Cavan footballers marked their return to the premier division with a comprehensive victory over Laois at Portlaoise yesterday. Played on a very heavy pitch, the visitors adapted better to the conditions and took the lead after three minutes when Finbar O'Reilly converted a free.

The home side settled and led by a point after 12 minutes. The sides were still level after 26 minutes but two late points from Aidan Forde and Finbar O'Reilly put Cavan ahead 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval.

On the change over, the sides exchanged points in the opening five minutes and were level again after 45 minutes when Ian Fitzgerald converted a free. Laois regained the lead after 47 minutes but a minute later the sides were level again.

Cavan took complete control at this stage and scored three unanswered points. The turning point came 10 minutes from the finish when Jason Reilly scored a Cavan goal and further points from Dermot McCabe put the issue beyond doubt.

Almost on the call of time, Cavan full-forward Reilly scored his second goal to put a one-sided look on the scoreboard.

St Patrick's, Maghera (Derry) collected the Ulster Colleges hurling championship title (Magee Cup) by beating La Salle, Belfast 2-9 to 2-1 at Casement Park.

CAVAN: A Donohoe; G Sheridan, T Prior, R Donohoe; A Forde (0-1), E Jackson (0-1), P Reilly; C Clarke, J Doonan; P Galligan, L Reilly, D McCabe (0-3); M Graham (0-1), J Reilly (2-2), F O'Reilly (0-5). Subs: J Tierney for P Galligan; B Morris for M Graham.

LAOIS: F Byron, J P Kehoe, E Delaney, M Slavin, C Parkinson, P Conway, A Fennelly (0-1), J Kealy, M Lambe (0-2), G Ramsbottom (0-1), I Fitzgerald (0-2), M Lawlor (0-1), P Dunne (0-1), C Conway (0-1), B McDonald. Subs: R McEvoy for C Parkinson; P Langton (0-1) for B McDonald.

Referee: P Lyons (Kerry).