Wexford’s dismal run ends in relegation

Wexford 0-10 Laois 2-16, Wexford Park

Wexford will be playing Division 3 football next year after their sixth defeat of the campaign confirmed their relegation from the second tier of the National Football League.

Jason Ryan's side, Division 3 champions last year, were comprehensively beaten by Laois at Wexford Park, despite the best efforts of All-Star forward Mattie Forde (0-4).

Forde had a mixed bag of a first half, hitting some poor wides but also contributing greatly to the home side's attacking play.

These Leinster rivals cancelled each other out in the opening quarter-hour. It was a similar scenario on the scoreboard early on as a point from Forde after 17 seconds was rubbed out by MJ Tierney's opening free.

Padraig McMahon added a point and then on 29 minutes, his run down the left and subsequent point attempt paved the way for Laois' opening goal.

The midlanders' attack-minded wing back watched his shot parried by Wexford goalkeeper Anthony Masterson, but Donie Kingston was on hand to volley home the loose ball.

A Diarmuid Kinsella point reduced the arrears for Wexford to 1-3 to

0-3 and the Model men added two more points before the half-time whistle, through Shane Roche and Forde.

All that left Laois just one ahead at the break and they had to re-jig their team, with Ger Reddan (head) and Brendan Quigley (knee) off injured and replaced by John O'Loughlin and Peter O'Leary.

Padraig Clancy ensured a good start to the second half for Laois, with a well-taken point, but two points in quick succession from Roche tied up the game.

Roche, who was making his first start of the year, hit a free and then Adrian Flynn and Forde combined to set up a point from play.

Wexford were noticeably upping the intensity but all their good work came undone when the rampaging McMahon fisted a point and then slipped a 47th-minute goal past Masterson.

Tierney played a long ball through for the onrushing McMahon to gobble up and slot low past the Wexford net minder.

The game was getting away from Wexford at this stage and a Tierney point started a run of seven straight scores for Laois, who simply ran riot in the closing stages to put a gloss on the final scoreline.