Laois come out on top of entertaining affair against Wexford.

Laois hosted Wexford in their opening home game of the 2023 League campaign. A hard battled win in round 1 against Sligo had set Laois up nicely for this tie. They would be coming in to this game as warm favourites. Wexford had stumbled to a draw against London in their opener seven days previous.

The game started at a fast pace. Kick passing and quick turnaround was on display in the opening exchanges. Niall Hughes and Evan O Carroll traded scores before either team had a chance to settle in.

There was a little bit of a lull for a few minutes before Evan O’Carroll lit up O’Moore park by rattling the back of the Wexford net with a superb strike. Converted frees from Paul Kingston and Mark Barry stretched Laois’s lead to five with about 10 minutes on the clock.

Laois 1-18

Wexford 1-13

Sean Nolan and Paul Kingston traded scores but at this stage Laois wee looking much the stronger side. It was a very encouraging opening quarter for the O’Moore men.

An impressive long range free from O’Carroll put Laois seven up with 20 minutes elapsed. Laois were showing good energy and and intent going forward. Two frees from Mark Rossiter reduced the gap back to five. Kevin O Grady kicked his first score of the day and Wexford were beginning to creep back into the game.

Than disaster strook, A long ball in from midfielder Glen Malone was well claimed by Full forward Conor Kinsella who finished it brilliantly to the net. All of a sudden there was only a point in it. Laois had almost let a seven point lead slip completely having not scored for a 12 minutes.

Finally Kieran Lillis settled the ship and put Laois two up as we headed into the final five minutes of the first half. Another free from Mark Russiter brought the gap back to one again. Russiter would level the game with the final score of the half.

Laois would have been delighted with the opening quarter. The O’Moore men had started really well, but then they began to get very complacent and all their hard work came undone. Wexford would have been the happier of the sides going in at half time. HT Score Laois 1-7 Wexford 1-7.

Laois started the second half like a train. Three points in quick concession came courtesy of Evan O Carroll and Eoin Lowry. Rossiter settled Wexford with two dead ball scores. The gap was back to one In this competitive affair.

Mark Barry and Rossiter would trade dead ball scores to keep the game on a knife edge heading into the final quarter. Lowry who was really coming into the game after a quite opening half got his second to once again widen the margin. Kingston would then widen the margin to three.

The game petered out for an extended period and Billy Sheehan attempted to inject a bit of energy into his side with the introduction. It was Wexford that would strike the next two blows though. Two well taken scores from Rossiter left a point in the game once again.

Paul Kingston and Mark Barry would knock two scores over as Laois gave themselves a three-point cushion with 5 minutes left. Barry would follow up with his third dead ball score of the day to stretch the gap to four. That point was soon cancelled out by another Rositer free, His tenth of the day.

Barry looked to be through on goal moments later but his momentum was abruptly halted by full back Brian Molloy and Barry settled for a point. Continuing his hot streak Barry then sent another score over as we entered injury time. Laois would hold out for a solid five-point victory. Mark Barry’s period of dominance in the closing stages proving to be vital.