Laois 1-13 Down 0-9:Down's poor run in the league continued in St Patrick's Park, Newcastle, yesterday. Played in atrocious conditions - with rain falling throughout and a bitterly cold breeze blowing down the pitch - the players from both sides deserve credit for putting on an entertaining game.

Laois were the much superior side throughout and, had they accepted half the chances they created, would have won by a much bigger margin.

In defence, Laois had stars in Tom Kelly, Darren Rooney and Brian McCormack while Padraic Clancy and Noel Garvin gave them an advantage at midfield with some great high fielding.

In attack Brian McDonald, Ross Munnelly and Gary Kavanagh were most impressive.

Down struggled throughout, lacking cohesion, leadership and a definite game plan. Not even the introduction of Dan Gordon to midfield and Benny Coulter to full forward for the second half could lift them out of the poor form they have shown in the league to date.

Leading by 0-9 to 0-3 at the break, the Laois goal didn't come until seconds before the end of the match, with full forward Paul Lawlor putting Chris Bergin through to wrap up the points.

LAOIS: M Nolan; C Ryan, D Rooney, J Higgins; P McMahon, T Kelly, B McCormack (0-1); P Clancy, N Garvin; D Murphy (0-1), C Conway (0-1), G Kavanagh (0-2); B McDonald (0-4), P Lawlor, R Munnelly (0-4). Subs: B Sheehan for D Murphy; C Bergin (1-0) for B McDonald; K Fitzpatrick for T. Kelly.

DOWN: B Connell; S Toner, D Cunningham, M Cole; B Murtagh, D Rooney, J Clarke; M McClean, J Lynch (0-1); P Telford, C McCrickard (0-1), B Doran (0-2); M Poland (0-3), G Johnson, M Walsh. Subs: D Hughes (0-1) for P Telford; B Coulter (0-1) for G Johnson; D Gordon for M McClean; A Carr for M Walsh; R Sexton for B Doran.

Referee: P Finnegan (Louth).