Laois 0-15 Wicklow 0-13:Wicklow produced a commendable late charge to pull within a score of Laois at Dr Cullen Park but failure to take one of four second-half goal opportunities sees them return to the Tommy Murphy Cup for 2008.
Laois progress to the Leinster football championship semi-final against the winners of Wexford and Meath.
Laois raced into a 0-9 to 0-4 half-time lead, mainly thanks to their dominance around the middle third, an area they were expected to struggle in Pauric Clancy's absence, with debutant midfielder Kevin Meaney showing well. Wicklow's inability to gather breaking ball was ruthlessly punished by Ross Munnelly and Michael Tierney, in particular, who combined for five early points.
Tierney was withdrawn injured after 21 minutes but his replacement Barry Brennan also claimed a point, as did full forward Colm Kelly, a replacement for another injury enforced absentee Brendan Quigley. Wicklow's only response was the long range shooting of Tony Hannon and a fisted Leighton Glynn point.
Mick O'Dwyer's charges remained competitive to the death but two fine saves from new Laois goalkeeper Michael Nolan proved significant. Again, it was Hannon's shooting and Glynn's incessant running that sparked their second-half scores. But another pair of Munnelly points and further contributions from Padraig McMahon and Brian McCormack saw Liam Kearns' team progress to the next round on June 22nd.
Laois: M Nolan; C Healy, M Timmons, J Higgins; T
Kelly (0-01), D Rooney (C), P McMahon (0-01); K Meaney, J
O'Loughlin (0-01); R Munnelly (0-05), B McCormack (0-03), B
Sheehan; MJ Tierney (0-02), C Kelly (0-01), C Parkinson
Subs used: B Brennan (0-01) for Tierney (21 mins),
P Clancy for Parkinson (55), P Lawlor for Munnelly (70+1)
Wicklow: M Travers; C Hyland, D Power, A Byrne; M
McLoughlin, D O hAnnaidh (capt), P Dalton; J Stafford, T Walsh; T
Hannon (0-07, 0-02f, 0-02 '45'), L Glynn (0-02), JP Dalton; D Odlum
(0-01), S Furlong, P Earls (0-02)
Subs used: C Walsh (0-01) for JP Dalton (29 mins),
T Gill for Odlum (49) R Nolan for McLoughlin (57)
Referee: Pat McEnaney (Monaghan)