Laois manager John Sugrue admitted his team were fortunate to progress into the next round of the Leinster Football Championship, but felt on the balance of play they deserved their slice of luck.
Donie Kingston was at the heart of an epic Laois fight-back from 1-10 to 0-3 down at half-time to eventually crack Wexford after extra-time at Innovate Wexford Park.
Kingston planted a penalty on 69 minutes to level on 1-14 apiece and set up a truly grandstand finish, which saw Donal Shanley point an injury-time penalty to put Wexford on the brink of victory, before Laois corner-back Gareth Dillon intervened to force extra-time on 1-15 apiece.
Sugrue told RTÉ Sport that the midlanders rode their luck.
"We were lucky to get out. We put ourselves in a real, real corner and we struggled for long periods to get ourselves out of it," he said.
"It was disappointing to put ourselves in that kind of corner. We’re delighted to get the win, the boys really dug in. They probably deserved it on the balance of play overall."
Sugrue was at a loss to explain their flat start to the contest, while also praising the performance of Kingston in the full-forward line who finished with three points from play, three frees and the crucial second-half penalty.
"Donie had a great second half, he was a great outlet for ball in the full-forward line, always looking, always showing for it. The boys outside picked him out with some decent foot passes."
Next up is a date with Westmeath for the right to play in a Leinster semi-final. A repeat performance from the opening 35 minutes at O’Moore Park could well have Sugrue’s team facing down the qualifier route.
"If we come out like that again we won’t be in the Leinster Championship. We have a nice bit of work to do.
"If we can do that, and get our attitude right for the start of the game the next day, we have a chance."
