Wexford 2-27 Laois 2-16. Report : Ronan Fagan. Photos Noel Reddy
After a tight first-half, the Wexford hurlers outclassed Laois on Saturday night at MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise to get their Allianz National League Division 1 Group B campaign off to the ideal start.
There was little to choose between the sides at the break as Wexford led by a fragile 2-10 to 2-8.
But Davy Fitzgerald’s men grew in stature subsequently as they availed of wind advantage to post a commanding victory in advance of welcoming Clare to Chadwicks Wexford Park next Sunday.
Returning to the scene of their Walsh Cup title success from the previous weekend, Jack O’Connor was again to the fore in the free-taking stakes as Wexford led 0-5 to 0-2 after ten minutes.
But Laois were determined to ruffle a few feathers, and the home-side levelled on 16 minutes when Willie Dunphy capitalised upon a defensive error to find the net (1-3 to 0-6).
The sides shared the next four scores before the reliable Ross King earned Laois their first taste of the lead after 21 minutes (1-6 to 0-8).
And Laois maintained the upper-hand until Wexford stung them for two unanswered goals during added-time; Conor McDonald booting to the net after a clever set up by Jack O’Connor, before the O’Connor brothers – Rory and Jack – combined to feed Aidan Nolan to net a 2-10 to 1-8 lead three minutes into injury-time.
But Laois were right back in the mix at the break after their ‘keeper Enda Rowland saw his speculative wind-assisted drive fumbled to the net to cut the gap to 2-10 to 2-8 at the break.
While Laois got it back to the minimum on the resumption, Wexford slowly but surely established daylight – Kevin Foley, Pádraig Foley (2 frees) and sub Cathal Dunbar establishing a 2-14 to 2-9 lead after 49 minutes.
Mark Fanning and Joe O’Connor combined to keep out a Laois goal threat, while Conor McDonald was denied at the other end by Enda Rowland.
Regardless, Wexford stretched comfortably clear as Shaun Murphy, Paul Morris, Rory O’Connor and Seamus Casey added their names to a growing scoresheet to ensure that Wexford maintain their 100% start to 2020.
Wexford – Mark Fanning; Simon Donohoe, Liam Ryan, Joe O’Connor; Damien Reck, Shaun Murphy (0-1), Pádraig Foley (0-3 frees); Kevin Foley (0-2), Jack O’Connor (0-6 frees); Liam Óg McGovern (0-2), Rory O’Connor (0-3), Aidan Nolan (1-0); Aidan Rochford, Conor McDonald (1-3), Paul Morris (0-4).
Subs: Cathal Dunbar (0-3) for Aidan Nolan (48); Harry Kehoe for Jack O’Connor (62); Shane Reck for Simon Donohoe (65); Seamus Casey for Rory O’Connor (67); Jack Cullen for Damien Reck (68).
Laois – Enda Rowland (1-1, 0-1 free); Liam Senior, Ryan Mullaney, Donnacha Hartnett; Jack Kelly (0-1), Podge Delaney, Ciarán McEvoy; Fiachra C Fennell, Ciarán Comerford; Aaron Bergin (0-1), Paddy Purcell, James Ryan; Ross King (0-11, 7 frees), Willie Dunphy (1-0), Stephen Bergin.
Subs: Frank Flanagan for Ciarán Comerford (38); Eoin Gaughan (0-1) for Willie Dunphy (52); James Keyes (0-1) for Aaron Bergin (52); Allan Connolly for Liam Senior (65); Colm Stapleton for Jack Kelly (67)
Referee – Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).
[nggallery id=582].
