The Laois footballers got their Tailteann Cup campaign back on track as they edged out Wicklow in Aughrim.
Justin McNulty's men had to come from behind to see off a dogged Wicklow team.
It is a result that basically ensures Laois’s progression from the group and they will have a chance to top it in two weeks time when the play Fermanagh.
As for Wicklow, even a win over Carlow in their final group game is unlikely to see them progress following a round one defeat to Fermanagh.
Wicklow’s intent was clear from the start as, despite playing with the breeze, they funnelled men behind the ball.
The game went 10 minutes without a score before Johnny Carlin opened it for Wicklow but Kevin Swayne levelled things up for Laois a minute later.
Kevin Quinn landed the next two scores for Wicklow and Eoin Darcy made it a three-point game after 20 minutes.
Evan O’Carroll and Mark Jackson swapped frees after that, with Killian Roche also slotting a free.
But Quinn had the final say with a mark to leave it 0-06 to 0-04 at half-time to Wicklow.
Laois started the second half well as Brian Byrne reduced the gap to one and then then had a great goal chance when Mark Barry stung the palms of Jackson.
Oisin McGraynor replied but Paul Kingston hit back from a tight angle after 47 minutes.
Laois were level three minutes later when O’Carroll was fouled and Barry pointed.
Jackson and Rioghan Murphy then traded efforts before Laois took the lead for the first time in the 55th minute through O’Carroll.
O’Carroll extended that and then Wicklow were down to 14 men when Quinn was shown a straight red card for elbowing Swayne in the face.
Roche slotted the resulting free and Laois led by three with 10 minutes to play.
Wicklow reduced the arrears through Conor Fee as five minutes of added time were announced.
Mark Kenny kicked one more and Wicklow had a chance to level it but John Paul Nolan’s effort from a mark hit the post and Laois survived.
Laois: Killian Roche (0-2f); Eoin Buggie, James Kelly, Mark Timmons; Simon Fingleton, Brian Byrne (0-1), Seamus Lacey; Damon Larkin, Conor Heffernan; Kevin Swayne (0-1), Eoin Lowry, Mark Barry (0-1); Rioghan Murphy (0-1), Evan O’Carroll (0-4, 3f), Paul Kingston (0-1). Subs: Shaun Fitzpatrick for Buggie (20, inj), Niall Dunne for Swayne (60, blood, reversed 65), Niall Dunne for Fingleton (72, inj)
Wicklow: Mark Jackson (0-2f); Tom Moran, Malachy Stone, Paddy O’Kane; Matt Nolan, Eoin Murtagh, Gavin Fogarty; Dean Healy, Jack Kirwan; Darragh Fee, Oisin McGraynor (0-1f), Eoin Darcy (0-1); Jonathan Carlin (0-1), Kevin Quinn (0-3, 1f, 1m), John Paul Nolan. Subs: Padraig O’Toole for Carlin (50), Cillian McDonald for Fee (52), Mark Kenny (0-1) for McGraynor (57), Conor Fee (0-1f) for Darcy (63), Joe Prendergast for Fogarty (65)
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
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