They'll now be facing a challenge to maintain their Division Two status.
Laois' inability to register a meaningful score has again cost them as Cork leave O'Moore Park with an eight point win.
A twelve point haul against Clare last week wasn't matched this week as the rebel defence limited Mike Quirke's forwards to just five points from play.
Quirke kept faith with the same starting fifteen that began against Clare and you'd have to feel that he will make changes for their final round robin outing against Kildare.
ALLIANZ NFL DIV2 SOUTH Rd2
— Laois GAA (@CLGLaois) May 22, 2021
41mins 2nd half
Laois:0-10(10)
Cork:2-12(18).
Full Time
Two first half goals from Sean White and Ruiari Deane gave Laois an unenviable mountain to try and overhaul, trailing 2-7 to 0-7 at the break.
A Daniel O'Reilly point in the 50th minute reduced the deficit to five points and that was as close as the O'Moore men got in the second half.
Cork rounded off the contest with three points without reply leaving Quirke and his backroom team with plenty to ponder throughout the next seven days.