Substitute Ian Fitzgerald stole the show when his last-minute free from an acute angle handed Laois the narrowest of victories over Wexford at Enniscorthy yesterday. Wexford substitute Mattie Forde had slotted home the equalising goal two minutes from the end.

LAOIS: F Byron; P Mcdonald, E Delaney, A Fennelly; P Leonard, D Conroy, B McCormack; N Garvan (0-1), P Clancy; M Lawlor, C Conway (0-2), D McEvoy; S Kelly (0-2), K Fitzpatrick (0-1), B McDonald (0-3). Subs: M Lambe (0-1) for S Kelly; J Kealy for Lambe; I Fitzgerald (0-1) for McEvoy.

WEXFORD: G Morris; C Morris, P Wallace, R Mageean; N Murphy, D Murphy, P Curtis; W Carley, D Kinsella; E Galavan, M Carley, E Quigley; P Carley, J Hegarty (0-4), B Byrne (0-1). Subs: M Forde (1-2) for Byrne; L O'Brien for N Murphy; T Howlin for M Carley; M Carley for Quigley; J Lawlor for P Carley.

Referee: P Devlin (Kilkenny).