Jason O'Reilly (right) was in goal-grabbing form for Cavan

Cavan 4-11 2-17 Laois

Peter Reilly hit a penalty deep in injury-time to earn Cavan a draw against Laois in a thrilling Allianz National Football League contest at Breffni Park.

In a pulsating game, both sides led in the final 10 minutes but Laois appeared to have subdued Cavan's challenge when they hit four points in the final five minutes to lead deep in injury-time.

However, Cavan refused to yield and earned the spot-kick in the fourth minute of injury-time.

O'Reilly bravely stepped up and hammered the ball past Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron to ensure a share of the spoils.

Laois, who appear to be emerging as a genuine force under Mick O'Dwyer, hit the five opening scores but Larry Reilly's goal then got Cavan back into the contest.

The Leinster side, with Brian McDonald in fine form, continued to pick off some fine scores but Jason O'Reilly snatched another goal to put Cavan ahead again.

However, Laois ended the first half on a high with goalkeeper Byron charging upfield to hammer a penalty to the Cavan net.

Mattie Kerrigan's Cavan side battled bravely

Laois hit the opening two scores of the second half to extend their advantage to four points.

Cavan then fought back and Dermot McCabe's fifth point of the match plus a Mickey Graham score levelled the contest with 16 minutes remaining.

Substitute Hugh Emerson then palmed the ball to the net with his first touch after great work by McDonald to put Laois three points ahead again.

But the goal action wasn't finished and Jason O'Reilly notched his second three-pointer of the afternoon six minutes from time to put Cavan a point ahead once more.

Points from Laois substitutes Aidan Fennelly and David Sweeney (two) plus an Ian Fitzgerald point seemed to have ensured victory for the visitors.

But O'Reilly's penalty ensured the draw.

Laois lead Division 1B with 10 points from six games - a point ahead of the Breffni men.

However, neither team is assured of a place in the semi-finals of the league ahead of the final round of matches on 6 April.

Cavan will be at home to Sligo while Laois will host Kildare.

Sligo ended the match with 14-men with Shane Davey sent off in the closing stages after appearing to aim a kick at Fermanagh goalkeeper Ronan Gallagher.

Referee Peter O'Reilly appeared to be on the verge of losing control of the match on a number of occasions.

Several dreadful challenges went unchallenged and it was a surprise that other players didn't join Davey in having an early bath.

Sligo made the better start and led 0-3 to 0-0 early on.

However, Fermanagh then switched Tom Brewster to the half-forward line and the change quickly paid dividends.

Sloyane miss

Four points from Brewster plus Kieran Donnelly's well-taken goal just before the interval put Fermanagh 1-5 to 0-6 ahead at half-time.

Fermanagh maintained their narrow lead as the game entered the closing stages before Sligo's Dessie Sloyane was presented with a great goal chance.

However, Sloyane completely missed his kick and it was in attemping to follow up the chance, that Davey was involved in the incident which led to his dismissal.

Sloyane then did hit the target to level the contest but late scores from Ryan Keenan and Raymond Gallagher ensured the two points for the Ernesiders.

Paddy O'Rourke's side got off to the perfect start with Liam Doyle scrambling a goal after only 35 seconds.

Down led 1-4 to 0-4 after 18 minutes but a number of bad wides then appeared to drain the confidence from the Mournemen.

Helped by a goal from the superb Tadgh Fennin, the Lilywhites fought back to lead 1-10 to 1-5 at the interval.

Kildare extended their lead in the third quarter and the outcome was never in the doubt at any stage in the second half.

Fennin was substituted near the end after scoring 1-6 for the winners.

Michael Walsh top-scored for Down with six points but their bad day was summed up by Sean Ward sustained a suspected broken shoulder. Division 1A
Crossmaglen: Armagh 1-14 1-17 Galway (full-time)
Hyde Park: Roscommon 0-14 0-17 Dublin (full-time)
Killarney: Kerry 0-14 1-13 Tyrone (full-time)

Division 1B
Navan: Meath 1-16 0-12 Mayo (full-time)
Markievicz Park: Sligo 0-11 1-10 Fermanagh (full-time)
Newbridge: Kildare 1-16 1-11 Down (full-time)
Breffni Park: Cavan 4-11 2-17 Laois (full-time)

Division 2A
Ruislip: London 1-7 3-12 Leitrim (full-time)
Aughrim: Wicklow 2-10 1-14 Antrim (full-time)
Tullamore: Offaly 1-13 1-10 Westmeath (full-time)

Division 2B
Nenagh: Tipperary 2-11 4-18 Longford (full-time)
Dungarvan: Waterford 1-5 0-19 Carlow (full-time)
Ennis: Clare 2-10 1-19 Monaghan (full-time)

Allianz NHL (1530 GMT unless stated)
Division 1A
Pearse Stadium: Galway 2-17 2-13 Waterford (full-time)
Nowlan Park: Kilkenny 2-22 1-13 Clare (full-time)
Parnell Park: Dublin 1-8 3-14 Laois (full-time)
Division 1B
Wexford Park: Wexford 1-14 0-8 Limerick (full-time)
Dungiven (1330): Derry 2-14 4-19 Tipperary (full-time)
Division 2A
Mullingar: Westmeath 2-15 1-15 Antrim (full-time)
Newbridge: Kildare 1-18 4-6 Roscommon (full-time)
Division 3A
Athletic Grounds: Armagh 2-18 1-4 Leitrim (full-time)
Letterkenny: Donegal 0-15 3-10 Mayo (full-time)
Division 3B
Duffy Park: Monaghan 2-12 1-8 Louth (full-time)
Omagh: Tyrone 6-23 3-10 Fermanagh (full-time)