Laois U-20 footballers seal Leinster quarter-final place following victory over Wexford

The Laois U-20 footballers have two wins from two under their belt as they defeated Wexford in Enniscorthy this evening. The game was played in dreadful conditions with both sides struggling to deal with the elements.

Three late frees from Cormac Murphy and Jamie O'Brien (2) gave Laois a three-point win to add to their first round victory over Carlow last week.

Laois 1-9

Wexford 0-9

The first five minutes of the game were played at a pedestrian pace as Wexford put everyone behind the ball which led to Laois switching the play on numerous occasions trying to find a gap in the defence. Kieran Kelly's side opened the scoring with six minutes on the clock at half-back Cormac Murphy split the posts. Laois were defending well and not allowing Wexford any easy chances to raise a white flag.

Wexford got their first score of the contest courtesy of their goalkeeper William Foley with a super free into the wind from under the stand. Cathal Lee, who came on as a substitute against Carlow, was on the end of a great Laois move that started from a short kick-out from Conor Brown. Lee made no mistake with tucking the ball into the bottom corner.

The home side were struggling to create any chances from play as their second point came from the boot of Foley from a free. Liam Donoghue was presented with a huge goal opportunity after a Wexford kick-out went over everybody and the home side ran at goal. Donoghue's effort lacked any conviction and it went to the right and wide. Lee got Laois' second point soon after as he pointed a superb score off his left foot. Laois made it 1-3 to 0-2 as a quick free found Evan Hunt, who hand-passed it over the black spot.

Wexford replied with two points of their own as Donoghue pointed a free that was brought forward for dissent. Full-back James Doyle got their first score from play to leave Laois' lead at two points. Jamie O'Brien, who was the star of the show against Carlow in Round 1, opened his account with a free to end the half with the score at 1-4 to 0-4.

The opening scores of the second period were traded as Foley kicked a 45' for Wexford with Laois captain Darragh Slevin raising a white flag after good build-up play by the O'Moore County. Wexford goalkeeper Foley took his tally to four points to put two points between the teams. Sean Hughes cut the deficit to a single point soon after.

O'Brien kicked his second free with his effort going over with the aid of the crossbar. The home side rallied and levelled the game courtesy of Dylan Cooke Leonard and Cathal Kehoe with the sides level at 1-6 to 0-9.

Kieran Kelly's side made sure it would be them travelling home with the two points to their name as Cormac Murphy pointed a free off his left to push them ahead once again. The next piece of action saw John Brennan make a game-saving interception as Cathal Kehoe bared down on goal. Brennan got his hand in and dispossessed Kehoe when it looked as if the Wexford midfielder would either level the game or rattle the back of Conor Brown's net.

Wexford's James Doyle was at fault for the next Laois score as he was adjudged to have fouled O'Brien off the ball. The St Joseph's man scored the resulting free. There was a late chance for Wexford to snatch the win as goalkeeper Brown lost possession of the ball up-field but the referee blew for a foul as he felt Cooke Leonard had picked the ball up off the ground. The Wexford player was then shown a black card for dissent.

O'Brien pointed the game's final score from a free as Laois now travel to Wicklow knowing their place is sealed in the quarter-finals. Wicklow got the better of Carlow in the group's other game which sets up a winner takes all clash next Tuesday. A win for Laois sees them play the loser of Meath and Dublin while a loss for Laois will see them play the runner-up in Group 1 which involves Kildare, Longford, Offaly and Louth.