Mayo ... 1-8 Laois ... 1-9Fourteen-man Mayo found a very dogged and determined Laois side just a shade too strong in this Division IB match at Ballinrobe, as Mick O'Dwyer's men maintained their unbeaten record and went top of the division.
There were two crucial blows delivered to John Maughan's men, both coming in the first half of an invigorating contest watched by around 3,000 in bitterly cold conditions.
The second blow was possibly the most damaging, the dismissal of Declan Sweeney, coming as it did just before half-time for a second yellow card offence, giving Laois an extra man that they used very effectively in the defence in the second half.
However, the first also proved to be a major blow to Mayo's hopes of winning at home, as their defence was punished early on for ball-watching when Ian Fitzgerald's effort for a point came off the post and Kieran Kelly was on hand to collect the rebound before beating Peter Bourke with a well-taken goal that left Mayo chasing the game.
Laois really ran at Mayo in the opening half and richly deserved an interval lead of 1-5 to 1-2, the Mayo goal coming from Andy Moran, who finished off an excellent move involving Brady and Mortimer in some style, a superb look-away pass from the hard-working Mortimer putting the score on a plate just before half-time.
Mayo were kept busy at the back trying to contain a rampant Laois attack in that first half, Chris Conway, Fitzgerald, Kieran Kelly, Damien Delaney and Michael Lowlor showing up well on a day when all six Laois forwards found the target. Laois held a commanding 1-5 to 0-2 lead after 30 minutes, before Moran checked in with that Mayo goal.
In a keenly contested second half Mayo sprang Maurice Sheridan, and the Balla man, who last played for Mayo three years ago, was soon off the mark with a pointed free inside two minutes.
Mayo had shaved another point off to bring the gap to the minimum in the 42nd minute, but a very fit looking Laois showed dogged determination, Fitzgerald (free) and Conway with a fine score restoring a three-point gap 10 minutes from the end.
But inspired by some fine work at the back Mayo kept coming back, an unlikely draw looming when Sheridan picked of his third free and Maurice Horan pulled out a point deep into injury time.
Mayo looked to Sheridan in the last action of the game to rescue them with a 45 but, as with one or two other of his efforts on a difficult day for freetakers, it fell short, Laois deservedly holding out for a narrow victory that will, no doubt, increase the shares in Laois Plc under Mick O'Dwyer.
MAYO: P Bourke; K Mortimer, P Kelly, R Connelly; S Grimes, B Prendergast, F Costello; D Tiernan, D Heaney; S Carolan, D Sweeney (0-1), R Haran; C Mortimer (0-2), M Horan (0-1), A Moran (1-1). Subs: G Brady for Haran, G Mullins for A Moran, M Sheridan (0-3) for Carolan; A Dillon for Tiernan.
LAOIS: F Byron; T Kelly, C Byrne, J Higgins; D Rooney, K Fitzpatrick, D Conroy; P Clancy (0-1), N Gorman; C Conway (0-2), I Fitzgerald (0-1), K Kelly (1-0); B McDonald (0-1), M Lawlor (0-2), D Delaney (0-2). Subs: D Miller for Lawlor, H Emerson for Gorman, B Brennan for Delaney.
Referee: M McGrath (Donegal)
