First-half scoring blitz sees Laois past Wexford and into Leinster quarter-final

Justin McNulty's have a Leinster Championship quarter-final to look forward to after they had 10 points to spare over Wexford in Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday evening.

Laois dominated the first-half with the game all but over at half-time when Laois held a 12-point advantage.

Laois 2-21

Wexford 2-11

Laois started with intent straight from the throw-in as Kevin Swayne got his hands on the ball with the Portlaoise man fisting over the game's first score after two minutes, as Laois had held onto possession early on. A minute later, Laois had their first goal. Simon Fingleton's pass over the top found the hands of Paddy O'Sullivan. The Portarlington star smashed the ball past Darragh Brooks and into the top corner to give Laois a dream start.

Wexford's Kevin O'Grady was credited with their first score as he fisted the ball over the bar. Laois took over from here and scored six points in nine minutes. Brian Byrne slotted the ball between the posts before Ronan Coffey opened his account with a superb score after he had performed a dummy solo. Pa Kirwan and Mark Barry also raised white flags for Laois before the game's first orange flag was raised. Coffey was the man who scored it after excellent fielding by Seamus Lacey from a kick-out. Laois led 1-7 to 0-1 with only 15 minutes played.

Wexford responded well and kicked over the next four points. Mark Rossitter pointed twice while Niall Hughes and a second from O'Grady saw them reduce the deficit. Barry looked to have kicked Laois' second two-pointer in as many minutes, but Wexford goalkeeper Darragh Brooks got a hand to it, which meant it only counted for one. O'Sullivan with a goal to his name, set up Laois' second goal as he slipped the ball into Dicey O'Reilly, and O'Reilly drilled the ball under Brooks in the Wexford goal.

Rossitter kicked over a third point for Wexford, his second free, but Laois kept scoring down the other end. They ended the half with four more points courtesy of a Killian Roche 45', Barry from a free, and then Coffey kicked Laois' third two-pointer of the first period after O'Sullivan was prevented from taking a solo and go. Coffey decided to bring the ball back outside the 40-metre arc, and his effort sailed over the black spot. Laois went into the dressing rooms with a healthy lead of 2-12 to 0-6.

The second-half didn't quite live up to the scoring exploits of the first, but Laois won't mind too much as they'd plenty on the scoreboard to cruise to victory. Rossitter got the first point of the second period for the away side before Coffey and a point off Barry's right boot pushed Laois 13 points ahead. The next four points were traded as Trevor Collins and Kirwan scored for Laois while Eoin Porter and Rossitter (free) got the scores for Wexford. Michael Kinsella did manage to rattle back of the Laois net with a great finish under Killian Roche.

Laois tagged on another two scores from Kirwan and Barry before Wexford cut the gap to nine points with four minutes of normal time left as substitute Sean Ryan raised a green flag. Ryan's effort for a point ended up nestling in the top corner of the Laois net. Wexford goalkeeper Darragh Brooks came forward to raise an orange flag from a placed ball, but it was Laois who ended the game with the final three scores. Barry scored both of them while Jonah Kelly came off the bench to score to record a ten-point victory.

Laois will play Louth in the quarter-finals next Sunday, April 13 in Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge.