Laois fall short in Andrew Corden Cup final clash with Wexford

Andrew Corden Cup Final 

Wexford 2-13 

Laois 1-12 

THE Laois U/20 football team made the journey to Chadwick’s Wexford Park on Thursday evening to face Wexford in the Andrew Corden Cup final.

A dominant second quarter from Wexford saw Laois concede 2-4 in the space of 15 minutes, which was a strong contributor to their defeat. Despite their admirable response, they simply couldn’t covert their second half chances, ultimately bringing their season to an end.

Oisin Hade earned his first start of the year and immediately made an impact as he pointed within 20 seconds of throw-in. Wexford had two opportunities to get off the mark, but both shots were held up in the breeze. Robbie Murphy raised the first orange flag of the constant when his effort crept over the bar.

Shane Reddy got the scoring underway for home side as he pointed from play after seven minutes. Laois replied with a second orange flag, this time courtesy of Ultan Dunne. Cathal Kehoe and Darren Brennan exchanged points, and Laois went quiet for the following 15 minutes failing to convert any chances.

Wexford hit the ground running during those 15 minutes and took their tally to 2-6. Brian Ivers pointed an admirable two-point free against a strong breeze, while Kyle Connolly also split the posts before Ivers pointed a free. A well-worked team effort ended up in the back of the net when Brian Roban found Zak Hernan, who set up Ivers to palm into the goals.

A second green flag came only two minutes later and from the same man, Ivers, with Darragh Harris playing him in. Laois responded remarkably in injury time when William Gaul saved Eoin Johnson’s effort, but Dylan Murphy was on hand and used his soccer skills to tap the ball across the line. Brennan stood up and kicked a two-pointer at ease to leave only one point between them at half-time, (1-8 to 2-6).

Johnston pointed his and his side’s first point of the second half while Kehoe replied for the Yellowbellies. Harris pointed Wexford’s second two-pointer and Johnson scored a second free in response. Paddy Fitzgerald then pointed after Robbie Murphy was fouled, allowing Fitzgerald to raise the white flag after he took the solo and go.

Wexford finished the game the stronger of the sides as they pointed three on the trot all coming from Ivers taking his tally to 2-7. The first score came from a free while the second was a two-point free, and the third his first from play. Conor O’Callaghan fired over the final score of the contest which saw Laois suffer a four-point loss in the end.

This result marks the end of Kieran Kelly and his team’s season as the players will now return to their clubs and finish out their Laois Shopping Centre ACFL campaigns.

SCORERS:

Wexford: Brian Ivers 2-7 (2tpfs, 0-2fs), Darragh Harris (1tp) and Cathal Kehoe 0-2 each, Shane Reddy and Kyle Connolly 0-1 each.

Laois: Dylan Murphy 1-0, Darren Brennan 0-3 (1 tp), Eoin Johnson (f), Ultan Dunne (1tp) and Robbie Murphy (1tp) 0-2 each, Oisin Hade, Paddy Fitzpatrick, Conor O’Callaghan 0-1 each.

WEXFORD: William Gaul; Seán Fitzharris, Liam Kenny, Tom Cummins; Shane Reddy, Darragh Dee, Mikey Hughes; Alex Carton, Kyle Connolly; Darragh Forde, Cathal Kehoe, Brian Roban; Zak Hernan, Darragh Harris, Brian Ivers.

Subs: James Rothwell for Dee (41m, inj), Ian Noctor for Forde (52m), Conor Shortall for Carton (52m), Darragh Shannon for Hernan (55m), Odhran Morris for Harris (60m).

LAOIS: Cathal Tierney (Park Ratheniska); Tom O’Connell (Mountmellick), Dan Boland (Courtwood), Fionn O’Sullivan (Crettyard); James Dunne (Clonaslee/St Manman’s), Danny McGrath (Graiguecullen), Ben O’Connor (Portlaoise); Robbie Murphy (St Joseph’s), Oisin Hade (Mountmellick); Paddy Fitzpatrick (The Heath), Eoin Johnson (St Joseph’s), Darren Brennan (Portlaoise); Dylan Murphy (Graiguecullen), David Donohue (Stradbally), Ultan Dunne (O’Dempsey’s).

Subs: Ed Slevin (Ballyroan Abbey) for Tierney (12m, inj), Conor O’Callaghan (Portlaoise) for D. Murphy (55m), Cormac Deegan (Annanough) for Hade (55m), Eli Colbert (The Rock) for Donoghue (58m).

Referee: Darragh Byrne (Wicklow)