Division One relegation play-off/Down 2-16 Laois 0-19: Recovering well from some heavy defeats earlier in the campaign, Down produced a battling display to prove the predictions wrong and save their Division One status in a well-contested relegation final play-off at Páirc Tailteann, Navan, yesterday.
Down were the more determined side throughout, and the contributions of unerring free-taker Martin Coulter and classy centre forward Paul Braniff were crucial. In contrast, Laois sharp-shooter James Young, while sending over nine points, also hit a number of untypical wides.
Braniff struck the first big blow for Down, darting through the middle before shooting to the net on 14 minutes. That prompted Laois to bring on dual star Darren Rooney and they recovered sufficiently to get their noses in front - 0-12 to 1-8 - at the break.
The small attendance saw the sides on level terms nine times before Coulter hit a penalty to the net 21 minutes into the second half to give the Ulster outfit a 2-12 to 0-16 lead. Down never surrendered the lead and Laois will play in Division Two next season.
DOWN: G Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray, S Roddy; G Clarke, K Courtney, P Hughes; A Savage (0-1), C Coulter; R McGrattan (0-1), P Braniff (1-4), G Adair (0-1); M Coulter (1-7, goal from penalty, all points from frees), B McGourty (0-1), S Clarke. Subs: J McGrattan (0-1) for C Coulter (half-time); E McGuinness for S Clarke (70 mins).
LAOIS: P Mullaney; B Campion, P Cuddy, P Mahon; J Phelan, J Walsh, J Hyland; J Young (0-9, six frees, one 65), J Fitzpatrick; K O'Keeffe, D Cuddy (0-2), S Dwyer (0-3); D Culleton, P Cuddy, J Hooban (0-1). Subs: D Rooney (0-3) for O'Keeffe (15 mins); C Healy (0-1) for Culleton (43 mins); J Brophy for Dwyer (58 mins); P Russell for D Cuddy (61 mins).
Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).
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