First-half goals from Patrick O'Sullivan and Daniel O’Reilly powered Laois past Wexford in Saturday’s Leinster SFC opener at sunny Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Wexford endured a chastening opening period a week after their Division 4 league final loss as Justin McNulty’s men settled confidently into a 2-12 to 0-06 interval advantage.
And they remained comfortable thereafter as last year’s beaten Tailteann Cup finalists set up a provincial quarter-final next Sunday against Louth in Newbridge.
Wexford, meanwhile, must await the opening weekend of the Tailteann Cup on 10 or 11 May.
Wind assisted Laois struck the perfect blow as, just as Daniel O’Reilly fisted over, half-backs Simon Fingleton and Patrick O’Sullivan combined for the latter to peel inside his marker and net for a 1-01 to no-score start inside three minutes.
While Kevin O’Grady responded with a fisted over, the visitors continued to lay foundations as captain Brian Byrne, Mark Barry, Ronan Coffey and wing-back Pa Kirwan swelled their position to 1-05 to 0-01 after thirteen minutes.
Coffey slotted a two-pointer before Wexford 'keeper Darragh Brooks denied a goaling threat from Mark Barry midway through the first-half.
The home-side were probing sufficiently, and they regained some ground between the nineteenth and 24th minutes as Mark Rossiter (two), O’Grady and Niall Hughes shaved the gap to 1-07 to 0-05.
But Laois issued a stern response when goal-scorer O’Sullivan turned provider with a sweet fisted delivery which Daniel O’Reilly rammed home on 28 minutes (2-08 to 0-05).
And the Midlanders extended clear by 2-12 to 0-06 at the break as Coffey added his second two-pointer – this time from a free after Wexford dissent – as Laois already featured seven different scorers.
Wexford prospects didn’t improve amid a rather humdrum third quarter as the sides shared four points amid what amounted to challenge match fare.
The home-side momentarily lifted their support when Senior championship debutante Michael Kinsella rammed to the net on 58 minutes from an Eoin Porter assist. But it only made a modest impact (2-16 to 1-09).
Substitute Seán Ryan eased home hurt further when his speculative angled effort from a Kinsella set up ended up in the far corner of the Laois net on 67 minutes (2-18 to 2-09).
But the O’Moore County finished the merrier as they denied Wexford a first championship victory over Laois since 2008 – the Midlanders now having won five subsequent duels.
Key: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Laois: Killian Roche (0-01, 45'); Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins (0-01), Liam Knowles; Pa Kirwan (0-03), Simon Fingleton, Patrick O’Sullivan (1-00); Conor Heffernan, Seamus Lacey; Kevin Swayne, Mark Barry (0-07, 2f), Daniel O’Reilly (1-01); Ronan Coffey (0-06, 1tp,1tpf), Brian Byrne (0-01), Niall Corbet.
Subs: Damon Larkin for O’Sullivan (55'), Benny Carroll for Coffey (62'), Josh Hogan for Fingleton (68'), Fionn Holland for O’Reilly (70+1'), Jonah Kelly (0-01) for Byrne (70+2').
Wexford: Darragh Brooks (0-02, 1tpf); Michael Furlong, Liam O’Connor, Gavin Sheehan; Philip Dempsey, Eoghan Nolan, Eoin Porter (0-01); Liam Coleman, Páraic Hughes; Tom Byrne, Niall Hughes (0-1), Mark Rossiter (0-05, 3f); Conor Carty, Graeme Cullen, Kevin O’Grady (0-02).
Subs: Dylan Furlong for Nolan (HT), Michael Kinsella (1-00) for Carty (HT), Cathal Walsh for Dempsey (57'), Seán Ryan (1-00) for Cullen (57'), Robbie Brooks for Byrne (57').
Referee: David Murnane (Cork).
