Limerick 1-25

Laois 1-19 

Seanie Tobin top-scored with 0-12 (0-8 from frees) as Limerick recovered from a shaky start to beat a plucky Laois side at Kilmallock.

Last weekend's shock loss to Offaly consigned TJ Ryan's men to another year in Division 1B, but their league campaign could still have a silver lining with a league quarter-final against Dublin in the offing next weekend.

Laois knew before today's game that they would be facing a relegation playoff against Antrim, but that didn't stop them from coming flying out of the starting blocks. Zane Keenan fired home a second-minute penalty and they had opened up a 1-6 to 0-4 lead before the hosts registered their first score from play in the 21st minute.

But gradually the Treatymen clawed their way back. Tom O'Brien pointed from a sideline cut and Declan Hannon also split the posts to leave just two between the sides, 0-10 to 1-9, at the interval.

Further scores from Hannon and Tobin levelled proceedings five minutes after the restart before another Tobin free and O'Brien's second point gave the winners the lead for the first time.

Thereafter, the result was never in doubt. A goal from the excellent Tom O'Brien in the 59th minute made it 1-19 to 1-13. Laois replied with four points on the trot before late efforts from Cian Lynch and David Reidy wrapped up Limerick's win.

Limerick - A Murphy (0-1f); S Walsh, R McCarthy, S O'Brien; C King, D Hannon (0-3, 1'65), C Allis; J Ryan, P Browne; D Reidy (0-3), D Breen (0-1), D O'Grady; T O'Brien (1-3, 0-1sl), P Begley, S Tobin (0-12, 8f). Subs: J Fitzgibbon for D O'Grady, T Morrissey (0-1) for P Begley, D Morrissey for C Allis, A Breen for D Breen, C Lynch (0-1) for J Ryan.

Laois - E Reilly; J A Delaney, C Healy, C Dunne; J Fitzpatrick (0-1), J Walsh, T Delaney; Z Keenan (1-3, 1-0pen, 0-2f), P Purcell; W Hyland (0-1sl), P Whelan (0-1), C Dwyer (0-2); B Conroy (0-1), T Fitzgerald (0-1), PJ Scully (0-5, 3f). Subs: D Peacock for T Fitzgerald, D Palmer (0-1) for J A Delaney, J Purcell (0-1) for C Dwyer, J Campion (0-2) for W Hyland, B Reddin for Z Keenan.

Referee - P O'Dwyer.

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