Second-half surge sees Wicklow down Laois in Tailteann Cup

Laois missed the chance to make it two wins from two in the Tailteann Cup as Wicklow overpowered them in the second half to take a deserved five-point victory in Aughrim on Saturday evening.

After an encouraging win over Waterford in Round 1, Justin McNulty’s Laois side had looked well in contention at the break, leading 0-10 to 0-8. But a dominant second-half performance from Oisín McGraynor, Dean Healy, and goalkeeper Mark Jackson, who contributed five points, saw the hosts seize control and pick up their first win of the campaign.

Wicklow 0-21

Laois 0-16

It was Wicklow who started brightest, with Mark Kenny fisting over the first point after three minutes before McGraynor doubled their lead. Cathal Lee opened Laois’ account and soon turned provider, teeing up Damon Larkin for a two-point score to edge the visitors in front.

Dean Healy won a free for Wicklow that McGraynor converted, and the Garden County kicked on from there. Eoin Darcy slotted over a free after the referee brought the ball back instead of allowing advantage, and Healy then added two from play, one of which came after a powerful burst through the middle.

Laois responded with four points in a strong spell, Larkin again central as he nearly grabbed a second two-pointer, only for Mark Jackson to flick it over the bar. But Larkin did raise an orange flag soon after to bring his tally to five, before McGraynor’s third free pulled one back for the hosts.

With six minutes left in the half, Laois surged ahead. Niall Corbet finished a patient move, before Larkin pointed and Ronan Coffey curled over a brilliant score from the sideline to send Laois into the dressing room with a two-point lead.

However, Wicklow took control on the restart. They hit the first four points of the second half through McGraynor, Joe Prendergast, and a two-point free from Jackson to reclaim the lead. Laois responded through Paddy O’Sullivan and Conor Heffernan, but a huge moment followed as Padraig O’Toole was denied a goal by Killian Roche, and Kevin Swayne somehow blocked McGraynor’s rebound. Jackson landed the 45’ that followed.

Wicklow then went on a crucial scoring burst. Darcy (free), Healy with his fourth from play, and another two-point Jackson free, this time after Laois were caught short at the back, made it 0-17 to 0-12. Kenny added his second with a fisted point to make it six unanswered scores for Oisín McConville’s side.

Laois finally ended a 13-minute drought when Coffey slotted over a free, and he added another shortly after to cut the deficit to four. But O’Toole struck back, and despite Roche raising a two-pointer to offer Laois brief hope, substitute Liam O’Neill responded instantly. The final score came from yet another Wicklow counter, as Darcy slotted a free to seal a deserved victory, punishing Laois once more for pushing up for not keeping three players in attack.

Laois will now aim to bounce back in Round 3 when they play Offaly in Newbridge in a fortnight's time. Offaly will come into that game with two wins from two after they beat Waterford on Saturday afternoon.