Brendan O’Brien O’Moore Park

Laois 0-14 Tyrone 1-14

Today saw a third win on the trot in Division 2 for Mickey Harte’s Tyrone, but they made hard work of securing it having led by eight points with just 13 minutes to play in Portlaoise.

Laois had been boosted by the return to the starting side of three senior players – Colm Begley, Conor Meredith and Brendan Quigley – for the first time this campaign while the influential John O’Loughlin was another returnee, in his case from injury.

Tyrone got the faster start, but Laois recovered to take a six points to four lead by the 23rd-minute.

They wouldn’t score again in the half and, with Tyrone tacking on four points unanswered, the momentum had clearly shifted to the away team.

Both had been guilty of wayward shooting in an opening period which swung from end to end - and on a perfect day for football - and the effect was apparent as the half wore on with a number of players breathing heavy and standing with hands on hips.

It got worse for Laois before it got better.

Tyrone began the second-half as they ended the first by rattling off four unanswered points.

Laois finally ended their drought after 21 minutes courtesy of the hard-working O’Loughlin, but it seemed evident then that the result was confirmed.

A goal from sub Padraig McNulty with 13 minutes to go merely extended the margin to eight points before the home side began to chip away at it.

Incredibly, they almost pulled a draw out of the bag and would have had goalkeeper Michael O’Neill not blocked Niall Donoher at the last.

Scorers for Laois: D Kingston (0-5, 3f); J O’Loughlin (0-3); G Walsh (0-2); K Lillis, R O’Connor and P Kingston (all 0-1); P Cahillane (0-1f).

Scorers for Tyrone: M Donnelly (0-3); P McNulty (1-0); D McCurry (0-3, 1f); R O’Neill (0-2, 2f); T McCann and M Sludden (0-2); M Bradley, B Tierney (both 0-1).

Laois: G Brody; R Kehoe, C Begley, P Cotter; D Strong, D Sealer, G Dillon; B Quigley, J O’Loughlin; N Donoher, G Walsh, C Meredith; P Cahillane, D Kingston, C Begley.

Subs: D O’Connor for Cotter (39); R O’Connor for Walsh (47); E Costello for Meredith (52); G O’Reilly for Dillon (56); P Kingston for Cahillabne (59); A Farrell for Strong (63).

Tyrone: M O’Neill; C McCarron, J McMahon, HP McGeary; T McCann, A McCrory, B Tierney; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly; N Sludden, M Bradley, C Meyler; D McCurry, S Cavanagh, R O’Neill.

Subs: J Monroe for Tierney (48); R Donnelly for Meyler and P Harte for Bradley (both 50); P McNulty for C Cavanagh (56); L Brennan for McCurry (58); P Hampsey for McMahon (60).

Referee: P O’Sullivan (Kerry).

Meanwhile, Galway beat Derry 1-18 to 2-12 at Celtic Park, with two late Derry goals from Emmett McGuckin and Niall Loughlin papering over a poor home performance which never looked like troubling the impressive Tribemen.

Galway took control from early on, Derry going 16 first half minutes without scoring as but still finding themselves only three points adrift at half time at 0-10 to 0-07.

Galway deserved more from their opening 30 minutes and set about rectifying the issue within minutes of the restart as the superb Johnny Heaney pointed before Adrian Varley sent a fierce shot into the Derry net to establish a 1-11 to 0-07 lead.

From there, Derry never looked like reeling the visitors in, though 65th and 71st minute goals took the shine off a score that should have been more emphatic.

Cavan beat Meath 1-20 to 1-13, coming from eight-points down in an absorbing tie at Pairc Tailteann.

The hosts led 1-9 to 0-5 at half-time and were then outscored 1-15 to 0-4 in the second half.

Eamon Wallace scored the goal as Meath raced into a 1-4 to 0-2 lead after 22 minutes.

With Mickey Newman in good form from frees the hosts increased their lead before the break.

Sean Tobin increased the lead on the restart but Cavan slowly gained a stranglehold on proceedings.

Keeper Raymond Galligan converted a long range free and when David Givney found the net on 44 minutes it left two points between the teams.

Meath were ragged at that stage and Cavan eventually drew level through Conor Moynagh.

The home side regained the lead momentarily but Johnson levelled and then pointed his side ahead for the first time on 58 minutes.

There was only one team in it after that as Cavan pressed home their superiority and Moynagh, Niall Murray and Dara McVeety shot some super points.

To compound a bad day for the Meath men keeper Paddy O’Rourke received a straight red card deep into added time.