Laois set up a quarter-final meeting with Dublin next Wednesday with this 4-12 to 1-11 victory over Wexford at Enniscorthy tonight.

Having trailed by five points at the midway stage in the first half, the winners - buoyed by Tom Shiels' first goal of the night - battled back gamely to go in level at the interval, 1-5 to 0-8. They trailed again late in the game but fired three goals in the final quarter to win with plenty to spare in the end.

The Model County started brightly and captain John Tubritt's free had them ahead by 0-3 to no score with just six minutes played. The hosts had four points on the board by the time Alan Farrell knocked over the O'Moore County's first score of the night in the 14th minute.

Syl Byrne stretched the gap at the start of the second quarter but a somewhat fortuitous Shiels goal brought the visitors right back into contention, 0-6 to 1-1.

Laois centre forward James Moore roared through the middle to point via the top of the crossbar and the same player clipped over the equalising point with eight minutes left in the first half.

Substitute Niall Mullin edged the away team back in front for the second time after points had been exchanged  but Tubritt's converted free on the stroke of half time ensured parity at the short whistle.

Laois had moved three points ahead within five minutes of the restart but Jamie Carty replied with a pointed free and Tubritt brought the margin back down to the minimum.

Padraig Conway's goal propelled the Slaneysiders back in front, 1-11 to 1-9, but Laois came back with a couple of points before Shiels' second three-pointer of the night made it 2-11 to 1-11 to the visitors with 48 minutes gone.

Corner forward and Sigerson Cup winner Evin Keane's goal five minutes from time settled the game as a contest, leaving seven points between the teams, and Evan O'Carroll's major provided the icing on the cake as the O'Moore men progressed to the quarter-final stage, where they will host holders Dublin in seven days' time.

Laois - A O'Reilly; L Knowles, K Lennon, C Dunne; P O'Sullivan, C Hogan, R Dowling; D Cullen, A Farrell (0-1); P Kingston (0-4, 2f), J Moore (0-3), N Murphy; E Keane (1-0), E O'Carroll (1-1), T Sheils (2-2, 0-2f). Subs: N Mullen (0-1) for D Cullen, A Campion for R Dowling, D O'Reilly for N Murphy, C Maher for J Moore.

Wexford - L Rafter; R Vaillejo, J Rossiter, P Curtis (0-1); N Rossiter, D Barden, G Staples; S Byrne (0-1), J White (0-1); E Nolan, J Tubritt (0-4, 2f), S Donohoe; P Barden (0-1), J Carty (0-2f), P Conway (1-1). Subs: N Hughes for G Staples, E O'Byrne for S Byrne, E Roche for E Nolan, J Connors for R Vaillejo.

Referee - K Kelly.

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