Just when it looked as if Laois might overtake the visitors during the second half yesterday, they were dealt a severe blow when full forward Michael Lawlor was sent to the line following an altercation with a linesman.

Sligo used their numerical advantage to make the long journey to Portlaoise a successful one and went home with a valuable brace of league points. Conditions were poor, but a more physical Sligo team adapted much better.

The visitors were awarded a penalty after five minutes, but Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron brought off a wonderful save from Paul Taylor.

The Sligo full forward eventually gave his side the lead they never lost after 18 minutes. Laois played their best football during the opening quarter and points from Ian Fitzgerald and Ciaran Kelly had the sides level 0-4 apiece after 27 minutes.

In the concluding eight minutes of the opening half, Sligo kicked four magnificent points from play, two each from John McPartland and two from Paul Taylor. At the interval the visitors led 0-8 to 0-4.

Laois improved and the introduction of substitutes David Brennan and Noel Garvan inspired the home side and Laois had three points from Chris Conway.

However, the sending off was a devastating blow and though Laois refused to lie down and, despite their numerical disadvantage, continued to deny the visitors scores, the difference finally told.

In testing conditions the visitors again found their touch in an excellent final 10 minutes.

From there to the finish, Sligo took complete control and two extra points from man of the match John McPartland gave them a comfortable victory and now lie in second place in their group just behind neighbours, Mayo.

While the home side were short sharp-shooter Brian McDonald - who plays in the Sigerson Cup final on Wednesday - manager Colm Brown knows that he faces an uphill task if his side is to avoid relegation and make any impact in the provincial championship.

SLIGO: P Walsh; P Gallagher, N Clancy, B Phillips; P Doohan, D Durkan, P Naughton; P Durcan, R Brennan; S Davey, E O'Hara, J McPartland (0- 4); D Sloyan (0-1), P Taylor (0-4), G McGowan (0-3). Subs: D McGarty (0-1) for S Davey; R Keane for P Naughton.

LAOIS: F Byron; A Fennelly, P McDonald, P Conway; C Parkinson, E Delaney, J Higgins; J Kealy, D Sweeney; S Cooke, I Fitzgerald (0-2), P Clancy; K Kelly, M Lawlor (0-1), C Conway (0-3). Subs: N Garvan for J Kealy; D Brennan for E Delaney; P Langton for S Cooke.

Referee: M Collins (Cork).