Laois 2-11

Wicklow 2-10

It was a case of third time lucky for Laois as they ended their O'Byrne Cup campaign on a high thanks to a late goal from half-time substitute Paul Kingston against Wicklow in Bray this evening.

Following defeats to Meath and Wexford in their first two games before Christmas, John Sugrue's men finally secured a win to give themselves a boost ahead of their Allianz League Division 3 opener against Down in Newry in three weeks' time.

Despite neither team being in contention for a semi-final place, this was a lively game that saw the visitors lead by 0-3 to 0-2 after nine minutes. But after Anthony McLoughlin levelled, Patrick O'Connor and McLoughlin found the net for Wicklow to send them into the break with a 2-4 to 0-6 lead.

Kingston marked his introduction with a point while his brother Donie and Evan O'Carroll were also on target as the O'Moore County narrowed the gap. Kingston scored his first goal with eight minutes to go before McLoughlin edged John Evans' charges back in front.

But there was still time for Kingston to bag a late winner and bring his tally to 2-2.

Laois - E Keogh; D Seale, M Timmons, A Campion; E Buggie (0-1), P O'Sullivan, T Collins; R Bracken (0-1), J O'Loughlin; J Mullaney, C Boyle B Byrne; M Keogh, E O'Carroll (0-5, 2f), D Kingston (0-2). Subs: P Kingston (2-2) for J Mullaney, R Tyrrell for R Bracken, M Scully for B Byrne, D O'Connor for C Boyle, D Booth for P O'Sullivan, K Meaney for J O'Loughlin, F Crowley for M Timmons, G Brody for E Keogh, E Dunne for E O'Carroll, D O'Reilly for M Keogh.

Wicklow - M Jackson (0-1f); O Manning, J Snell, R O'Brien; D Devereux, S Mooney, D Fitzgerald; P O'Toole (0-1), D Healy (0-1); M Fitzsimons, A McLoughlin (1-6), G Murphy; T Smith, C McGraynor (0-1), P O'Connor (1-0). Subs: R Davis for P O'Connor, F O'Shea for M Fitzsimons, D Hayden for T Smith, C O'Shea for G Murphy, C Healy for C McGraynor.

Referee - P Maguire.

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