Laois exit the Leinster championship at the hands of ruthless Wexford

Leinster Minor Hurling Championship q/f 

Wexford 5-16 

Laois 0-10 

LAOIS have bowed out of the Leinster championship after losing out by 21 points to Wexford in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Monday afternoon.

Wexford were full value for their win as they dominated for the large parts of the game and in truth could have won by a lot more but missed a host of wides throughout the game.

Laois started well in this contest and would get the first point through Eoghan Murphy. The away side responded through Colin Carley.

It was tight early doors, and both teams swapped points through Byrne and Jack Nolan to leave it at 0-2 to 0-2 after ten minutes.

Wexford then took over the game and should have been out of sight at half time, but their shooting accuracy filled them at times.

They would hit three points in a row through Sean O’Brien, Colin Carley and Charlie Mooney. They then had two glorious goal opportunities both from Ryan Doran but shot narrowly wide with both attempts.

The goals did arrive soon after first from O’Brien with a brilliant finish followed by a goal from Tom Demspey who kicked the ball into the net.

Laois finally responded through Cormac Byrne to keep in touch but again Jack Nolan responded for Wexford.

Byrne landed another one from play, but Wexford finished the half with points from O’Brien and Nolan to leave them in full control, leaving Laois with it all to do in the second period with the scores at 2-8 to 0-4 points at half time.

Laois needed a fast start but didn’t come as Wexford would hit the first two points through Jack Nolan.

Deegan and Byrne would hit two more points as Laois battled on. The excellent Jack Nolan added another to his tally as Wexford were at their ease.

Byrne to his credit added another point but Wexford stepped on the gas again. Adam O’Connell and Shannon added two more points before the 4th goal as Wexford were ruthless.

O’Brien again found the back of the net to make matters worse for Laois. The away side hit two further points through Podge Doyle and Oisin Moore as the game petered out.

Byrne added another to his tally, but Wexford finished with a further point from Doyle and a goal from Jack Dunne as Wexford cruised home.

SCORERS:

Wexford: Sean O’Brien 2-3 (0-1f), Jack Nolan 0-6, Ronan Shannon 1-1, Tom Dempsey and Jack Dunne 1-0 each, Podge Doyle 0-2, Colin Carley, Oisin Moore, Adam O’Connell Byrne and Charlie Mooney 0-1 each.

Laois: Cormac Byrne 0-5 (0-3fs), Ross Deegan and Eoghan Murphy 0-2 each, Donnchadh Carroll 0-1 (65).

WEXFORD: Paddy Quigley; Ryan Donohoe, Niall Furlong, Corey Ryan; Charlie Mooney, Ciaran Doyle, Charlie Rock; Charlie Roark; Doran Daly O’Toole, Ronan Shannon; Tom Dempsey, Colin Carley, Jack Nolan; Podge Doyle, Sean O’Brien, Ryan Doran.

Subs: Adam O’Connell Byrne for Doran (37m), Darragh Ryan for Dempsey (40m), Conor Fanning for Carsley (44m), Oisin Moore for Doyle (46m), Ian Reilly for Ryan (51m), Jack Dunne for Daly O’Toole (51m).

LAOIS: Dion O’Connor (Trumera); Conor Mortimer (Camross), Evan Cassin (Clough/Ballacolla), Donnchadh Carroll (Mountrath); Donal Deegan (The Harps), Eoghan Murphy (The Harps), Hugh Whelan (The Harps); Ruaidhri Kavanagh (Trumera), Jack Kennedy (The Harps); Patrick O’Callaghan (Clonad), Ross Deegan (The Harps), Tony Mahony (The Harps); Justin Duggan (The Harps), Cormac Byrne (Abbeyleix), Eoin Delaney (The Harps).

Subs: Conor Headen for O’Callaghan (ht), Stephen O’Donnell for D Deegan (42m), Dan Whelan for Mahony