Laois eliminate the champions

Mick O'Dwyer masterminded a shock this evening after his Laois side - rejuvenated following their heavy defeat to Dublin - dumped…

Mick O'Dwyer masterminded a shock this evening after his Laois side - rejuvenated following their heavy defeat to Dublin - dumped All-Ireland champions Tyrone out of the football championships (0-9 to 0-6).

Played in winter-like conditions, Laois stunned Tyrone with a tenacious, spirited performance in front of their own fans at Portlaoise and now go into the hat for tomorrow's qualifier draw with pep in their step.

With the aid of a stiff breeze behind them, Laois opened a deserved three point lead after 12 minutes.  Billy Sheehan was a constant threat throughout and found his range with an important early score.

But despite their early endeavour, Laois led by just three points at the break (0-6 to 0-3).  They kicked eight wides in the opening period and their advantage was not as sizeable as they would have preferred.

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Tyrone, though, failed to use the wind to their advantage after the break, and this allowed Laois dictate.

In fact, Mickey Harte's men found scoring opportunities difficult to come by as Laois stuck to their guns and defended passionately.

Although substitute Stephen O'Neill pointed with a beautiful long range free, Tyrone could never bridge the gap and struggled to contain a Laois side that patiently worked the ball forward time and again.

Indeed Laois should have extended their lead but Noel Garvan's late goal chance was well saved by goalkeeper John Divine who raced off his line to narrow the angle.

Chris Conway, however, was on hand to revive Laois' challenge and pointed late on to reinstate their three point advantage and with it his side's ticket to the next qualifying round.

In Clones, Matty Forde let his football do the talking as his Wexford side outfoxed Monaghan.

The star forward could yet be banned following an alleged stamping incident in the Leinster semi-final defeat to Offaly but scored six of his side's tally to see Wexford through.

Fermanagh ran out five point winners over Clare in Ennis.

SFC Qualifiers
Laois 0-9 Tyrone 0-6
Wexford 0-8 Monaghan 0-6
Fermanagh 0-15 Clare 0-10

SHC Qualifiers
Laois  1-13 Waterford 2-17
Galway 3-21 Westmeath 0-6
Clare 2-15 Offaly 1-9
Limerick 2-16 Dublin 1-12