PREVIEW: Laois look to bounce back from heavy defeat to Wexford as Sligo visit Portlaoise

Laois will be hoping to get their Allianz Football League Division 3 campaign up and running when they welcome Sligo to Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Valentine’s Day evening.

It has been a frustrating start to the league for Laois, who are still searching for their first win after two rounds. Their most recent outing came two weeks ago when they suffered a heavy 0-23 to 0-9 defeat away to Wexford under the lights in Wexford Park.

That result followed an opening-round draw that may still linger in the minds of the Laois players and management. In dreadful conditions in Portlaoise, they shared the spoils with Limerick, 1-10 to 0-13, in a game they led for long stretches. Despite controlling much of the contest, Laois were unable to stretch their advantage beyond three points, and it almost proved costly when Limerick struck a late two-pointer to edge ahead before substitute Niall Corbet rescued a draw with a late equaliser.

The defeat to Wexford was one Laois will be keen to put behind them. They were competitive early on, trailing by just two points, six points to four, after 23 minutes, but Wexford finished the half strongly to open up an 0-11 to 0-5 lead at the break. A goal chance for Evan O’Carroll in the 16th minute proved a pivotal moment, and Wexford took full advantage as the game progressed.

Laois made a change in goal at half-time, with Matthew Byron replacing Killian Roche in an effort to shift momentum, but Wexford maintained control throughout the second half, outscoring Laois by 12 points to four.

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Sligo, meanwhile, arrive in Portlaoise in a more positive position. They have two points on the board following a seven-point victory over Fermanagh in their last outing, having previously been edged out by just a point by Westmeath, one of the sides relegated from Division 2 last season.

There will also be encouragement for Laois in recent history between the sides. The counties met at the same stage of the league last year, with Laois emerging 0-23 to 0-16 winners in Portlaoise.

With two rounds gone, Laois know the importance of getting a win on the board. Another game without victory would leave them looking anxiously over their shoulder in the table and potentially facing a relegation battle to avoid a return to Division 4, just two years after lifting that title in Croke Park.

Laois v Sligo throws-in at 6pm on Saturday, February 14, in Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise. You can follow all the action on the Leinster Express/ Laois Live's free live blog from 5.50pm.