Laois began their first campaign in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League in over a decade with a battling 2-18 to 0-17 victory at home to Down.
Debutant Jer Quinlan was the star for the hosts as he hit 1-03 from play, whilst Willie Dunphy and Aaron Dunphy each scored 0-3.
Tim Prenter was excellent in defeat for Down as he struck four points from play and caused trouble throughout.
The hosts led by seven points at half-time, but a brilliant second-half resurgence from Down asked questions of them in the second half.
Stephen 'Picky’ Maher fired Laois into the lead from a tight angle within seconds of the throw in and doubled the lead with a free straight after.
Finn Turpin got Down off the mark on three minutes, but in a blistering start to the game Willie Dunphy landed one at the other end for the hosts.
Maher and Pearse Og McCrickard traded frees as the frantic nature of the opening lessened.
Laois had the wind advantage and they dominated the ball. League debutant Jer Quinlan landed a point before following with a brilliantly taken goal on 14 minutes.
Down began to find their feet and rose two white flags in a row through McCrickard before Aaron Dunphy and Eoghan Sands traded points.
Tim Prenter found his range for Down and split the posts on a couple of occasions, but they couldn’t shake off the hosts as Willie Dunphy and Quinlan each hit two brilliant scores and Laois led by five on the half hour.
Another Laois debutant, Tom Cuddy of Camross, got his name on the scoresheet with a point brilliantly hit on the run and the hosts finished the half with a flurry as the Dunhpys, Willie and Aaron, each scored to make it a seven point gap at the break.
Down burst off the blocks in the second half and struck the first five points in a row to reduce the deficit to just two.
Prenter and McCrickard each hit a brace and Donal Hughes added the other as they put Laois on the ropes early.
It took 10 minutes for the hosts to get off the mark in the second period and it was Quinlan again for his third of the game.
Turpin and Daithi Sands each pointed for the Ulster side and their tails were up hurling with the wind as their backs.
Tom Cuddy landed his second of the game for Laois and McCrickard quickly replied with a wonder score on 54 minutes.
We wouldn’t see another score for 12 minutes, but there was plenty of drama as both sides were reduced to 14 men, Willie Dunphy saw the line for Laois as he connected with Matt Conlon’s helmet while contesting for a ball and Mark Fisher saw red for a high tackle on Podge Delaney.
Paul Sheehan brought the sides level on 66 minutes and it was all to play for but Laois found another gear at the right time as they saw out the game with 1-4.
Cody Comerford struck from play before Mark Dowling rattled the net with a brilliant goal and Stephen Maher put them out of sight with three points from dead balls.
SCORERS - Laois: Jer Quinlan 1-03, Stephen Maher 0-6 (four frees, one 65), Aaron Dunphy and Willie Dunphy 0-3 each, Mark Dowling 1-0, Tom Cuddy 0-2, Cody Comerford 0-1. Down: Pearse Og McCrickard 0-7 (five frees), Tim Prenter 0-4, Finn Turpin 0-2, Donal Hughes, Eoghan Sands, Daithi Sands and Paul Sheehan 0-1 each.
Laois: Enda Rowland; Ian Shanahan, Liam O’Connell, Diarmuid Conway; Tom Cuddy, Ryan Mullaney, Gearoid Lynch; Willie Dunphy, Paddy Purcell; Aaron Dunphy, David Dooley, Mark Dowling; Jer Quinlan, Martin Phelan, Stephen Maher.
Subs: Tomas Keyes for A Dunphy (44), Podge Delaney for Lynch (48), Fiachra C Fennell for Mullaney (53), Cody Comerford for Dooley (57), Aidan Corby for Purcell (70).
Down: Stephen Keith; Conor Cassidy, Barry Trainor, Darragh Mallon; Matt Conlon, John McManus, Caolan Taggart; Liam Savage, Donal Hughes; Pearse Óg McCrickard, Eoghan Sands, Finn Turpin; Daithi Sands, Chris Egan, Tim Prenter.
Subs: Daniel Toner fo E Sands (44), Oisin MacManus for Turpin (50), Paul Sheehan for Egan (53), Mark Fisher for Conlon (57), Ciaran Mulligan for Mallon (70)
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).
