Wexford 1-18

Laois            2-21

 

The Wexford Senior footballers suffered heartbreak on Saturday evening in the opening round of the Leinster Senior Football Championship as they lost out to Laois after extra time on a scoreline of 1-18 to 2-21.

The game started perfectly for Wexford as Brian Malone and Daithi Waters combined from the throw in for the opening point after only 13 seconds.

The home team were fast from the starting blocks and raced into a 0-08 to 0-00 lead; points from John Tubritt in the 3^rd, 18^th and 22^nd minutes, Glen Malone in the 4^th minute, and three frees from Donal Shanley in the 9^th, 16^th and 20^th minute created a perfect storm.

Gary Walsh opened the scoring for Laois in the 24^th minute from a placed ball and followed up a minute later with another close range free.  

Naomhan Rossiter scored Wexford’s goal

Naomhan Rossiter got on the end of a very well worked Wexford move in the 26^th minute, Brian Malone fielded Conor Swaine’s kickout, 12 passes later, the Rosslare man had the ball in the back of the Laois net, 1-08 to 0-02.

Glen Malone’s perfectly placed sideline kick found John Tubritt and he laid it off to the on rushing James Stafford who pointed in the 30^th minute.

Conor Swaine made a brilliant save to deny Kieran Lillis and Naomhan Rossiter was brave as he smothered Donal Kingston’s follow up.

Laois failed to score from play in the opening half, Gary Walsh gave them their third point of the evening from a close range free.

Jim Rossiter limped off late in the half, he fell awkwardly, and he was certainly a loss later in the game.

Another well worked passing move across the field saw Shane Doyle point to make it 1-10 to 0-3 to bring an end to the first half.

Wexford lead at half time

Roles were certainly reversed in the second half, Laois scored three early points, Stephen Attride, David Conway and Donal Kingston pointed from a free in the 40th minute.

Donal Kingston fielded a high ball on the Wexford 45, he turned, took on Michael Furlong, as the Laois man was bearing down on goal, Furlong made a brilliant tackle to knock the ball away to deny what looked a certain score.

Moments later, Graham Brody, pushed Tiernan Rossiter’s goal bound shot around the post, Donal Shanley scored the resulting 45, 1-11 to 0-06.

Ross Munnelly pointed from a close range free after being pulled down by Conor Carty, minutes later he reduced the deficit further as he pointed from play in the 45^th minute.

John Tubritt’s right footed shot gave Wexford a much needed point in the 46^th minute.

Michael Furlong had Donal Kingston well shackled as he blazed a shot wide- although the Laois player could well have done better.

Donal Kingston pointed from a free- 1-12 to 0-09.

Conor Swaine was again called into action as Kingston split the Wexford defence with a hand pass to Damien O’Connor, the instigator was on hand to slot the ball between the Wexford posts- 1-12- 0-10.

Kingston and Shanley exchanged pointed frees before Kingston bagged another 2 points and Munnelly added to the Laois tally.

Darren Strong’s line ball found Ross Munelly in the 63^rd minute, he laid it off to Damien O’Connor at pace but the Timahoe man struck it with the outside of his foot and it was outside the post as well- a bad miss for Laois.

Only two points separated the sides as Donal Shanley’s free looked to be heading over the Laois crossbar, but it was plucked from the sky to deny Wexford a much needed point.

John Tubritt pointed from play in the 68^th minute to give Wexford some breathing space as they went back into a 3 point lead- 1-14 to 0-14.

Niall Donoher goes to ground and wins a vital penalty for Laois

Laois quickly worked the ball down the field, Kieran Lillis made a darting run into the Wexford danger zone, passed the ball to Paul Kingston, quick hands to Niall Donoher, the Laois player fell tamely to the ground under the watch of Donal Shanley and to the disbelief of the partisan home crowd the referee blew for a penalty.

Donal Kingston made no mistake in the 69^th minute as he slotted the placed ball low into the corner.

Three minutes into injury Stephen Attride was adjudged to have taken down Brian Malone as he surged towards goal, the referee had no hesitation as he blew for a penalty.

Shanley took the safe option to slot the ball over the bar to give Wexford a one point lead.

Gareth Dillon pulls the trigger for the equalizing point

A quick kick out, Laois worked the ball down the field to set up the corner back, Gareth Dillon, to score the equalising point, 4 mins 41 seconds into injury time.

Laois had their backs up in the first period of extra time, less that 4 minutes in, Darren Strong pointed, quickly followed by a goal from Kieran Lillis and another point from Trevor Collins. Donal Shanley raised one flag for the home side, a point from a placed ball and this was cancelled out by a Stephen Attride point- advantage very much to Laois 1-16 to 2-18.

The second period of extra time was very much a formality, Laois added to their tally with 2 points from Paul Kingston, and one from Donal Kingston. Donal Shanley had a good night with his free taking, he added another, and Darragh Pepper also got on the score sheet.

Final score at Innovate 2-21 to 1-18 in favour of a slow starting Laois.