Kildare have given their hopes of survival in Allianz League Division Two a timely boost with a comfortable defeat of their accommodating neighbours across the border.

The some times invisible line between the summit and the basement of affairs in Division 2 was summed up at the end of this entertaining tussle of many twists before Laois finally turned for home with two precious points in their safe-keeping.

Just two points separate first from last in Division Two of the Allianz League after this rescheduled meeting in Portlaoise but the gap between Cavan and Laois on the day was enormous.

Mike Quirke’s Laois footballers recorded their first win of the campaign when they emerged with six-points to spare over Armagh at MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, on Saturday evening.

Cork will spend the next two weekends in Croke Park after comfortably securing their place in the Super 8s with this emphatic 14-point dismissal of Laois.

Laois manager John Sugrue has named an unchanged side for tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC fourth-round qualifier against Cork.

Laois edged out neighbours Offaly in a highly entertaining Midlands derby to seal their place in Round 4 of the All-Ireland Qualifiers.

Cian Lynch, Declan Hannon, Gearoid Hegarty, and Graeme Mulcahy have been restored to the Limerick team for tomorrow’s Munster hurling final.

Laois manager John Sugrue believes the O’Moore County must improve if they are to prolong their championship summer despite an impressive four point victory over Derry in Owenbeg on Saturday.

The powerful midfielder crashed home a goal in the 31st minute to put Meath into a lead they wouldn't relinquish and his second with nine minutes to go killed the contest.

Not a game to restore your faith in Leinster football.

In-form Westmeath claimed their second piece of silverware of the season as they finished strong to secure the Allianz NFL Division 3 title.

Laois have sealed back-to-back promotions for the first time in their history after a dramatic win over Carlow.

Both Mayo and Galway have championship debutants for Sunday’s Connacht SFC quarter-final clash in MacHale Park in Castlebar (4pm).

John Sugrue was understandably pleased but sensibly restrained after watching his Laois side make the best of a strong start to see off neighbours Carlow and claim Division 4 honours.

Laois 2-12 Limerick 0-9: Gary Walsh hit 1-6 and set up Paul Kingston for a 70th-minute goal as Laois got the John Sugrue reign off to the perfect start with a nine-point victory over Limerick.

Laois withstood a stubborn Wicklow fightback to claim a Round 1 All-Ireland Senior Football Qualifier win at a sunny Aughrim this evening.

Laois 1-16 Meath 2-13: A controversial late penalty saw Meath advance on Saturday night in Stradbally to the O’Byrne Cup semi-finals at the expense of hosts Laois.

Wicklow 1-8 Laois 2-17: Laois made it two wins from two in the O’Byrne Cup as they brushed aside Wicklow in Greystones last night.

Clare only led once in this qualifier, but they hit the front when it mattered most, landing a winner as the game slipped into stoppage time to crown a great weekend for the Banner County.

Laois 1-11 Armagh 1-10: In the end, like most recounts in a general election, there was no change.

Laois came out on top a real dogfight at O’Moore Park and advance to the second round of All-Ireland qualifiers, while Armagh’s disappointing season is over.

Fermanagh 1-17 Laois 0-10: Fermanagh boosted their prospects of staying in Division 2, with Tomás Corrigan scoring a brilliant match-winning haul of 1-11 to push Laois further into relegation danger.

Meanwhile substitute Cian O’Brien was the hero for Meath as his late equaliser rescued a draw.

O’Byrne Cup - Meath 2-16 Laois 0-14: Laois manager Mick Lillis has dismissed the suggestion that the appointment of Bryan Cullen as Dublin GAA’s high performance manager illustrates the widening gap between the capital and other counties in Leinster.

St Vincent’s 3-11 Portlaoise 0-10

Portlaoise 2-14 Arles-Killeen 0-9

Laois 2-18 Offaly 1-15

Portlaoise 1-9 Moorefield 0-8

Portlaoise 2-08 Arles-Killeen 1-08

Wexford 2-8 Laois 0-16

Clare 0-10 Laois 3-17

Laois 3-17 Clare 0-10

ALL-IRELAND SFC ROUND 1:

Waterford veteran Tony Browne is hopeful of playing his first county hurling of the year in Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier clash with Westmeath in Cusack Park (5pm).

Louth 1-16 Laois 1-6, Portlaoise

Laois 0-14 Wexford 1-08

Longford 0-6 Laois 0-9, Pearse Park

Laois 1-15 Galway 0-10

Laois 1-15 Galway 0-10

Westmeath 1-10 Laois 1-8

3-12 Leinster 0-17

Ulster 3-12 Leinster 0-17

Leinster 1-21 Connacht 1-20