Despite squandering numerous opportunities, Laois were comfortable 1-13 to 0-9 winners over struggling Down in Division 1B of the NFL at Newcastle.

Down changed all eight of their forward personnel for this game and their new-look team came up against a Laois side welcoming back Noel Garvan and Tom Kelly.

True to form, it was the Leinster team who started best. Ross Munnelly pointed three times (including two frees) inside six minutes to give the visitors an early 0-3 to 0-0 advantage

Down clawed back two points but Laois hit six points in a row to take control of the match. Gary Kavanagh. Beano McDonald (2), Munnelly and David Murphy were amongst the scorers.

Down corner forward Mark Poland closed the first-half scoring but the Mourne County were clearly in trouble, trailing by 0-9 to 0-3.

Dan Gordon and Benny Coulter were brought on at half time and Down reduced the gap to three, with Barry Doran and Daniel Hughes on target.

But Beano popped over his third free before Chris Conway halted the Down momentum completely as he restored Laois’ five-point cushion, 0-11 to 0-6.

Kavanagh and McDonald stretched Laois’ lead but Coulter kickstarted a late Down revival which saw them rattle off three scores in a row, with Colin McCrickard and Poland on song.

Laois finally put the match to bed when substitute Chris Bergin fired the only goal of the game right at the death.

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 Telford (20); B Coulter 0-1 for Johnson (ht); D Gordon for McClean (ht); A Carr for Walsh (60); R Sexton for B Doran (62).

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 (65); C Bergin 1-0 for B McDonald (68); K Fitzpatrick for T Kelly (68).

REF - P Finnegan (Louth)