duignan (Roscommon), C Duncan (Westmeath); M Mitchell (Offaly), A Rowan (Longford), B Connors (Offaly) (0-1); G Dennigan (Longford), C Burke (Galway); D Egan (Offaly) (0-3, one free), E Clarke (Longford), C Shine (Roscommon) (0-1); F Burke (Galway) (0-3, one free), I Coffey (Westmeath) (0-4, three frees). Subs: J Stapleton (Westmeath) for Clarke (ht), D Sammon (Westmeath) for Coffey (41mins), D Malynn for Stapleton (inj) (55mins), F OReilly (Westmeath) for Rowan (79mins).

Referee: P Daly (Westmeath).