SF Qualifier: Laois leave it late
July 06, 2014
Wexford's Michael Furlong with Donal Kingston of Laois.
©INPHO/Dan Sheridan.
An amazing match, where there was never more than two points between the sides, looked to be heading for extra time until the O'Moore County landed an injury-time winner to break Wexford hearts.
A Ben Brosnan '45' had given the home team a two-point lead, 0-17 to 0-15, with six minutes left but substitute MJ Tierney made a telling contribution as he nailed two late, late pressure frees before teeing up Niall Donoher for a dramatic winner.
Damien O'Connor's injury-time strike had given Laois a narrow 0-11 to 0-10 advantage at the end of a very evenly-contested first half.
Playing into the breeze, the Model County took the lead for the first time in the seventh minute as Brosnan clipped over a free.
John O'Loughlin and Paddy Byrne traded the opening points and there was also an exchange between Donoher and Ciaran Lyng before Brosnan edged the hosts in front.
Graeme Molloy and James Holmes got their names on the scoresheet as Aidan O'Brien's charges surged four points clear but the O'Moore County battled back to drew level with a run of points from Donie Kingston, O'Loughlin, Ross Munnelly and Conor Meredith before Brosnan and Colm Begley swapped points: 0-7 each after 22 minutes.
A Kingston free had the midlanders back in front but Lyng's third point arrived in the 29th minute and ensured that the Slaneysiders were back in the lead, 0-9 to 0-8. O'Loughlin and Robert Tierney traded points before Kingston drew the visitors level again on the stroke of half time, 0-10 each.
O'Connor's late, late strike separated the sides at the break and O'Loughlin made it a two-point match two minutes after the restart but a brace of PJ Banville points had Wexford level again with 38 minutes played, 0-12 apiece.
Lyng's fourth point edged the Model County back in front and Kingston replied from a free eight minutes later before Brosnan and Banville made it 0-15 to 0-13 with three-quarters of the match played.
When Kevin Meaney halved the deficit, Lyng was on hand to restore Wexford's two-point advantage. Donoher struck Laois' 15th point and Brosnan's 64th-minute '45' made the Model County strong favourites. But Tomas O Flatharta's charges - and Tierney in particular - had other ideas!
Laois - G Brody; P McMahon, C Begley (0-1), D Booth; P O'Leary, P Begley, R Kehoe; K Meaney (0-1), J O'Loughlin (0-4); C Meredith (0-1), B Sheehan, S Attride; R Munnelly (0-1), D Kingston (0-4, 3f), N Donoher (0-3). Subs: D O'Connor (0-1) for D Booth, MJ Tierney (0-2f) for D O'Connor (BC).
Wexford - S Roche; R Tierney (0-1), G Molloy (0-1), C Carty; T Rossiter, B Malone, A Flynn; D Waters, P Byrne (0-1); M Furlong, PJ Banville (0-3), J Holmes (0-2); C Lyng (0-5), B Brosnan (0-4, 3f, 1'45), K O'Grady. Sub: M O'Regan for T Rossiter.
Referee - A Nolan. Tweet
