Wexford edge past Laois to go into quarter-finals in winning form

Laois 0-21 Wexford 0-22

Laois had not beaten Wexford in the National League since 1999 but how close they came to ending that famine at Portlaoise on Sunday when they led with three minutes of normal time remaining.

Wexford arrived in Portlaoise on the back of a heavy defeat to Offaly and Laois had been minced by Limerick.

Victory would assure the visitors of a place in the quarter finals and for Laois, well the result hardly mattered as they were doomed to a relegation battle, but with Wexford on just two points a win might have changed all that.

Laois got the perfect start with a brace of points by Willie Hyland and debutant John Lennon inside three minutes. Wexford had made sweeping changes after the Offaly setback and half forward Shane Tomkins opened their account in the fifth minute and Conor McDonald equalised two minutes later.

McDonald and PJ Scully traded points and McDonald put Wexford in front after nine minutes, Willie Hyland pulled one back but then Ian Byrne fired over three-in-a-row for the visitors and a brace from Paul Morris and Shane Tomkins gave the visitors a four point advantage.

Wexford then dominated and at the interval led 0-14 to 0-11 but Laois were improving all the time.

The second half produced a thriller as Laois drew level after 43 minutes before Pat Purcell regained the lead a minute later. Laois were still in front after 62 and points by PJ Scully and Pat Purcell pushed them two ahead.

They were still in command with two minutes remaining but points by Lee Chin, Cathal Dunbar and Shane Tomkins gave the visitors the lead and earned a home quarter final against Waterford while Laois will be at home to Kerry in a relegation scrap.

Wexford: C O'Leary; L Ryan, M O'Hanlon, J Breen; E Moore, P Foley, J O'Connor; L Chin (0-1), H Kehoe; S Tomkins (0-4), I Byrne (0-5), A Nolan; P Morris (0-2), C McDonald (0-8), L Og McGovern(0-1)); Subs: D O'Keefe for J Breen 42m C Dunbar(0-1) for H Kehoe 56m, E Conroy for J O'Connor 61m.

Laois: E Rowland; T Delaney, D Maher, C Healy; L Bergin, M Whelan, R Mullaney; P Purcell (0-2), C Stapleton(0-1); C Dwyer (0-3), S Maher(0-1), W Dunphy (0-2); J Lennon (0-1), W Hyland (0-2), PJ Scully (0-9); Subs: P Lalor for T Delaney 20m, C McEvoy for L Bergin 54m, R King for W Dunphy 55m, Brian O'Meara for D Maher 60m B Reddin for J Lennon 61m .

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).