Laois U/20 hurlers secure Leinster semi-final spot after commanding win over Wexford
Justin Duggan scored a goal for Laois against Wexford in the Leinster U/20 Hurling Championship at Wexford Park Photo: Paul Dargan
Laois 1-24
Wexford 1-18
DEREK Delaney and his U/20 Laois hurlers made the trip to Chadwick’s Wexford Park on the bank holiday Monday afternoon where Wexford awaited to see who would earn a semifinal spot this year. Laois triumphed over neighbours Kildare in the preliminary quarter-final two weeks ago to earn their place in today’s quarter-final.
Jer Quinlan opened the scoring for Laois inside the first minute of play. The home side responded strong with three scores in a row courtesy of a Simon Roche free, accompanied by Paidi Doyle and David McCarthy from play. Cormac Byrne and Jack Breen raised white flags for Laois while Jack Nolan and Ciaran Doyle did likewise for Wexford. The following four scores were traded with Breen and Joseph Pearson pointing for Laois while Eoin Hughes and Roche split the posts for the Yellow Bellies.
The away side gained huge momentum for the following 10 minutes in which they pointed nine scores in a row with no response from their opposition. Justin Duggan and Ruaidhri Kavanagh opened their accounts before a Wexford shot from Cillian Byrne was guided out for a 65’ by Brochan O’Reilly, Roche failed to point the 65’ which fell to the hands of O’Reilly who then found Kavanagh allowing his point his second of the contest.
Ben Deegan pointed three in a row with teo coming from placed balls while Rory Kelly pointed a super before Ben Deegan added a third free. Laois found themselves a goal scoring opportunity but Ross Deegan lost his hurl on the build up leaving his only option to kick the ball which landed over the bar.
Laois allowed the home side right back into the game before the interval, having racked up a seven-point lead they only headed to the dressing room one up (0-15 to 1-11). Roche pointed a free followed by one from play while Kelly pointed his second for Laois in response. In the final three minutes, Wexford nailed 1-2 past the Laois defence. The points came from Nolan and a Roche free while Conor Fanning found the back of the net having been set up by a hand pass over the top from Colin Carley.
A free landed the between the posts from Ben Deegan got the second half underway. Laois raised a green flag only a minute later when a shot from Duggan was fumbled over the goal line. Roche pointed from a placed ball while a Ben Deegan free and Duggan from play pushed Laois six points ahead as they entered the final quarter.
A goal opportunity arose for Wexford but a combination of determination from Pearson and Tom Cuddy blocked down the shot. Roche (65’) and Duggan traded scores while Ben Deegan pointed two free with a Roche free in between. Ross Deegan stepped up and pointed his second. The home side created another goal opportunity, but it was O’Reilly to the rescue as he denied Roche’s volley, advantage was given and the free was pointed by Roche.
Ryan Donoghue and Padraig Jones raised white flags for Wexford while Ben Deegan replied pointing two frees. Roche pointed the final score of the game from a placed ball meaning six points separated the sides at full time. Laois will now face Galway in the Leinster semifinal on Wednesday 14 May.
SCORERS:
Laois: Ben Deegan 0-10 (0-9fs), Justin Duggan 1-3, Jack Breen, Ruaidhri Kavanagh, Rory Kelly and Ross Deegan 0-2 each, Cormac Byrne, Joseph Pearson and Jer Quinlan 0-1 each.
Wexford: Simon Roche 0-10 (0-7fs, 0-1 65), Conor Fanning 1-0, Jack Nolan 0-2, Paidi Doyle, David McCarthy, Padraig Jones, Ryan Donohoe, Ciaran Doyle and Eoin Hughes 0-1 each.
LAOIS: Brochan O’Reilly (Portlaoise); Rory Kelly (Castletown), Joseph Pearson (Clough/Ballacolla), Cormac Hogan (Clough-Ballacolla); Cian Hill (St Fintan’s Mountrath), Tom Cuddy (Camross), Ciaran Flynn (The Harps); Eoghan Cuddy (Camross), Ross Deegan (The Harps); Ruaidhri Kavanagh (Trumera), Cormac Byrne (St Lazarian’s Abbeyleix), Ben Deegan (Camross); Jer Quinlan (Borris/Kilcotton), Justin Deegan (The Harps), Jack Breen (Castletown).
Subs: Kevin Byrne (Camross) for Hill (ht), Oran Gorman (Rosenallis) for Kelly (53m), Evan Cassin (Clough/Ballacolla) for Kavanagh (56m), Kyron Cuddy (Castletown) for R Deegan (60m), Mark Downey (The Harps) for Duggan (61m).
WEXFORD: Paddy Quigley; Eoin Hughes, Pádraig Jones, Niall Furlong; Ryan Donohoe, Charlie Roark, Ciarán Doyle; Jack Nolan, David McCarthy; Doran Daly O’Toole, Páidí Doyle, Colin Carley; Cillian Byrne, Simon Roche, Conor Fanning.
Subs: Jack Dunne for McCarthy (22m), Alex Lafferty for Daly O’Toole (38m), Dylan Purcell for Nolan (41m), Sean Hyland for Doyle (56m), Eoghan Cassin for Fanning (58m).
Referee: Conor Daly (Kildare)
