Laois U-20 hurlers shake off Wexford to set up Leinster semi-final with Galway

The Laois U-20 hurlers are into a Leinster semi-final after they had six points to spare over Wexford in Chadwicks Wexford Park on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

Laois dominated the game for large parts, but only led by a single point at the break having been six up with 28 minutes on the clock. Derek Delaney’s side came good in the second-half with Ben Deegan finishing with 10 points while Justin Duggan scored 1-3 from play.

Laois 1-24

Wexford 1-18

Jer Quinlan got Laois up and running with a point inside 60 seconds. Wexford replied with three scores on the trot. Simon Roche pointed a free while Paidi Doyle and David McCarthy scored a point each from play. The game would be level at three points apiece after six minutes as Cormac Byrne and Jack Breen opened their accounts for Derek Delaney’s side.

The game was being played at a frantic pace as Wexford went ahead yet again with two points unanswered. Jack Nolan and Ciaran Doyle split the posts for the home side. The next four scores were traded, Breen and Joseph Pearson raised white flags for Laois, while Eoin Hughes and Roche did likewise for Wexford. Laois would soon be level after 13 minutes courtesy of points from Justin Duggan and Ruaidhri Kavanagh.

From here, Laois took over and scored a further seven points without reply. Kavanagh scored his second point of the contest after he received the ball from goalkeeper Brochan O’Reilly. Ben Deegan became the seventh Laois player to score as he pointed two frees, with one from play sandwiched in between. Laois captain Rory Kelly got in on the act, as did midfielder Ross Deegan. Ben Deegan took his first-half tally to four points with a third free.

Wexford finally broke 13 minutes without a score when Roche pointed a free after 24 minutes. He soon followed that up with a point from play, Laois led by six points with two minutes of the half remaining when Kelly put over another superb long-range score for Laois, but they’ll be disappointed with the last few minutes of the half. Nolan and Roche (free) raised white flags for Wexford, but a goal from Conor Fanning meant that Laois only went into the dressing rooms a point ahead, 0-15 to 1-11.

Ben Deegan got the second half underway with a well-struck free that sailed between the posts. Just a minute later, Laois hit the net when Duggan’s effort was fumbled over the line, giving them the perfect start. Roche responded with a point from a placed ball, but Laois pushed six clear by the final quarter thanks to a Ben Deegan free and a sharp finish from Duggan from open play.

Wexford had a chance to hit back with a goal of their own, but some tenacious defending from Pearson and Tom Cuddy kept them at bay. Roche and Duggan swapped scores, Roche from a 65 and Duggan from play, before Ben Deegan added two more frees, split by another point from Roche. Ross Deegan then chipped in with his second of the day.

Wexford threatened again with a goal chance, but O’Reilly pulled off a brilliant save to deny Roche’s volley. Although the advantage was played, Roche did convert the resulting free. Ryan Donoghue and Padraig Jones added points for Wexford, but Ben Deegan responded with two more frees. Roche had the final say with a placed ball, leaving six points between the sides at the full-time whistle.

Laois will now take on Galway in the Leinster semi-final on Wednesday, May 14.

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SCORERS– Laois: Ben Deegan 0-10 (0-9 frees), Justin Duggan 1-3, Jack Breen, Ruaidhri Kavanagh, Rory Kelly and Ross Deegan 0-2 each, Cormac Byrne, Joseph Pearson and Jer Quinlan 0-1 each. Wexford: Simon Roche 0-10 (0-7 frees, 0-1 65’), Conor Fanning 1-0, Jack Nolan 0-2, Paidi Doyle, David McCarthy, Padraig Jones, Ryan Donohoe, Ciaran Doyle and Eoin Hughes 0-1 each

LAOIS: Brochan O’Reilly (Portlaoise); Rory Kelly (Castletown), Joseph Pearson (Clough-Ballacolla), Cormac Hogan (Clough-Ballacolla); Cian Hill (St Fintan’s Mountrath), Tom Cuddy (Camross), Ciaran Flynn (The Harps); Eoghan Cuddy (Camross), Ross Deegan (The Harps); Ruaidhri Kavanagh (Trumera), Cormac Byrne (Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s), Ben Deegan (Camross); Jer Quinlan (Borris-in-Ossory Kilcotton), Justin Deegan (The Harps), Jack Breen (Castletown). Subs: Kevin Byrne (Camross) for Hill (HT), Oran Gorman (Rosenallis) for Kelly (53 mins), Evan Cassin (Clough-Ballacolla) for Kavanagh (56 mins), Kyron Cuddy (Castletown) for R Deegan (60 mins), Mark Downey (The Harps) for Duggan (61 mins)

WEXFORD: Paddy Quigley; Eoin Hughes, Pádraig Jones, Niall Furlong; Ryan Donohoe, Charlie Roark, Ciarán Doyle; Jack Nolan, David McCarthy; Doran Daly O’Toole, Páidí Doyle, Colin Carley; Cillian Byrne, Simon Roche, Conor Fanning. Subs: Jack Dunne for McCarthy (22 mins), Alex Lafferty for Daly O’Toole (38 mins), Dylan Purcell for Nolan (41 mins), Sean Hyland for Doyle (56 mins), Eoghan Cassin for Fanning (58 mins)

Referee: Conor Daly (Kildare)