NFL DIVISION TWO: Laois 1-14 Meath 1-11:NEW-LOOK LAOIS got their campaign off to an excellent start at a wet O'Moore Park yesterday. The game was postponed from Saturday because of the wet ground.

John O’Loughlin put Laois in front with a goal after four minutes. Joe Sheridan hit back with points but three in a row put Laois ahead 1-5 to 0-4 after 20 minutes.

A couple of great saves by Eoin Culleton kept Meath at bay and a exchange of points by Graham Reilly and Ross Munnelly saw Laois lead 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.

Michael John Tierney increased the Laois lead to five within five minutes of the restart but the introduction of Nigel Crawford brought about a massive improvement for Meath and his goal after 48 minutes left the teams all square.

Laois responded with two points each from O’Loughlin and Tierney and, although Meath battled, their only reward was a point from Kevin Reilly. With the last kick of the game Brendan Quigley put three between the teams.

LAOIS:E Culleton; R Kehoe, K Meaney, P McMahon; D Strong, S Julian, C Boyle; B Quigley (0-1), M Timmons; C Begley, J O'Loughlin (1-1), N Donoher (0-1); R Munnelly (0-3, two frees), B Sheehan (0-1), MJ Tierney (0-7, six frees). Subs: D Carroll for Sheehan (40 mins), C Healy for Timmons (McMahon 57 mins), P Clancy for Timmons (59 mins), K Lillis for Kehoe (55mins).

MEATH:B Murphy; G O'Brien, K Reilly (0-1), C King; S Kenny (0-1), B Meade, C McGuinness; M Ward, C Gillespie; S McAnarney (0-2), S O'Rourke (0-1), G Reilly (0-1), P Gilsenan, J Sheridan (0-2), C Ward (0-3, frees). Subs: N Crawford (1-0) for Gillespie (ht), B Farrell for G Reilly (45 mins), A Moyles for Ward (49 mins), P O'Rourke for Gilsenan (60 mins).

Referee:Pat Fox (Westmeath)