Victory not enough for Laois over London as they lose out on head-to-head in Division 4

Laois will play Division 4 football again next year as a win against London in Ruislip this afternoon wasn't enough to reach the promotion spots in this year's league. 

Laois and Wicklow both finished level on 10 points but Wicklow go forward to the league final against Sligo due to having a better head-to-head following their win over Laois in Round 4 in Portlaoise.

Laois 6-6

London 2-8

Allianz Football League Division 4 Round 7

London got off to the better start in the conditions as James Gallagher pointed from play in the first minute. The home side could have had a goal after a kick-out from Scott Osborne found Gallagher, who's effort was superbly saved by the right boot of the Portarlington man.

Christopher Duggan got London's second score as Laois failed to deal with the underfoot conditions. Gallagher pointed a free next for the home side as Robbie Pigott was cautioned for over carrying. Laois were playing into the wind and struggled to create any scoring opportunities. 

Laois finally got their first score on the board as Evan O'Carroll went to shoot off his right before shifting to his left foot and splitting the posts. The next score would be a Laois goal as Paddy O'Sullivan set up half-back Brian Byrne to tuck the ball beyond Noel Maher in the London goal.

London weren't put off by the Laois goal as they went straight back up the field as Gallagher pointed from play. Ruadhan McCarthy got another score for London as they led by a single point. Laois hit a goal frenzy as they fired in two successive goals.

Evan O'Carroll dispossessed the ball on his own 65'-yard line before going a splendid solo run and blasting the ball into the net. Eoin Lowry got Laois' third goal as Mark Barry pressured the London goal before Lowry tapped into the net. Gallagher got another score for his London side before Laois almost got in for their fourth goal. Barry's back-heel effort was saved by Maher before the O'Dempsey's man pointed off his trusty left boot. Laois leading by five points at the break 3-2 to 0-6 in Ruislip.  

Laois got the first two scores of the half as Padraig Kirwan pointed fresh off the Laois bench while Barry got his second point of the contest. Chris Farley pointed a free with Laois' Evan O'Carroll matching him with his second point off his left boot. O'Carroll took his tally to 1-3 with another point from play.

Two of Laois' substitutes combined as within a minute of coming on Dylan Kavanagh bore down on goal before setting up Kirwan to blast the ball low and hard past Maher in the London goal. There was a lull between scores as both sides made changes to their starting teams. London did get in for a goal as Liam Gallagher blasted the ball beyond Osborne in the Laois net.

A fifth goal would come for Laois as a super pass from Paddy O'Sullivan set up Barry to raise a green flag for Billy Sheehan's men. The next score would be another goal as Laois got in for their sixth green flag as substitute Brian Daly blasted into the back of net. Daniel Clarke got the next score as London fired in their second goal of the contest. Ryan Tohill pointed for London to get the game's next score.