Laois will remain in Division 4 of the Allianz Football League for another year despite an emphatic victory over London in Ruislip on Sunday afternoon.
Laois needed to win but also required Sligo to lose or Wicklow to fail to win. As neither happened, Laois lost out on promotion to Wicklow on the head-to-head rule.
The conditions in Ruislip were difficult with driving rain making the pitch very heavy while there was also a strong breeze, which the hosts played with in the first half.
London began with a point in the opening seconds through James Gallagher and he almost had a goal straight from the next kick-out. Scott Osborne made a brilliant save to deny him.
Christopher Duggan and Gallagher extended London's lead before Laois opened their account in the 18th minute.
Evan O'Carroll did really well to create space and land one off his left which lifted Laois.
A minute later, Paddy O'Sullivan kept a ball from Eoin Lowry in play and set up Brian Byrne who drilled a shot into the corner of the net.
London were rattled but they drew level in the 20th minute as James Gallagher slotted his third point of the half.
Their good response continued as Ruadhan McCarthy moved them back ahead but then a moment of genius regained the lead for Laois.
Evan O'Carroll won the ball 65 metres from his own goal and charged forward, beating four London defenders, before unleashing a thunderbolt into the top corner.
That was in the 28th minute and about 30 seconds later, the ball was in the London net again.
From the next attack, Paul Kingston dropped a shot short but London keeper Noel Maher fumbled it and Mark Barry poked the ball across the goal where Eoin Lowry was on hand to tap it into the empty net.
James Gallagher replied but Mark Barry ended the half with a point for Laois to lead 3-2 to 0-6 at the break.
Laois introduced Padraig Kirwan at half time and his first action was to score Laois's third point from a tight angle which was quickly added to by Mark Barry.
Christopher Farley opened London's account with a free but Evan O'Carroll maintained Laois's seven point lead with his second of the game and quickly followed that with his third.
Laois then introduced Dylan Kavanagh and he combined with Evan O'Carroll to set up a goal for fellow sub Padraig Kirwan which put the game to bed by the 54th minute.
To their credit, London kept going and were rewarded ten minutes from the end as Liam Gallagher smashed in a goal.
But Laois were not about to let them back into the game with Paddy O'Sullivan setting up Mark Barry for their fifth goal before the end.
Sub Brian Daly added a sixth for Laois but Daniel Clarke grabbed London's second as injury time began.
There were no more scores as Laois won by 11 points in the end.
Laois: Scott Osborne; Sean Greene, Trevor Collins, Robbie Pigott; Sean O'Flynn, Mark Timmons, Brian Byrne (1-00); Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin, Kevin Swayne, Paul Kingston, Paddy O’Sullivan; Eoin Lowry (1-00), Evan O’Carroll (1-03), Mark Barry (1-02).
Subs: Padraig Kirwan (1-01) for O'Flynn (ht, inj), Dylan Kavanagh for Swayne (46), Niall Corbet for Lowry (55), Ciaran Burke for Larkin (56), Brian Daly (1-00) for O'Carroll (61)
London: Noel Maher; Conor O'Neill, Michael Clarke, Nathan McElwaine; Liam Gallagher (1-00), Conal Gallagher, Eoin Flanagan; Daniel Clarke (1-00), Joshua Obahor; Ruadhan McCarthy (0-01), Daire Rooney, Christopher Duggan (0-01); Christopher Farley (0-1f), James Gallagher (0-04, 0-01f), Eoin Walsh.
Subs: Niall O’Leary for C Gallagher and Oran Kerr for Flanagan (both ht), Fionn Gallagher for McCarthy (41), Ryan Tohill (0-01) for Rooney (55), Henry Walsh for McElwaine (58)
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
