Laois suffer a trouncing at the hands of Wexford in Round 2 clash
Darragh Galvin feels the pain of this challenge during Laois's NFL loss to Wexford in Chadwick Wexford Park on Saturday evening Photo: Paul Dargan
THE Laois footballers made the journey to Chadwick’s Wexford Park on Saturday evening where they looked to get their first win of the league campaign under their belts having ended all square with Limerick last weekend.
Kevin Swayne kicked the opening score of the contest in the first minute of play. Cathal Kehoe then replied for Wexford before scores were traded between Evan O’Carroll (free) and Niall Hughes. The home side then breached the three men up rule, which awarded Laois an opportunity to kick for two, but Killian Roche’s effort went to the right of the posts.
The Yellowbellies added two consecutive scores to the board when Tom Byrne pointed from play and Sean Nolan likewise after he won a poorly struck short kickout from Roche. Rioghan Murphy opened his account, raising a white flag. Laois had an opportunity to take the lead after Brian Byrne played a super pass into O’Carroll, but he drilled the ball wide.
Once again, Wexford made Laois pay for their miss and went on to point two in a row. Niall Hughes struck the first while Pairic Hughes split the posts for the second. Murphy added a second super score for Laois, but the home side took complete control for the following ten minutes and registered a further 0-5 to their name.
Nolan kicked a remarkable two pointer to begin their scoring spree; he then kicked two frees over the black spot. Jack Higgins also added his name to the Wexford score sheet pushing his side seven points ahead. Murphy stepped up for Laois once again kicking his third and Laois’ fifth of the contest which bridged the gap to six at the break, (0-11 to 0-5).
The home team had the better start to the second half as they were awarded a free outside of the arc, which allowed Darragh Brooks slot over the two-point free pushing their lead to eight. Wexford followed up with a goal scoring opportunity as Nolan went to palm the ball to the net, but luckily Trevor Collins was on hand to clear it off the line.
Laois broke up the field and Conor Heffernan raised a white flag quickly followed by Colin Dunne adding his name to the scoresheet within 30 seconds of his introduction. Kehoe added a second point to his name before Wexford worked another goal chance, but Matthew Byron pulled off a fingertip save to deny Mark Rossiter.
Nolan and Paul Kingston traded frees while the number 14’s for both sides, Darragh Galvin and Mark Rossiter, pointed their first scores of the game. Nolan stepped up for Wexford once more and pointed his seventh of the contest while Brooks travelled up the field to kick a 45’ for his side. As the clocked ticked, Wexford continued to tick up the scoreboard and leave Laois in the dust. Brooks kicked another two-point free while Cian Hughes sprung from the bench and pointed a free before Brooks kicked the closing score of the game adding a third two point free to his name.
This is the first time since 2005 that Wexford have defeated Laois in the league, and the loss leaves Laois vulnerable as they are yet to get a win in this year’s division 3 campaign. Justin McNulty’s side look forward to a weekend off and all eyes will be on their clash with Sligo in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday 14 February at 6pm.
Sean Nolan (0-3fs, 1tp) and Darragh Brooks (3tpf, 0-1 45) 0-7 each, Niall Hughes and Cathal Kehoe 0-2 each, Pairic Hughes, Jack Higgins, Tom Byrne, Cian Hughes (f), and Mark Rossiter 0-1 each.
Rioghan Murphy 0-3, Kevin Swayne, Evan O’Carroll (f), Paul Kingston (f), Darragh Galvin, Conor Heffernan, and Colin Dunne 0-1 each.
Darragh Brooks; Shane Doyle, Gavin Sheehan, Dylan Furlong; Liam O’Connor, Eoin Porter, Glen Malone; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Pairic Hughes, Cathal Kehoe, Jack Higgins; Tom Byrne, Mark Rossiter, Sean Nolan.
Robbie Brooks for Nolan and Cian Hughes for Byrne (63m), Colum Feeney for Higgins (65m), Sean Ryan for N. Hughes and Sean Barden for Malone (72m).
Killian Roche (Killeshin); Ben Dempsey (Portlaoise), Trevor Collins (Graiguecullen), Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise); Paddy O’Sullivan (Portarlington), Brian Byrne (Graiguecullen), Jack Lacey (St Joseph's); Rob Tyrrell (Courtwood), Ciaran Burke (Crettyard); Rioghan Murphy (Portarlington), Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard), Conor Heffernan (Killeshin); Niall Corbet (Clonaslee/St Manman's), Daragh Galvin (Portarlington), Ronan Coffey (Portarlington).
Matthew Byron (Courtwood) for Roche (h/t), Colin Dunne (Arles Killeen) for Burke (41m), Paul Kingston (Arles Killeen) for Corbet (47m), Mikie Dempsey (St Joseph’s) for O’Carroll (50m), Cian Ryle (Kilcavan) for Coffey (67m).
Jonathan Hayes (Limerick)
