St. Patrick's...0-11 Knockbeg...0-8: Knockbeg, whose last title was won in 1974, were backboned by a number of players who had helped Laois win the All-Ireland minor title last year.
A minute into injury time David Conway, who won a Laois senior football medal with Arles-Kilcruise last year, sent over a magnificent equaliser to send the game into extra time.
After an early exchange of points between Conway and Stephen O'Toole, it looked as if another meeting might be needed. But then Cian Ward gave Navan the lead and late points from Henry Finnegan and Shane O'Rourke insured victory for St Patrick's.
ST PAT'S: D Clare; C McGuinness, K Reilly, N McMahon; P Murray, C Kenny, W Donegan; S O'Rourke (0-2), B Meade; S O'Toole (0-1), H Finnegan (0-3), D Corcoran; K Mulvanney (0-1), C Ward (0-4), P Smyth. Subs: M Gleeson for C McGuinness; C Martin for P Murray.
KNOCKBEG: C Munnelly; K O'Neill, P Kelly, M Stapleton; B Cox, C Begley, D Lynskey; S Murphy (0-1), S O'Neill; C Doran (0-2), P O'Shea, B Byrne; S O'Shea (0-1), I Fleming (0-1), D Conway (0-3). Sub: B O'Shea for B Cox.
Referee: J Bannon (Longford).
- The death took place at the weekend of Paddy Ruschitzko of Polish descent, who captained the Laois hurlers to their last Leinster senior title, in 1949.
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