UCD led for long spells, with three points each from John Heslin and Conor McCarthy putting them 0-6 to 0-4 ahead at half-time.

A Luke Kelly goal early in the second half saw them go six points clear before Jamie Farrell hit back for Laois with a brilliant finish to the bottom corner.

The rest of the half was close until O’Connor escaped his marker 30 yards out to point in the 73rd minute to secure victory.

Scorers for Laois:

D Kingston 0-4f, J Farrell 1-0, K Meaney 0-2, R O’Connor, N Murphy, J O’Loughlin, A Farrell 0-1 each.

Scorers for UCD:

J Heslin 0-4f, C McCarthy 0-3 (1f), L Kelly 1-0, R Carr (f), F Andrews 0-1 each.

LAOIS:

G Brody; P Cotter, M Timmons, T Collins; A Farrell, D Strong, T Connolly; J Farrell, J O’Loughlin; N Murphy, D Kingston, D O’Connor; E Costello, G Walsh, C Murphy.

Subs:

P Cahillane for C Murphy (ht), G Dillon for Connolly (ht), D O’Reilly for D O’Connor (ht), M Scully for N Murphy (43), K Meaney for Walsh (54), R O’Connor for Costello (54).

UCD:

E Keogh; S Mulvany, M Fitzsimons, N McInerney; N O’Reilly, E Nolan, M Cahalan; J Barry, B O’Sullivan; F Andrews, C McCarthy, D Fitzpatrick; R Carr, J Heslin, L Kelly.

Subs:

R McDaid for Nolan (24, inj), D Murphy for O’Sullivan (43), P Mannion for Heslin (47), B Byrne for Cahalan (47), E O’Byrne for McCarthy (52), D Byrne for O’Reilly (66).

Referee:

P Maguire (Longford).