GAA: Sligo maintain winning form

Laois 0-7 Sligo 0-13 (Div1B)

Sligo maintained their excellent league form when they travelled to Portlaoise and defeated the home side by six points.

Last year they just failed to make the knockout stages, but on today's performance look like going one better.

They were awarded a penalty after five mins which was brilliantly saved by the Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron.

However, it soon became apparent that their forward line looked much sharper than the home side and with John McPartland and Paul Taylor in excellent form, they led 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval.

Laois improved in the third quarter and three points from Chris Conway left just three points between the sides with 15 mins remaining.

The game took a bizarre twist when Laois full forward Michael Lawlor was sent to the line after an altercation with the Sligo linesman.

Cork referee Michael Collins had no hesitation in issuing a straight red card to the Laois man.

This ended the Laois challenge and two late points from Gerry McGowan and a third by substitute Darragh McGarty gave the visitors a comfortable victory.

They are now second place to table-toppers Mayo on the league table.