A dramatic late rally by Laois, which produced three goals in the final 15 minutes, enabled the home county to draw with Louth in this inaugural Pat Butler Trophy senior football tournament at Portarlington last evening.
Louth were the dominant team for most of the 70 minutes with midfielder Seamus O'Hanlon and Leinster player Colin Kelly in outstanding form.
At half-time Louth held a commanding 1-12 to 0-6 lead which they had extended to 11 points with just 15 minutes remaining. But then Laois goals from David Sweeney, Leo Turley and Wayne Scully trimmed Louth's lead to a minimum and in injury time Damien Delaney scored an equalising point.
So the cup went unclaimed at the end of the game and the counties will meet against later this season.