National Football League Division One B/ Laois 1-13 Wexford 0-10: Wexford made the journey to Portlaoise yesterday - the scene of their great triumph last year when they beat Tyrone in the league semi-final. However, on this occasion Paul Bealin's side played second fiddle to a determined Laois side.

The opening half saw Wexford play the better football and they opened the scoring with a brace of points from Pat Colfer and Mattie Forde. Laois levelled with points from Chris Conway and substitute Barry Brennan, but Wexford regained the lead with points from John Hudson and Leigh O'Brien.

Wexford dominated during this period of the game, but points from Joe Higgins and Chris Conway left just one point separating the teams after 25 minutes. And, at half-time, Wexford led 0-5 to 0-4.

On the resumption, Laois introduced under-21 player Donie Brennan and he was to turn the game in Laois's favour.

Wexford started the scoring again with a Forde point from play, but three in a row from Laois saw them take the lead for the first time after 45 minutes. Forde levelled again for Wexford, but in the final 20 minutes Laois took complete control.

A Billy Sheehan point put three points between the sides after 55 minutes and two minutes later the game was over as a contest when Joe Higgins laid on a perfect pass for Donie Brennan, who scored the game's only goal.

LAOIS: F Byron; A Fennelly, C Ryan, P McDonald; J Higgins (0-1), D Conroy, B McCormack; P Clancy (0-1), N Garvan; R Munnelly, B Sheehan (0-1), G Kavanagh; B McDonald, C Kelly (0-1, St Joseph's), C Conway (0-6). Subs: C Kelly (0-1, Stradbally) for B McDonald, B Brennan (0-1) for R Munnelly. T Kelly for D Conroy, P McMahon for P McDonald, D Brennan (1-1) for G Kavanagh

WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; P Curtis, L O'Brien (0-1), D Murphy; B Ó Duill, P Colfer (0-1); C Deely (0-1), D Fogarty, R Barry; J Hegarty, J Hudson (0-1), M Forde (0-6). Subs: D Shannon for Hegarty, R Stafford for B O Duill, D Breen for Murphy.

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).