Leinster under-21 FC first round/Laois 2-13 Louth 0-7:FOR THE second year in a row Laois overcame Louth at O'Moore Park to maintain their three-year unbeaten record in the province. The champions got off to a perfect start with two early points before Stephen O'Leary finished a great passing movement to the net.

Louth responded with two quick points but Kevin Smith's fine goal midway through the half put Laois 2-4 to 0-2 ahead.

Two points from Louth half back Ger Hoey and one each from Derek Maguire and Conor Rafferty reduced the deficit to 2-4 to 0-6 at the interval. But Laois dominated after the break and Scott Conroy, Zach Tuohy and Steven O'Leary all scored fine points as they eased to victory.

LAOIS: D Maher; J Murphy, M Delaney, B Meredith; R Ryan, J O'Loughlin, K Smith (1-0); C Óg Greene (0-1), G Reddin; C Meredith, S O'Leary (1-2), Z Tuohy (0-1); S Conroy (0-5), D Kingston (0-2), D Carroll (0-2). Subs: J Dempsey for Kingston, K Delaney for Conroy, D Flaherty for Ryan, S Shortall for Smith, J Moore for Meredith.

LOUTH: B Nash; A O'Brien, P Osborne, R Brennan; D Byrne, P Rath, G Hoey 0-2; K White, B Donnelly 0-2; A Kirk, P Smith, S Brennan; D Maguire 0-1, C Rafferty 0-2, D Mulligan; Subs: D Stanfield for Kirk, C Matthews for S Brennan, C Owen for R Brennan, B Flanagan for Mulligan, P Halligan for Smith.

Referee Eddie Craul (Wicklow).