Wexford edge out Laois

NHL DIVISION 2:

Wexford 1-18 Laois 1-14, O'Moore Park

Wexford gained their fourth win of the current Allianz NHL Division 2 campaign, edging out Laois by four points in a nip-and-tuck tussle at O'Moore Park.

Colm Bonnar's charges led from the 17th minute onwards, but always had Laois hot on their heels.

The sides were level on three occasions in the opening quarter, with Laois eager to take their fourth win in succession and cement a league final place.

Zane Keenan made his first start for Laois in over a year, and the Camross sharpshooter tied the game at 0-3 apiece in the 11th minute.

Wexford were comfortable in the midfield sector with Colm Farrell impressing with two of the visitors' opening three points.

Wexford lost centre-forward Willie Doran after he sustained an arm injury in the 15th minute, but suddenly fired on all cylinders.

Between the 17th and 31st minutes the visitors hit 1-5 without reply, including a Peter Atkinson goal four minutes before the break.

Atkinson's three-pointer placed Wexford into an eight-point lead, but scores from Laois' Joe Fitzpatrick and Willie Hyland cut the gap at 1-8 to 0-5 at the interval.

Wexford tagged on four points in quick succession on the restart, but Laois never gave up with Hyland, Keenan and Costelloe keeping them in touch.

A goal from Keenan cut the gap to five points with ten minutes remaining, and set this game up for a grandstand finish.

Goalkeeper Eoin Reilly and Keenan added points for Laois, as against a Rory Jacob score for Wexford, to ensure a 1-17 to 1-13 scoreline in the 70th minute.

Wexford lost half-forward Diarmuid Lyng through a second yellow card late on, but this failed to put the Slaneysiders off their stride as they held out for a hard-earned win.