Laois within a whisker as they beat Galway

Laois 3-14, Galway 0-15

Little Laois came within a whisker of earning a place in the second phase when they beat Galway 3-14 to 0-15 at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise.

Needing to win by nine points to make the top three, Paudi Butler's men couldn't pull it off in the final stages as Galway's Rory Gantley cut the gap with three frees inside the last six minutes.

Laois got off to a flying start and hit three goals inside the first 17 minutes to grab a scarcely credible 3-03 to 0-03 lead.

Tommy Fitzgerald grabbed the first two and big Liam Tynan hit the third as Laois led 3-06 to 0-09 at the break.

The home side were superior in the second half but just hadn't enough fire power to deny Galway and will now have to take their chances in the relegation play-offs.