Mayo welcome first point in NFL
Billed as a bottom-of-the-league encounter, this game was anything but.
Ending on level terms - 1-13 apiece - both Laois and Mayo may rue missed chances from their encounter in O'Moore Park this evening, however both sides showed glimpes of the free-flowing performances they could produce in the coming months in what was a cracking game in blustery conditions.
The Laoismen edged the first half by 1-7 to 0-7, the aerial threat of Padraig Clancy in midfield and Brendan Quigley at number 14 played a part in the majority of Laois' first half scores, particularly in Quigley's goal near half-time.
However, it was the welcome return of Ronan McGarrity as a substitute on 31 minutes that enabled Mayo to stay in touch. McGarrity's presence stifled Clancy's aerial threat and this, coupled with an Andy Moran penalty early in the second half, ensured both forward lines exchanged points for the latter stages.
On a night when the sides were level on ten occasions, the neutral was the real winner as both Laois and Mayo remain trapped in a relegation dogfight in Divison 1 without a win to date.
