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Leinster SFC Semi-Final
Wexford 0-18
Laois 0-12
25,555 watched on as Wexford qualified for their first Leinster Senior Football Final since 1956, following a six point win over Laois at Croke Park today. It may have been a mixed afternoon for Kilanerin scoring ace Matty Forde, six points from the corner forward, but he also misfired on seven occasions. However he and his Wexford colleagues were just relieved that after four losses at the penultimate stage in as many years they had finally managed to reach the decider at the fifth attempt.
This wasn't a classic football game, it lacked intensity and in reality with Laois missing the likes of Colm Kelly of St. Joseph's, an injury to Brian McCormack in the first half, and the substitution of MJ Tierney; it was always going to be tough for Liam Kearns side.
But this Laois team weren't keen on giving up and made a good stab of their limited resources, with Portlaoise attacker Colm Parkinson easily the most energetic Laois player on the pitch as the 1996 All-Ireland Minor winner sent over four points, and also made vital contributions in setting up other scores.
The sides were level on four occasions inside 20 minutes, with Laois full-back Mark Timmons among the scorers for Liam Kearns side, while Brendan Doyle, PJ Banville and Adrian Morrissey were among the Wexford point takers.
Jason Ryan's men were certainly a more settled force, Laois mis-fired and had amassed six wides before the interval, while left-half-back Pauric McMahon also had a goal miss, as his shot blasted wide of the target in the 31st minutes.
Wexford held a two point lead at this stage thanks to the efforts of Morrissey and Banville, and although an MJ Tierney free and a McMahon point from play, helped to cut the gap to a point on two occasions in the closing three minutes of the opening half, it was a fisted effort from Ciarán Lyng which ensured a 0-8 to 0-6 half-time lead for Wexford.
Laois needed a boost and they got it at half-time when Brendan Quigley entered the action. The Timahoe midfielder recently fell through a skylight at work, and was making a quick return to action. Perhaps this return was premature as Laois failed to capitalise in the midfield sector, their day compounded when Pauric Clancy was dismissed with two minutes of normal time remaining, following a straight red card.
Wexford kept up the momentum in the scoring stakes, with points from Redmond Barry and Eric Bradley inside five minutes of the restart.
A Colm Parkinson effort in the 44th minute kept Laois in touch, to cut the gap to 0-10 to 0-7, but this period was in reality all about Wexford with Forde and Barry again very much on form.
The introduction of Donie Brennan threatened to cause problems for the Wexford defence, while at the opposite end a superb one footed save by Laois goalkeeper Michael Nolan, following a Ciaran Lyng goal shot gave the O'Moore's great heart.
Stradbally's Colm Kelly also made a huge contribution and when he entered the field with 13 minutes remaining, it injected a new fire into Laois' attack.
Kelly finished the game with three points and undoubtedly would have contributed more if he had started this match, such was his accuracy in front of the posts.
His third point helped to cut the gap to four points with three and a half minutes remaining, however following the dismissal of Clancy Laois lost their shape with points from Banville and Forde in injury time cementing a historic Wexford win.
Wexford: A Masterson; N Murphy, P Wallace, B Malone; A Morrissey 0-2, D Murphy, C Morris; T Howlin, B Doyle 0-1; E Bradley 0-1, R Barry 0-3, A Flynn; C Lyng 0-1, M Forde 0-6(2 45s), PJ Banville 0-3.
Subs: D Walsh for Murphy inj. (46); S Roche 0-1 for Flynn (56); R Stafford for Howlin (64); C Byrne for Doyle (68)
Laois: M Nolan; M Timmons 0-1, J Higgins, C Healy; T Kelly, D Rooney, P McMahon 0-1; K Meaney, J O’Loughlin; R Munnelly 0-1(f), B McCormack, B Sheehan; MJ Tierney 0-2(1f), C Parkinson 0-4, P Lawlor.
Subs: P Clancy for Meaney (15); P O’Leary for McCormack inj. (27); B Quigley for Sheehan (ht); D Brennan for Tierney (53); C Kelly 0-3(2fs) for Lawlor (57)
Referee: R Hickey (Clare) |
