Table-toppers Laois had to battle all the way to take full points from Tipperary in a very competitive Allianz Football League Division 4 tie at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Favourites for promotion, Laois had goalkeeper Killian Roche to thank for this 0-11 to 1-07 success. In the 46th minute he denied Tipp a goal, stopping Sean O'Connor's penalty kick after Mark Stokes was fouled. The sides were level 1-04 to 0-07 at the time, and had Tipp got a second goal, they would most likely have taken the points.
Tipperary had jumped into an early lead with a Sean O'Connor goal off a Paddy Creedon delivery in the ninth minute at 1-01 to 0-01, but Laois, ably led by Evan O'Carroll, fought back to level after 23 minutes through a Mick Barry point and then forge ahead with a Shaun Fitzpatrick point before half-time.
Tipp thought they had a second goal in the 32nd minute but Peter McGarry’s effort came off the woodwork but Laois were 0-06 to 1-02 ahead at the break.
The sides were level six minutes into the second half (0-07 to 1-04) when O'Connor’s penalty for Tipperary was saved by Roche. Laois edged ahead through Fitzpatrick but then had O'Carroll black-carded. Tipp took full advantage to hit three points for a 1-07 to 0-08 lead after 52 minutes.
Restored to full strength, Laois finished strongly with points from Kieran Lillis, Evan O'Carroll and Paul Kingston in the closing five minutes to make it four straight wins in their campaign.
This was a big win for Laois who are hotly fancied to secure promotion. Mark Barry, O'Carroll, Fitzpatrick, Mark Timmons and Seamus Lacey had big games for them but it was Roche’s crucial penalty save which got them over the line.
It was heartbreak for Tipp. This was a must-win game for them and their hopes of figuring in the promotion shake-up are over with just three points from four games. Despite the best efforts of Paudie Feehan, Jimmy Feehan, Paddy Creedon, Cathal Deely, Jack Kennedy and O'Connor, they came up marginally short.
Laois: K Roche; B Dempsey, S Lacey, J Kelly; E Buggie, M Timmons, B Byrne(0-01); C Heffernan, D Larkin (0-01); K Swane, N Dunne, S Fitzpatrick(0-02); M Barry(0-01), E O Carroll(0-04),P Kingston(0-01);
Subs: E Lowry for Swane (43mins), K Lillis (0-01) for Larkin (54mins), S O Flynn for Byrne (61mins), M Dempsey for Dunne (61mins), S Fingleton for Buggie (71mins).
Tipperary: E Comerford; S O Connell, J Feehan, J Morris; S Grogan, P Feehan, K Costello; C Deely, M Stokes; D O Leary, J Kennedy (0-03), P McGarry; J Kennedy, P Creedon, S O Connor (1-03).
Subs: C Kennedy for O Leary (24mins), R Quigley (0-01) for J Kennedy (h/t); E Moloney for Morris (44mins), R O Dowd for McGarry (62mins), S Neville for P Feehan (68mins);
Referee: F Pierce (Offaly)
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