Wexford 0-5 Laois 5-19

Leinsters only representatives in division 1A of the Suzuki national football league went head to head in Hollymount (Wexford) on Sunday last, and the result on the score board at the final whistle was a fair reflection of the difference between the sides on the day, in fact the margin could have been greater but for a number of brilliant saves from Wexfords all star net-minder Mary Rose Kelly, who was in top form.
This was Laois’s first win in the league, and they will reflect on a “what if league campaign”, the O’Moore county were unlucky to lose out to Tyrone (0-7 to 0-8) and Armagh (1-8 to 1-9) by the narrowest of margins, and then draw with table toppers Kerry (2-11 to 2-11) in their third round game, before meeting Wexford on Sunday last.
At two twenty two, one of Laois’s mentors informed referee Keith Tighe that they would be ready to go at 2:30, and true to their word they put the pedal to the metal and notched up their first point within two minutes of the throw-in, Mary Kirwan tapping over her first of three points all from frees.
The Kirwan family had packed their shooting boots for this trip, in particular Martha Kirwan, who notched up a grand total of two goals and five points, however her first attempt failed to beat Mary Rose Kelly, but Kelly was unable to hold on to the fiercely struck shot and it rebounded out to Laois’s Gemma O’Connor, and O’Connor made no mistakes finding the back of the Wexford net, to raise the green flag in the thirteenth minute of the game.
In fairness to Wexford, who were short of a number of their more experienced players on the day, never gave up the fight, and battled hard to get a foothold in the game, Josie Dwyer tapped over two points from frees while Liz Evert notched up Wexfords third score of the half.
However as hard as they tried, they were unable to put the brakes on a strong, slick Laois outfit, who had a total of nine players who registered scores on the day, with the score board reading 0-3 to 2-9 in Laois’s favour at the break.
The O’Moore girls continued were they left off in the first half, raising the green flag on three more occasions, while the umpire in
charge of the white flag was the busier of the two, as Laois added a further ten points, Wexfords only response came from the boot of Michelle Doyle to bring the final score to 0-5 to 5-19.
Laois’s next outing will be away to Mayo on Sunday next, while the Model county are up against the might of the Kingdom of Kerry. Wexford: Mary Rose Kelly, Mag Kelly (Capt), Martina Murray, Denise Kearns, Lorna Doyle, Fiona Cullen, Aoife Waters, Jane Mythen, Shelly Doyle, Sharon Keogh, Fiona Rochford, Georgina Moore, Alvie Evert, Josie Dwyer (0-3), Liz Evert (0-1), Michelle Doyle(0-1).
Laois: Berni Deegan (Capt), Laura Hyland, Lorraine Muckian, Emma McEvoy, Patricia Fogarty, Angela Casey, Aisling Quigley, Tracey Lawlor (0-3), Kay O’Reilly, Mary Casey (0-1), Noreen Kirwan (0-1), Gemma O’Connor (1-2), Martha Kirwan (2-5), Aileen O’Loughlin (0-1), Mary Kirwan (0-3f).Subs: Emer Fitzpatrick(2-0) for Noreen Kirwan (Injured), Ciara O’Loughlin(0-3) for Mary Casey, Grace Weston for Emma McEvoy, Lisa Dunne for Mary Kirwan(injured), Alison Millar for Kay O’Reilly, Amy Grehan for
Aisling Quigley.
Referee: Keith Tighe.