Laois rout woeful Wexford

Justin McNulty may have fielded a new-look Laois side but they still proved the dominant force as they completely overwhelmed a disappointing Wexford side at Wexford Park yesterday.

Wexford were outplayed for most of the game and were flattered to have been just nine points adrift at the end.

Ben Brosnan pointed a free inside the opening minute but it was the only time in the game that the homeside led. The writing was on the wall when Paul Cahillane shot across keeper Anthony Masterson into the opposite corner of the net.

Wexford were handed a life-line when a Brosnan free was palmed to the net by Paddy Byrne but Laois responded and finished the half with points from Peter O’Leary and Damien O’Connor to lead 1-9 to 1-3.

They continued to dominate in the second half when Damien O’Connor, Darren Strong, Ross Munnelly, John O’Loughlin and Damien O’Connor all found the target and they ran out very convincing winners.

Scorers for Laois: D Conway 0-6 (3fs), P Cahillane 1-0, D O’Connor 0-2, P O’Leary, D Strong, C Boyle, J O’Loughlin, R Munnelly (f), P Clancy (f), S O’Leary 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: B Brosnan 0-5 (3fs), P Byrne 1-0, C Lyng 0-1.

LAOIS: E Culleton; C Healy, K Lillis, P O’Leary; D Strong, S Julian, C Boyle; J O’Loughlin, B Quigley; R Munnelly, K Meaney, D O’Connor; P Cahillane, P Clancy, D Conway.

Subs: C Begley for Quigley, C Kelly for Cahillane, B Mulligan for Boyle, MJ Tierney for Conway, S O’Leary for O’Connor.

WEXFORD: A Masterson; T Hayden, G Molloy, A Doyle; D Murphy, B Malone, A Flynn; D Waters, R Quinlivan; S Roche, B Brosnan, E Bradley; K O’Grady, J Holmes, P Byrne.

Subs: R Barry for O’Grady, B Mulligan for Hayden, P Kelly for Roche, A Shore for Waters, C Lyng for Bradley.

Referee: F Barry (Kildare).