IT could have been a slog in the swamp but Laois and Leitrim defied the mire to produce an absorbing game in Portlaoise yesterday in a crunch tie in a claustrophobic Division Two.

O'Moore Park was just about playable, the referee inspecting and passing it just 30 minutes before throw in.

The sides were level four times but a 10 minute period in the second half yielded a decisive 1-3 without reply for the home side, and Leitrim never recovered.

The formidable midfield partnership of Tony Maher and P J Dempsey swung the game in Laois's favour. Dempsey had an excellent match, kicking three points and working remorselessly through the heavy going.

Laois target man David Sweeney thrived on the generous supply, kicking four points from play. Tall and powerfully built, Sweeney appears to be a prospect at full forward. Leo Turley has already proven his credentials at this level and did so again yesterday, finishing with 1-2 from play.

However, Leitrim made the first breakthrough. Full forward Adrian Cullen found the ball in his hands after eight minutes when Laois full back Eamonn Delaney threw a panic pass to him in the square, and Cullen duly buried from point blank range.

Laois had a penalty less than 60 seconds later when full hack Seamus Quinn was penalised for fouling Sweeney in the square. Mick Lawlor's shot was low and hard but Leitrim goalkeeper Martin McHugh reacted brilliantly, diving to his left and blocking the shot.

Leitrim led by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break but the pattern had already started to swing Laois's way. Forty seconds after the restart McHugh reacted smartly to save from Tom Bowe with his legs. Two Dempsey points in the first four minutes had them level again but a huge point from substitute Padraig McLoughlin had Leitrim in front again.

But 10 minutes later they were five behind and drifting. Turley's goal, in the 49th minute, was the critical strike in this 1-3 burst Dempsey's floated free from the right hung in the air as Turley arrived at the far post, rising above a static defence to punch it home.

A Pat Donohoe point in the 59th minute looked to have little relevance but, just as the game was fading, Cullen injected fresh drama when he connected perfectly with Darcy's lobbed free to fist a looping effort over Fergal Byron in the Laois goal. Dugdale hit the upright as Leitrim rallied desperately for the winning goal but Laois survived a frantic finale to end the day top of the table.