An enterprising first-half from Laois was key to their opening round away win over Sligo, 2-11 to 0-11, at Markievicz Park.
Although five points up at half-time, 1-8 to 0-6, Laois were subdued for a spell in the second period – as Sligo improved – but a second goal wrapped up a deserved win.
Centre-forward Paul Kingston contributed six points for a Laois side who already look like favourites to finish in the promotion slots.
The Billy Sheehan-managed midlanders came to Markievicz Park looking for an immediate response to last year's relegation from Division Three – a dispiriting run of just two wins in seven games.
Sligo, meanwhile, were attempting yet another escape from the AFL’s basement tier, having made the drop to Division Four in 2019 – a campaign that saw them lose all seven of their games that year.
Tony McEntee, in his third year at the helm of the Markievicz County, gave an NFL debut to goalkeeper Daniel Lyons, a former Sligo underage netminder, who came in for the injured Aidan Devaney.
The hosts started with a lot of possession but a two-spell with the ball ended with a wide – one of five missed chances in their underpar opening period.
Laois opened the scoring with a point from Eoin Lowry in the sixth minute, with Sligo levelling matters two minutes later when Niall Murphy pointed from Pat Spillane’s pass. But this was the only time that they were level in the first-half as the O'Moore Men, who began to dominate in the midfield exchanges, gradually built up a lead on the scoreboard.
The visitors moved 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by the 16th minute and, as they counter-attacked with purpose, Mark Barry scored one of their best points in that first-half.
Sligo full-forward Patrick O’Connor’s excellent point halved the deficit, 0-04 to 0-02, but Laois took a firm grip on proceedings when Eoin Lowry goaled from Niall Corbet’s work. They got players behind the ball to curb Sligo, but the hosts made too many errors and lacked attacking ingenuity as they tried to make inroads on the scoreboard.
Laois were five points up at half-time, 1-08 to 0-06, with four of their eight points coming from centre-forward Paul Kingston.
Weather conditions worsened in the second-half as Sligo clawed their way back. Three points without reply, including scores from the industrious Darragh Cummins and pointed frees from Sean Carrabine and Niall Murphy made it a two-point game, 1-08 to 0-09, with 53 minutes on the clock.
Laois, who were denied a second goal when Daniel Lyons blocked Evan O’Carroll’s goalbound shot, didn’t score in the second period until O’Carroll’s excellent pointed free – from a ground kick – in the 57th minute.
Sligo still kept within reach in the closing stages and looked like they might salvage something but a second goal from Laois – substitute Lee Walker netted from Evan O’Carroll’s assist – put the Leinster county on course for a solid victory.
Sligo: Daniel Lyons, Nathan Mullen, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons, Paul Kilcoyne, Darragh Cummins (0-01), Luke Nicholson, Pat Spillane, Conor Griffin, Luke Towey, Sean Carrabine (0-04, 3f), David Quinn (0-01), Cian Lally (0-01), Patrick O'Connor (0-02), Niall Murphy (0-02, 1f)
Subs used: Donal Conlon for Conor Griffin, h-t; Paul McNamara for Nathan Mullen, h-t; Mark Walsh for Evan Lyons, 51; Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch for Pat Spillane, 55; Alan Reilly for Luke Nicholson, 64
Laois: Scott Osborne, Sean Greene, Trevor Collins, Robert Piggott, Sean O’Flynn, Mark Timmons, Brian Byrne, Kieran Lillis, James Finn, Mark Barry (0-01), Paul Kingston (0-06, 2f), Patrick O’Sullivan, Eoin Lowry (1-01), Evan O’Carroll (0-02, 1 'mark’, 1f), Niall Corbet (0-01, 1f)
Subs used: Kevin Swayne for Niall Corbet, 54; Lee Walker (1-00) for Eoin Lowry, 66; Brian Daly for Evan O’Carroll, 68; Padraig Kirwan for Mark Barry, 70+2; Cathal Doyle for Patrick O’Sullivan, 70+4
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
