Laois booked themselves a Croke Park date, when progressing to the last four of the Tailteann Cup. A final 25 minutes where they outscored their hosts 1-5 to no score saw Billy Sheehan’s men dump out Limerick.

The Treaty will be kicking themselves, as well as failing to score in the closing stages of this clash, Mark Fitzgerald’s men gifted Laois a goal which ultimately decided this contest.

Laois, buoyed by a deserved win away to Fermanagh last weekend, appear now to have momentum heading to Croke Park, where they will likely be underdogs once again.

There was little to separate these sides early on, with Laois ahead 0-4 to 0-3 by the tenth minute. This was despite a fast Limerick start where they’d sprinted three points ahead. On target were Cathal Downes, Barry Coleman and James Naughton (mark). Back came Laois, with efforts from Mark Barry (free), Kieran Lillis and Patrick O’Sullivan. Captain Evan O’Carroll had them ahead for the first time.

There was a three-point lead for Laois by the 28^th minute, as James Finn tapped over a point. But Limerick, relegated form Division Two, enjoyed a purple patch either side of the interval. Four points from Naughton was part of eight on the bounce with Laois held for 20 minutes of action.

Leading 0-14 to 0-9, the Munster men were in a good position, but they struggled to find their form late in the clash. Indeed, no score in the final 25 plus minutes of action tells its own story.

Instead, Laois found their scores, 1-5, and galloped to victory. The goal, on 67 minutes, arrived when a back-pass to Donal O’Sullivan was intercepted by Colm Murphy. He finished to give Laois a two point buffer. There was an insurance point from ‘keeper Killian Roche who kicked a ’45’.

Limerick hunted a goal which would have forced extra-time, but in a crowded goalmouth they were thwarted. Laois head for Croke Park, Limerick re-group over a long off-season.