LAOIS stepped back into the top flight with a heroic second half performance against a Louth side which must be wondering if they will ever achieve the goal of Division One football.

With the scores tied at 1-3 to 0-6 at half time, the match was finely balanced and poised for a tremendous second hall, but the expected passion from the home team never materialised, as they stumbled with the line in sight.

Louth had played with tremendous passion and no shortage of skill in the opening period, creating all sorts of trouble for Laois, who were only rescued by a sharp piece of forward play by Leo Turley, who sidestepped Louth keeper, Niall O'Donnell after 16 minutes to register his side's opening score and level the match at 1-0 to 0-3.

A gale force wind and driving rain blew diagonally across the pitch and underfoot conditions were often poor. Both sets of players struggled throughout to adapt to the elements.

Louth had opened the scoring after six minutes, Alan Rooney fisting the ball over the bar following a well worked move. Six minutes later they were three points in front, with Pat Butterly stepping up to convert two frees.

After Turley's goal levelled the scores Louth replied with a point from Stefan White, but Turley was in the mood, and again beat his marker, Nickey Malone to score a point to level the scores.

With the tackles flying in and players slipping and sliding, it was only a matter of time before names would enter referee Pat McEneaney's book and it was Louth's David Reilly and Laois's Hugh Emerson who did so on 21 minutes, punished for off the ball niggling.

Points from Butterly and Colin Kelly, both frees, put Louth in front, but Ian Fitzgerald and Turley levelled before half time.

Laois upped the tempo in the second period and seemed to catch Louth cold. The visitors took a two point lead within four minutes with scores from Fitzgerald and Damien Delaney. Michael Lawlor added a third point midway through the half and a fourth on 50 minutes.

This finally provoked Louth into a positive reaction with White registering their first score of the half less than a minute later. Gerry Curran and Pat Butterly added points towards the end but it was a dismal second half performance by Louth which denied them a chance of claiming promotion on the day.