Laois 1-15 Wexford 0-06: A new-look Laois claimed the O'Byrne Cup Shield with a resounding win over Wexford in Clongeen. Ben Brosnan's early point for the homeside marked the only time in match in which Wexford led.
The Laois response was immediate, with corner-forward Paul Cahillane getting on the end of a fine move to pull a great shot across keeper Anthony Masterson into the opposite corner of the net.
After another Brosnan effort, Laois struck right back through Colm Boyle and David Conway to lead 1-4 to 0-2 after just fifteen minutes.
Conway struck another pair before Wexford were gifted hope when they failed to clear a Brosnan free and Paddy Byrne fisted into the net.
Their response was swift, however, and they finished the half with points from Peter O’Leary and Damien O’Connor to lead 1-9 to 1-3 at the interval.
With John O’Loughlin and Brendan Quigley in complete control of the midfield, the Laois dominance continued after the break with wing-forwad Damien O’Connor and wing-back Darren Strong both scoring.
Wexford sub Ciaran Lyng pointed, but they were never in the game and Laois could have had two more goals had Cahillane and Stephen O’Leary been a bit more fortunate.
Wexford: A Masterson; T Hayden, G Molloy, A Doyle; D Murphy, B Malone, A Flynn; D Waters, R Quinlivan; S Roche, B Brosnan (0-5, 3f), E Bradley; K O’Grady, J Holmes, P Byrne (1-0). Subs: R Barry for O’Grady; B Mulligan for Hayden; P Kelly for Roche; A Shore for Waters; C Lyng (0-1) for Bradley.
Laois: E Culleton; C Healy, K Lillis, P O’Leary (0-1); D Strong (0-1), S Julian, C Boyle (0-1); J O’Loughlin (0-1), B Quigley; R Munnelly (0-1 free), K Meaney, D O’Connor (0-2); P Cahillane (1-0), P Clancy (0-1 free), D Conway (0-6, 3f). Subs: C Begley for Quigley; C Kelly for Cahillane; B mulligan for Boyle; M J Tierney for Conway; S O’Leary (0-1) for O’Connor.
Referee: F Barry (Kildare).
GAA results
Football
O'BYRNE CUP FINAL:Kildare v DCU - postponed.
O'BYRNE SHIELD FINAL:Laois 1-15 Wexford 1-6.
McGRATH CUP FINAL:Cork 0-13 Tipperary 0-6.
Hurling
WATERFORD CRYSTAL CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND: Kerry 1-20 IT Tralee 1-15; Clare 3-25 Waterford IT 0-5.
BORD na MONA WALSH CUP:Laois 2-14 Dublin 1-14; Galway 6-25 UCD 1-8; Kilkenny 0-13 NUIG 0-12.
BORD na MONA WALSH SHIELD SEMI-FINAL: DIT 1-15 Carlow 0-15; Offaly 2-18 Wexford 1-15.
KEHOE CUP:Fingal 1-12 Louth 1-8; St Pat's 3-11 Wicklow 2-9; Meath 1-17 DCU 1-9; Roscommon v Armagh was postponed.