O'BYRNE CUP SHIELD SEMI-FINALS Laois 0-15 DIT 0-7LAOIS PLAYED a game of the proverbial two halves in Portarlington yesterday. After a very lacklustre first half, the home side came out of the blocks firing in the second half and deserved their victory.

The sides went in level after a disappointing opening 35 minutes on four points apiece.

But, on the restart, Laois were far more emphatic. They rattled off five unanswered points to firmly assume the driving seat.

John McGrath stopped the landslide, but only momentarily as a brace from MJ Tierney put Laois further ahead. There was no stopping Laois now and they were eight ahead with five minutes left.

Despite David Hughes receiving a second yellow card, DIT continued to battle and were rewarded by two late points.

But Laois were to have the last say as David Conway and Ross Munnelly recorded the last two scores of the game.

LAOIS: E Culliton; L Kealy, K Lillis, B Mulligan; D Strong (0-2), P O'Leary, C Boyle (0-1); K Meaney, D Maher (0-1); R Munnelly (0-3), J Finn, A Mahon; MJ Tierney (0-2), G Walsh (0-3, 2f), P Cahillane (0-2). Subs: C Kelly for Finn (13 mins); D Conway (0-1) for Mahon (33); P Clancy for Walsh (41); C Begley for Maher (54); S Julian for O'Leary (65).

DIT: A O'Mara; R Tierney, J Mahon, J Gallagher; N Devereaux, E Reilly, A McLoughlin; P O'Connor, G McKiernan; P Sharry, D Hughes, H Dawson (0-2, 1f); J McGrath (0-3), D Shatwell, E Murray. Subs: P Cunningham (0-1) for Devereaux (16 mins, inj); T Parsons for O'Connor (half-time); S Flynn for Mahon (49); C Walsh for Murray (50); P Maguire (0-1) for McGrath (60).

Referee: G McCormack (Dublin).