Fermanagh's late flurry sees Laois head home with a fourth defeat in Division 3

Laois have ended their 2025 Division 3 Allianz Football League campaign with a defeat away to Fermanagh in Enniskillen.

The O'Moore men were ahead by five points with nine minutes to play but a late scoring surge from Fermanagh saw them score seven points unanswered, one of them coming from a two-pointer from a Garvan Jones free.

Fermanagh 1-18

Laois 2-13

Laois played with the wind behind them in the first half in Brewster Park as Fermanagh almost got a goal straight from the throw-in but Laois got their bodies behind it and cleared it to safety. Niall Corbet kicked the game's opening score with a minute on the clock before the Fermanagh captain Declan McCusker slotted over the first score for the home side. 

Justin McNulty's men increased their lead to four points to one in the next two minutes as Ronan Coffey pointed from a free before the Portarlington captain scored a superb two-pointer after he dummied his marker with a solo before the umpire raised an orange flag. Fermanagh replied with 1-2 unanswered as they began to dominate the aerial battle. Sean Cassidy and Lee Cullen got the points with Paul Breen's goal coming after Killian Roche had denied Joe McDade but Breen was quickest to react as he palmed the ball into the net.

Coffey kicked his fourth point of the game but Fermanagh's Garvan Jones replied with a free. The final four scores of the half were traded, Laois' scores came courtesy of a goal chance from Barry and a two-pointer free from Killian Roche. Fionan O'Brien (free) and Ryan Lyons raised white flags for Fermanagh as the Ulster side went into the dressing rooms ahead by a single point, 1-6 to 0-8.

The second-half began with Fermanagh having an easy chance to point after Laois were penalised for dissent. Jones stepped up to put the ball between the posts. O'Brien pointed another free after Laois were once again guilty of breaking the rules as this time they tackled the Fermanagh player who called a mark. Then came Laois' first goal as a great catch from Brian Byrne set Corbet up to rattle the back of the Fermanagh net. Josh Largo Elis and Byrne traded points before Fermanagh went ahead again through substitute Conor Love.

Laois hit a purple patch for the next six minutes scoring 1-3 without reply. Corbet, Barry (free) and Byrne all raised white flags with the latter getting Laois' second goal after his Graiguecullen clubmate Trevor Collins squared the ball to him to fire into the net. Darragh McGurn fisted over a point for the home side before goalkeeper Sean McNally made a great save to deny Pa Kirwan. Byrne took his tally to 1-3 with another well-taken point but that's as good as it got for Laois.

Fermanagh began to win the aerial battles and ended up getting the last seven points of the game. Jones kicked a two-pointer free while Largo Elis (two), O'Brien, Love and another Jones free saw Fermanagh win by two points in the end. In the midst of all the Fermanagh scores, Laois' Niall Corbet had a chance for goal but McNally was there again to deny the Clonaslee St Manman's forward.

Laois have a weekend off before travelling to Wexford to take on The Yellowbellies in the First Round of the Leinster Senior Football Championship on Saturday, April 5.