Laois do enough to weather late storm

LAOIS 0-11 WEXFORD 2-3

HAVING controlled this game for more than 50 minutes, Laois had to withstand the concession of two late goals to a limited Wexford side.

Laois’ finishing was erratic and they kicked some dreadful wides, 15 in total. However, they enjoyed a dominant spell, producing points from Oisin Byrne, two frees, Rioghan Murphy, Eamonn Delaney and Ben Conroy, to lead 0- 7 to 0-2 at the interval, Emmet Cullen grabbing Wexford’s second point just before the break.

Dominant at midfield, Laois continued to control the game on the resumption adding points through Murphy and Oisin Byrne as a further Byrne point made it 0-10 to 0-2.

As Laois slackened their grip, Wexford responded with a Jack O’Leary goal seven minutes from the end, and when centre-back Jamie Sheehan added their second goal three minutes into additional time, the lead was just two points. Laois could afford a missed penalty a minute later, Conor Goode pulling his kick wide.

SCORERS – Laois: O Byrne 0-4 (2f), E Delaney 0-3f, R Murphy 0-2, B Conroy, S O’Neill 0-1 each. Wexford: J Sheehan 1-1, J O’Leary 1-0, E Cullen, L Jordan 0-1 each.

WEXFORD – A Larkin; J O’Leary, R Murphy, O Gahan; H Kehoe, J Sheehan, C Kavanagh; E Cullen, M Kehoe; A Mullins, C Regan, L Jordan; J Doran, E Nolan, L Nolan. Subs: C Kehoe for Doran (h-t), N Connolly for Gahan (47), J Finucane for Kehoe (47), P Casey for L Nolan (59).

LAOIS – T Wright; S Greene, M Bennett, C Byrne; N Carey, C Bennett, E Delaney; J Lacey, B Conroy; D Galvin, S O’Neill, E McWey; O Byrne, R Murphy, D Larkin. Subs: S Farrelly for Galvin(38); J O’Brien for Byrne (47), C Goode for Lacey (51), C Doyle for Carey (53), S M Corcoran for Murphy (58).

REF – J Hickey (Carlow)