Wexford 5-12 Laois 0-19FULL FORWARD Jack Guiney finished with a personal tally of 3-4 as Wexford retained their Division One B status with a fully deserved win at Nowlan Park.

Laois were on top early in this game and led 0-5 to 0-1, due primarily to the accuracy of their centre forward and captain Willie Hyland, who finished with a score of 0-11 to his credit.

Wexford reduced the lead to 0-8 to 0-7 by the 29th minute. Then Guiney availed of good play by right full forward Paul Morris to fire his side’s first goal and put his side ahead for the first time.

Rory Jacob’s shot from the right wing then hung in the air and Paul Morris got a touch to beat Laois goalie Eoin Reilly as Wexford led 2-7 to 0-10 at the interval.

Within a minute of the restart good play by Wexford along the right wing enabled Jack Guiney to crash home his side’s third goal.

Laois never gave up and scored five unanswered points. Willie Phelan’s penalty effort on the hour rose then flew high over the bar to make it 3-11 to 0-17. But Wexford, by comparison, were clinical when it came to goalscoring and David Redmond finished a fine solo run with a goal before Guiney added his third goal before the finish.

WEXFORD: E Martin; W Devereux, P Roche, K Rossiter; R Kehoe, D Stamp, E Moore; D Redmond (1-0), M O'Hanlon; H Kehoe (0-2), D O'Keefe, D Lyng (0-1, line cut); P Morris (1-1), J Guiney (3-4, 0-3 frees, one 65), R Jacob (0-3). Subs: PJ Nolan (0-1) for O'Keeffe (27); J Tonks for Kehoe (50); G Sinnott for H Kehoe (57); S Murphy for Stamp (65); G Moore for Jacob (71).

LAOIS: E Reilly; B Smith, D Maher, C Coonan; C Dunne (0-1), M Whelan, M McEvoy (0-1), J Fitzpatrick, J Walsh (0-1); C Healy (0-1), W Hyland (0-11, nine frees, one sideline), D O'Mahoney; C Murray (0-3), T Fitzgerald, S Bourke (0-1). Subs: N Foyle for Coonan (39); B Reddin for Bourke (53); S Hanlon for Dunne (64); P Mullaney for Smith (67).

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).