Wexford seal comfortable win over battling Laois 

Wexford were firing from the start and did enough to keep their championship hopes alive against Laois.

BIG IMPACT: Wexford's Lee Chin in action against Tom Cuddy of Laois. Pic: Matt Browne, Sportsfile

All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-final: Wexford 0-32 Laois 0-20

Wexford emerged with a comfortable 12-point victory over a battling Laois side in this All-Ireland senior hurling championship preliminary quarter-final at Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

Wexford were firing from the start and did enough to keep their championship hopes alive against a Laois side, not alone trying to bounce back from a Joe McDonagh Cup final defeat seven days earlier, but also seeking their first championship victory over the Model County since 1985.

The Laois defence endured some anxious moments through the opening exchanges, finding it difficult to deal with the crossfield ball, as Wexford's Rory O'Connor and Conor McDonald hit quickfire points.

Just when it was looking like Wexford were going to control this game, Laois' Aaron Dunphy was fouled by Simon Donohoe with referee Shane Hynes awarding a penalty.

Laois keeper Enda Rowlands made the long trek upfield but his low shot for the corner was brilliantly saved by keeper Mark Fanning, with defender Shane Reck picking up the loose ball to clear to safety.

To their credit, Laois recovered from this setback, responding with points from Aaron Dunphy and Stephen Hickey, bringing the sides level 0-2 each after seven minutes.

Wexford saw the importance of that let-off from the penalty, as they chipped in with further points from Chin (two frees), Conor Hearne and Simon Donohoe to lead 0-6 to 0-4, as Dunphy pointed frees kept the home side in touch.

After an Aidan Corby point left the minimum separating the sides, the hosts were to hit a barren spell as Wexford hit seven unanswered points as Chin, McDonald, Cian Byrne and Tomas Kinsella all got in on the scoring act to lead 0-13 to 0-5 after twenty-three minutes.

Wexford were threatening to cut Laois open but credit to the home defence, particularly Ryan Mullaney and Padraig Delaney, who were getting through some superb defending to deny both Chin and Rory O'Connor.

Wexford went on to build a lead of 0-17 to 0-9, but two Dunphy pointed frees kept Laois in touch, with Wexford finishing out the half with a Liam Og McGovern point to lead 0-18 to 0-11 at the interval.

The scoring gap was always going to prove too much for Laois, particularly when the Model resumed with two quick points from O'Connor and Chin. 

Possession was being dominated by Wexford, despite a Dunphy point, it was the visitors who led 0-27 to 0-14 entering the closing 15 minutes.

Laois, with Dunphy showing superb accuracy from placed balls, helped the home side maintain a challenge, but it was a superb Rowlands save from McDonald that denied Wexford the first major of the game.

Such was the Wexford dominance they had the luxury of withdrawing both Chin and McDonald late on, with Dunphy pointing a free and a 65, and Conor Hearne managing a Wexford point in between. 

In the end, it was a comfortable victory for Wexford who have set up a quarter-final clash with Clare on Saturday next.

Wexford: M Fanning; S Reck, M O'Hanlon, E Ryan; S Donohoe (0-1), D Reck (0-1), C Foley; C Hearne (0-3), L Og McGovern (0-2), T Kinsella (0-1), L Chin (0-11, 0-5 frees, 0-2, '65s), C Dunbar; C Byrne (0-2), C McDonald (0-5), R O'Connor (0-3). 

Subs: C Byrne-Dunbar (0-1) for Kinsella (45), K Foley for Chin (55), S Casey (0-2 frees) for McGovern (67), D Carley for McDonald (69).

Laois: E Rowland; I Shanahan, R Mullaney (0-1), D Hartnett; D Conway, P Delaney, T Cuddy; A Corby (0-1), P Maher (0-2); G Lynch, P Purcell (0-1), D Dooley; J Quinlan, A Dunphy (0-14, 0-10 frees, 0-2 '65s), T Keyes. 

Subs: F C Fennell for Conway inj. 20), C Comerford (0-1) for Lynch (33), M Phelan for Maher (51), R King for Quinlan (56).

Referee: S Hynes (Galway).