Derry added Laois to their list of qualifier scalps as they booked their place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals at Breffni Park tonight.
Paddy Bradley kicked seven points from frees as the Oak Leafers held off a late comeback bid from Laois.
The Leinster side were 0-05 to 0-01 down early on but two injury-time points from Colm Parkinson left them trailing by 0-09 to 0-08 at half-time.
Goals from Padraig McMahon and Billy Sheehan sandwiched a Paul Murphy major but it was Derry who finished the stronger.
Paddy Crozier's men began the game at a blistering pace with points from Conleith Gilligan, Paul Murphy and Paddy Bradley sending the Ulstermen into a 0-03 to 0-00 lead.
Indeed Derry dominated possession in the opening ten minutes as Laois struggled to cope with a resilient outfit who were certainly clinical in front of the posts.
It took an inspirational burst from defence by Brian McCormack to earn the first score for the Midlanders in the 10th minute, with McCormack slotting between the posts with some aplomb.
However this was a blip on Derry's part in a strong opening quarter with Bradley and Mark Lynch adding points for a 0-05 to 0-01 buffer by the 13th-minute.
Ross Munnelly and Conleith Gilligan traded points but Laois suddenly sprung to life and the introduction of Rory Stapleton to the full-back line, in place of Cathal Ryan, was the catalyst for a comeback.
Points from defender Joe Higgins, free-taker Michael Tierney and Paul Lawlor in a three-and-a-half minute spell really inspired Laois as they cut the deficit to a point with some fine support play from Kevin Fitzpatrick paving the way for Lawlor's score.
Derry failed to crumble under pressure with quick points from Bradley and midfielder James Conway but Crozier's side came up against a unified Laois team for the remainder of the half.
Firstly, it was two inspirational saves from goalkeeper Fergal Byron which rallied the Laois troops. Half-forward Mark Lynch was put through one-on-one with Byron but the 2003 All-Star made a fine save.
Then from the rebound, Colin Devlin was on hand for a likely goal but the Ballinderry player had his shot stopped by a fully outstretched Byron.
Tierney and Paul Murphy traded points before an inspirational finish to the half from Laois - in particular half-forward Colm Parkinson who scored two points in injury-time to cut the gap to 0-09 to 0-08 at half-time.
Laois made a fiery start to the second half with Parkinson still in flying form as he added to his tally with a third point, 40 seconds after the restart, to level the contest for the first time.
The momentum was firmly with Liam Kearns' troops at this point but Derry sprung back to life with three points in succession from Bradley (0-02) and Fergal Doherty.
A 45th-minute goal from half-back Padraig McMahon sent the large Laois travelling support into raptures as, in a crowded goalmouth, he poked the ball to the net to square the game for a second time.
However Derry once again bounced back strongly with points from Devlin and Gilligan to take a two-point lead before half-forward Murphy grabbed Derry's first and only goal to open up a six-point gap.
Laois failed to give up but when they needed luck, a close range Billy Sheehan shot from an acute angle was just wide of the Derry goal with 15 minutes remaining.
Nonetheless, Kearns' side finally managed to take their first score in 13 minutes from a pointed Tierney free to cut the gap to five points.
Lively substitute Sheehan was certainly putting himself about. The Kerry native received a yellow card quickly after his introduction but he managed to find the back of the Derry net in the 61st-minute to reduce the arrears to two points.
Having seen off Armagh and Mayo in previous rounds, Derry still looked well in control and capable of pulling clear.
They continued to pile on the pressure in the closing stages and a fine point from defender Gerard O'Kane sealed their well-merited four-point win.
Derry: B Gillis; M McGoldrick, K McCloy, G O'Kane (0-01); L Hinphey. SM Lockhart, F McEldowney; F Doherty (0-01), J Conway (0-01); M Lynch (0-02), P Murphy (1-02), E Muldoon; C Devlin (0-01), Paddy Bradley (0-07, 7f), C Gilligan (0-03, 2f).
Subs used: J Keenan for Hinphey (h-t), K McGuckin for McGoldrick (47 mins), R Wilkinson for Murphy (54), G Donaghy for Lynch (61), Patsy Bradley for Gilligan (67).
Laois: F Byron; C Ryan, T Kelly, J Higgins (0-01); P McMahon (1-00), A Fennelly, B McCormack (0-01); P Clancy, B Quigley; P O'Leary, K Fitzpatrick, C Parkinson (0-03); M Tierney (0-04, 3f), P Lawlor (0-01), R Munnelly (0-01).
Subs used: R Stapleton for Ryan (21 mins), B Sheehan (1-00) for Lawlor (42), D Brennan for Fitzpatrick (60).
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).
