Simon Fingleton, Laois, and Conor Carty and Graeme Cullen, Wexford, in Leinster SFC action at Chadwicks Wexford Park. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Leinster SFC Preliminary Round
Laois 2-21 (2-2-17) Wexford 2-11 (2-1-9)
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
Justin McNulty’s derived immense satisfaction at Chadwicks Wexford Park as Laois defeated Wexford in their Leinster SFC opener.
Wexford certainly didn’t get the desired reaction after their Allianz Football League Division Four final loss as they felt the loss of defenders Glen Malone and Martin O’Connor through injury.
And Laois, last year’s Tailteann Cup runners-up, thrived as defender Patrick O’Sullivan and Daniel O’Reilly slotted first-half goals to pave the way for a commanding 2-12 to 0-6 interval advantage.
They weren’t put under serious thereafter as the O’Moore County booked a quarter-final showdown next Sunday un Newbridge against Louth, beaten in the last two Leinster finals.
Laois, with first assistance of the strong wind, produced a significant early blow as, just after Daniel O’Reilly fisted over, Simon Fingleton paved the way for fellow half-back Patrick O’Sullivan to peel inside his marker and slot a 1-1 to no-score lead within three minutes.
Although Kevin O’Grady struck back with a fisted point, the midlanders stretched 1-5 to 0-1 ahead inside thirteen minutes as captain Brian Byrne, Mark Barry, Ronan Coffey and wing-back Pa Kirwan chipped in.
And Coffey added a two-pointer before Wexford ‘keeper Darragh Brooks had to avert danger when thwarting Mark Barry’s goaling bid midway through the opening period.=
Wexford were making favourable entries into Laois territory, and they encouraged the home support when Mark Rossiter (two), O’Grady and Niall Hughes strung together a chain of scores to cut the gap to 1-7 to 0-5 after 24 minutes.
However, Laois rocked them again on 28 minutes when goal-scorer O’Sullivan turned provider with a sweet fisted delivery for Daniel O’Reilly to stitch the net (2-8 to 0-5).
Laois would certainly have been happy with their lot as they extended 2-12 to 0-6 ahead by half-time with seven different scorers, including Coffey posting another two-pointer late on – this time a free arising from Wexford dissent.
Prospects of the home-side producing an heroic charge to a first championship victory over the midlanders since 2008 weren’t enhanced as the sides indulged in a rather mundane third quarter, during which they shared four points.
But after full-back Trevor Collins and Pa Kirwan added to the Laois tally, Wexford gained a momentary boost as substitute Michael Kinsella marked his Senior championship debut with a 58th minute goal after an Eoin Porter set up.
That shaved it to 2-16 to 1-9, and another Wexford sub, Sean Ryan, had it down to 2-18 to 2-9 after 67 minutes when hit angled shot ended up in the far corner of the net.
But Laois were full value for their first victory in three outings, after suffering back-to-back defeats to Clare and Fermanagh at the end of their Division 3 league campaign.
Scorers for Laois: Mark Barry 0-7 (2 frees), Ronan Coffey 0-6 (1tp, 1tpf), Daniel O’Reilly 1-1, Patrick O’Sullivan 1-0, Pa Kirwan 0-3, Brian Byrne, Killian Roche (’45), Trevor Collins, Jonah Kelly 0-1
Scorers for Wexford: Mark Rossiter 0-5 (3 frees), Michael Kinsella, Seán Ryan 1-0 each, Kevin O’Grady, Darragh Brooks (2tpf) 0-2 each, Niall Hughes, Eoin Porter 0-1 each
Laois: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins, Liam Knowles; Pa Kirwan, Simon Fingleton, Patrick O’Sullivan; Conor Heffernan, Seamus Lacey; Kevin Swayne, Mark Barry, Daniel O’Reilly; Ronan Coffey, Brian Byrne, Niall Corbet.
Subs: Damon Larkin for O’Sullivan (55), Benny Carroll for Coffey (62), Josh Hogan for Fingleton (68), Fionn Holland for O’Reilly (70+1), Jonah Kelly for Byrne (70+2).
Wexford: Darragh Brooks; Michael Furlong, Liam O’Connor, Gavin Sheehan; Philip Dempsey, Eoghan Nolan, Eoin Porter; Liam Coleman, Páraic Hughes; Tom Byrne, Niall Hughes, Mark Rossiter; Conor Carty, Graeme Cullen, Kevin O’Grady.
Subs: Dylan Furlong for Nolan (HT), Michael Kinsella for Carty (HT), Cathal Walsh for Dempsey (57), Seán Ryan for Cullen (57), Robbie Brooks for Byrne (57).
Referee: David Murnane (Cork).
