Derry 2-12 Laois 1-9:The scoreline suggests a comfortable victory for the visitors to Portlaoise on Saturday night but Laois were competitive for three quarters of the game but faded in the final run-in.
The sides had clashed in the championship qualifiers last July when Paddy Bradley threatened to demolish Laois on his own. When the All-Star forward crashed home an early goal on Saturday it looked like he was about to repeat his heroics.
However, full back Cathal Ryan did well in the subsequent personal battle. At the other end, Billy Sheehan gave the home team great hope when, with his side trailing 1-1 to 0-3, he raced through the visitors' defence to score a fine goal after 12 minutes.
Derry responded with points from Colin Devlin and Ciarán Mullan and the sides were still all square after an exchange of points between James Conway and Michael J Tierney. Ross Munnelly and Mark Lynch traded points and a late Tierney point left the teams all square at the interval, 1-6 to 1-6.
The second half was tough and scores were hard to come by in the opening stages.
Mullan eventually restored the visitors' lead with a fine point but a great passing movement saw Laois respond again through Billy Sheehan.
Ten minutes into the half Derry edged ahead again when the influential Mullan added a second point but again Laois replied with a nice point from close range by Tierney.
Derry were beginning to take control at midfield, Laois replaced Kevin Meaney with Colm Kelly, who went to full forward, allowing Brendan Quigley move to a more favoured midfield position.
Derry continued to dominate and when Mullan added his third of the half Laois were in arrears again. After some good work Colin Parkinson sent over a spectacular point to leave matters all square and 20 minutes remaining.
Bradley then took possession and fired over a classic point and from there to the finish the Oak Leaf were in total command. Enda Muldoon then slipped the home defence and put two between the sides.
Laois began to tire and were punished when a good passing movement was completed with Mark Lynch slamming home a second goal from close range. From the kick-out Mullin completed a great performance by sending over his fifth point.
DERRY: B Gillis; K McGuckin, N McCusker, F McEldowney; L Hinphey, M McBride, M McIvor; F Doherty, J Conway (0-1); M Lynch (1-1), B McGoldrick, E Muldoon (0-2); C Devlin (0-2), Paddy Bradley (1-01), C Mullan (0-5). Subs: Conleth Gilligan for Devlin; Cathal O'Kane for Muldoon; Kevin McCloy for McBride.
LAOIS: M Nolan; C Healy, C Ryan, R Stapleton; B McCormack, D Rooney, P McMahon; P Clancy (0-1), K Meaney; R Munnelly (0-1), J O'Loughlin (0-1), B Sheehan (1-1); M Tierney (0-3), B Quigley, C Parkinson (0-2). Subs: P O'Leary for Stapleton; P Lawlor for Parkinson; C Kelly for Meaney, P Dunne for M Tierney.
Referee: Pat McEneaney (Monaghan)
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