Laois 1-13

Derry 0-12

A goal from substitute Eoin Lowry with four minutes remaining proved decisive as Laois put their heavy Leinster SFC semi-final defeat to Meath behind them by beating Derry in Owenbeg.

John Surgue's men will be in the hat on Monday morning for the All-Ireland SFC Qualifier Round 3 draw, despite missing a host of second half goal chances. But they perseverance eventually paid off as they sent the Allianz League Division 4 champions crashing out of the championship.

Derry played against the wind in the first half, but started the stronger with early points from Ryan Bell and Shane McGuigan. The impressive Colm Murphy and Evan O'Carroll restored parity for the winners and the sides traded points thereafter before a pair of Shane McGuigan frees put the hosts two up going into injury-time. However, Daniel O'Reilly got a point back for the O'Moore County to leave the minimum, 0-7 to 0-8, in it at the interval.

Christopher McKaigue restored Derry's lead on the restart before Donie Kingston landed a couple of frees to level again after 40 minutes. Colm Murphy then passed up on two goalscoring chances, sending the first wide before being denied by a Thomas Mallon save.  

Mallon also saved from O'Carroll as Bell and Kingston swapped frees before the latter edged the visitors back in front. O'Carroll and Kingston kicked further Laois points, only for Enda Lynn to restore parity once again.

Laois looked to be in trouble when black cards for Donie Kingston and Robbie Piggott inside a minute was followed by the lead point for Derry from Shane McGuigan with six minutes to go. 

But then came the game's defining moment when sub Lowry scored the only goal after being set up by Marty Scully. 

Six minutes of injury-time were allotted, during which Laois closed the deal with late points from Kieran Lillis and Lowry (free).

Laois - G Brody; S Attride, D Booth, G Dillon; T Collins (0-1), R Pigott, P O'Sullivan; J O'Loughlin, K Lillis (0-1); D O'Reilly (0-1), C Boyle, D Kingston (0-4, 3f); P Kingston, C Murphy (0-3), E O'Carroll (0-2, 1f). Subs: S Byrne for D Booth, M Scully for P Kingston, E Buggie for P O'Sullivan, E Lowry (1-1, 0-1f) for E O'Carroll, M Barry for D Kingston (BC).

Derry - T Mallon; K McKaigue, B Rogers, L McGoldrick; J Rocks, C McKaigue (0-1), N Keenan; C McAtamney, C McFaul (0-1); J Doherty, B Heron (0-2), P Cassidy; S McGuigan (0-5, 4f), R Bell (0-3, 2f), E Lynn. Subs: E Concannon for L McGoldrick, P Coney for J Rocks, C Doherty for J Doherty, C Bradley for R Bell, S F Quinn for E Concannon.

Referee - J Henry.

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