Despite former All-Ireland winning minor captain Martin Delaney scoring a goal on his return to Laois colours after a six-year absence, Limerick prevailed having been 1-3 to 0-2 up at the interval.

Stephen Lucey made a great block on a Colm Parkinson goal bound shot after just sixty seconds before Laois went in front from a fifty hit by Chris Conway. Half-forward Stephen Kelly struck the visitors’ left upright in the 13th minute after good work from Eoin Keating but Laois doubled their lead ten minutes later from a Darren Rooney point.

Limerick finally got on the scoreboard from a Muiris Gavin placed ball on nine minutes before half time, and points from Maurice Horan, who ended the game on 0-4, and Damien Reidy allied to Kelly’s goal put them four points up.

Midfielder Jason Stokes hit over Limerick’s first point of the second half as Limerick continued to soak up the Laois pressure and hit on the break. Delaney scored for the visitors on 52 minutes but Limerick’s second goal through Keating killed off their challenge.