Eoin Lowry was Laois' late goal scoring hero as John Sugure's side edged a tight encounter against Derry to ensure they are in the hat for Monday's All Ireland Qualifying Series third round draw.

John Sugrue admitted that missed chances cost his Laois team dearly as they kept pace with Meath for 50 minutes or so before being badly burned.

Warm June rain greeted us as we exited Croke Park yesterday with smiles on the faces of the Royal supporters, in particular. Dublin pelleted over points for fun while both Kildare and Laois squandered some great goal chances. The centurion Cluxton culled the Lillies’ goal efforts and the quality of the forward play and score-taking was exceptional, at times, from all four participating teams.

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.

Watching Laois goalkeeper Graham Brody’s blunder at Croke Park, the mind was immediately drawn to a recent Mickey Harte comment.

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.

The postponed Round 6 tie between Westmeath and Louth will take place next weekend, rather than midweek ensuring the final will not take place in Croke Park next weekend.

For me, this current Dublin team is the best ever and even now — a year out — there’s almost a certain inevitability about the five in a row.

Dublin 1-25 Laois 0-10

It’s a good job Dublin don’t execute the perfect performance every time they play. For if they did, the umpires would be going to the UU (Umpire Union) looking for better T&C’s.

An idyllic summer afternoon in Croke Park, the type of day footballers dream about — getting an opportunity to showcase their skills and the fruits of all the work that goes into being an inter-county footballer. 

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.

Traffic aside, it’s a straightforward spin from Portlaoise to Croke Park.

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

Glenn Ryan made the point last week local rivalries are only stoked when both teams are hitting their straps and Kildare’s destruction of Laois in Tullamore yesterday confirmed the last embers have been all but extinguished from this one.

Kildare have coasted through a Leinster football semi-final on the back of the most facile of victories over an utterly insipid Laois side in Tullamore this afternoon.

Four goals in six minutes of devastation sent Longford packing and set Laois up for a Leinster quarter-final clash with bitter rivals Kildare.

Even with a sweeper protecting their defence, Louth just could not cope with the quality of Michael Quinlivan and Conor Sweeney, writes Declan Browne.

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.

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 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.

Dublin 2-21 Laois 2-10: For a time, it didn’t appear Jim Gavin wanted to level any criticism at his team for the two goals they conceded in the second half.

As expected, for Dublin it was a comfortable first championship day away from Croke Park in 10 days but not without its faults.

Clare chairman Joe Cooney says the GAA’s decision not to reduce ticket prices for Sunday’s Division 1 final replay with Waterford is “disappointing”.

Cavan have earned promotion and a league final place with a 1-16 to 1-12 win over Galway at Kingspan/Breffni Park.

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.

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.

Dublin’s Philly McMahon is in line to pick up the 2015 footballer-of-the-year award, having been named on the all-Dublin three-person shortlist.

Laois 1-16 Antrim 2-15: Laois became the 2015 football championship’s first high profile casualty on Saturday when they failed to defend a nine-point lead against Antrim in their home venue of O’Moore Park, eventually crashing out thanks to the concession of a late goal to Antrim substitute Dermot McAleese.

Kildare 3-18 Laois 1-11: Not even their own supporters held much hope of Kildare beating Laois given their injuries and a horrible league campaign but manager Jason Ryan insists he and his coaching staff retained faith in their methods despite some of the vitriol being aimed in their direction.

Kildare blitzed Laois in stunning fashion after half time to canter into a Leinster semi-final against Dublin.

Sharpshooter Donie Kingston thinks Laois will need to register a 70-minute performance to get past Kildare in Saturday’s Leinster championship replay.

Kildare 0-16 Laois 0-16: Tommy Moolick capped off a barnstorming performance off the bench with a wonderful injury-time point to rescue a draw for Kildare at the end of a thoroughly entertaining Leinster SFC clash with Laois at O’Connor Park.