Strictly no Mexican Waves. Tyrone won't have too many regrets about news of their second successive National Football League title getting lost amidst the large-point headlines from The Crucible and the English Premiership. If you have to win the league it's best to do it without fanfare. So it was done. The applause was polite.

So, now for your next trick? Last year Tyrone went to Clones and enjoyed a league final romp against Cavan. They brought about half that side to Croke Park yesterday but still had plenty in hand. You'd bet they were thinking of summer and the danger it will bring before they'd even lifted the trophy.

This was a greater setback for the losers than it was a boost for the winners. Laois may have a messiah in the form of Mick O'Dwyer, but he hasn't ignited the midland imagination just yet. Twelve years ago with Kildare he took his new charges to a league final and filled Croke Park. There were just 30,293 in the ground yesterday.

Perhaps it is as well. This was no place for delirious dilettantes with high expectations. Tyrone killed off whatever light danger there was of hysteria in the stadium by administering six swift punches to the Laois nose in the opening minutes. Biff! Biff! From Peter Canavan. Two more from Stephen O'Neill and one apiece from Eoin Mulligan and Enda McGinley. Laois were never coming back after that.

In the end there was a 10-point buffer separating the teams and Tyrone were picking their scores with an almost deliberate casualness, the final score of the day coming off the boot of substitute Ryan Mellon was typical of the genre.

This was a phoney war anyway. Two sides who have been waiting for some time to cash in their chips on youth investment know that a league title won't pay for what has gone in. As Tyrone manager Mickey Harte said afterwards, "We know what's ahead of us. All the hard work is ahead."

O'Dwyer, the longest tooth in the game, didn't need to say anything. Hard work ahead there too. Laois have championship football against Wexford next Sunday and if they were as insipid as yesterday they'll have to get ready for a tricky summer.

In the Division Two curtain-raiser yesterday, Westmeath and Limerick clashed. Limerick footballers haven't been here recently and Westmeath are getting used again to regular visits. That little edge of familiarity and a crisper full-forward line swayed matters for Westmeath, and their marginal superiority was rewarded four minutes from full time when Martin Flanagan fisted a ball to the Limerick net while three green-shirted players bumped into each other.

It all continues today with the hurling finals.