Laois revived their interest in the qualifying rounds with a comfortable win over Clare in Portlaoise on Saturday night. Having benefited from a bye in the first round, it was five weeks since they had hit the field, but their play was, for the most part, sharp and accurate.

The two-point winning margin did not reflect their dominance in a game where Clare tried hard, but were ultimately short on ideas. There were some nervous moments towards the end when substitute Jim Young fired over a point and a goal, yet it was too little too late and Laois were deserving of their win.

Clare kicked a total of 16 wides and that prevented them from making any sustained challenge. The home side were up 0-8 to 0-3 at the break, but then two quick points from Denis Russell closed the gap.

Fitzgerald, however, provided a timely response with three unanswered points that left Laois safe until the end. Corner back David Brennan also contributed two, but even though the 5,000-strong crowd started making an early exit, Clare weren't cooked just yet.

LAOIS: F Byron; D Brennan (0-2), E Delaney, D Ryan; P McDonald, P Conway, J Higgins (0-1); J Kealy (0-1), N Garvan (0-1); G Ramsbottom, I Fitzgerald (0-3, two frees), B McDonald; M O'Brien (0-3), C Parkinson, C Conway (0-2, one free). Subs: K Kelly for Ramsbottom (46 mins), P Clancy for Kealy (64 mins), P Leonard for McDonald (70 mins).

CLARE: J Hanrahan; P Gallagher, D O'Sullivan, P Smith; B Keating, N Hawes, M O'Connell; B Considine, J Considine; David Russell, P Hehir, Denis Russell (0-4, one free); C Mullen (0-1, a free), P McMahon (0-1), M O'Shea. Subs: S Hickey (0-1) for Hehir (37 mins), D O'Driscoll for Hawes (45 mins), R Slattery for O'Connell (47 mins), N Considine for Mullen (59 mins), J Young (1-1) for McMahon (60 mins).

Referee: M McBrien (Fermanagh).